Chapter one
A/N: I don't own twilight. Stephanie Meyer does.
RPOV:
"Hey Rose can you come into my office for a sec. I think I have a new restaurant I want you to feature." My boss Esme Cullen says. I'm the head writer and food critic for the Food and Wine section of the Buffalo News. I love my job. Food and cars are the things I'm most passionate about. I'm 27 and the youngest head writer at the paper. "Sure Esme I'll be right there." I say and head over to her spacious office. "Have a seat Rose. I really think your going to like this one. I've been hearing some wonderful things about this place." She says. I nod my head and wait for her to continue.
"You remember Curly's in Lackawanna on Ridge Rd?" She asks. "Yeah but didn't that place close down a while back?" I say confused. "Well it seems that a group of young people bought it and turned it into a new restaurant called Swan's. Now the head chef is Isabella Sawn and she's managed to land Jacob Black as her pastry chef." Esme says excitedly. "The Jacob Black. New York City Jacob Black. Are you serious? His sugar work alone was phenomenal. Up until a few years ago he was the hottest pastry chef in the country then he just dropped off the map." I say matching her excitement.
"Yes that is why I want you to interview him and find out what happened. I also want a feature of the restaurant. I suggest you take Angela and let her take some pictures as well. You have one month to get the story." She says all business like. "Oh wow. You won't be disappointed I promise." I say and head down to Angela's desk. "Guess what?" I say to Angela. "I dunno. From the look on your face you either got a new story or James from copy finally asked you out." Angela replies.
"No James didn't ask me out, Victoria got her nasty claws in him. Bitch. Anyway Esme is having me write a feature on that new restaurant Swan's. The best part is I get to interview Jacob Black and find out why he walked away from his career." I say with a large smile. "Oh my god. That's great Rosalie." She gushes. "And you are going to be my photographer." I add. She jumps up and down in excitement. "Wow. So when do we get started?" She asks. "It just so happens that you and I have reservations for dinner at 7:00 sharp." I say. "OK. Give me the directions and I'll catch a cab and meet you there." She says. I write down the address and leave to office for the day. This can be the piece that will make or break my career.
JPOV:
"Hey Bells did the hazelnuts I asked for come in?"I ask my best friend and boss. I'm so nervous tonight. I haven't been able to create anything since that day. The day my life changed. But Bells was right I needed to get out there again and stop hiding away. "Yup they are by your station." She says. "Alright people gather around. I just wanna let you know that a little birdie at the buffalo newspaper told me that Rosalie Hale is gonna be doing a feature us. I want everything to be perfect. I know you guys are amazing but we really have to be on our toes tonight." Bella says. "Garrett I need you to keep a close eye on Felix and Hedi they're the new hires and Paul can you please make sure Quil and Leah don't kill each behind the bar tonight." Bella says going into boss mode. "Sure thing boss lady." Paul and Garrett say in unison.
"So this Rosalie Hale is a big deal then." I say to Bella. "Yeah Jake, she can make or break us. She can be ruthless with her reviews. I really need you to make something amazing for dessert." She says. "Sure, sure don't worry Bells I think I have just the thing that will dazzle her." I say trying to convince her and myself that I can do it.
Seven o'clock rolls around and the place is packed. I go to the bar to get a bottle of liqueur that will complement my dessert perfectly. "Hey Quil, do you got a bottle of Amaretto back there." I ask. "A yeah here it is. Oh shit there she is Rosalie Hale." He says. I turn around and the most incredible woman is standing talking with Alice. My jaw drops at the sight of the curvy blonde. She's wearing a tight red blouse and a fitted black skirt that stops right at the knee and a pair of 6 inch red heels that adds to her already statuesque frame. She reminds of 1940's pin up with her curvy figure. This is the first time in a long time that a woman has had this effect on me.
RPOV:
"Finally you're here." I say relived that Angela has made it to the restaurant. "Sorry traffic on the sky way was insane." She says. We head into the place and are immediately greeted by an energetic hostess. "Hi, how are you this evening. Do you have a reservation?" The little pixie asks. "Yes 2 for Hale." I say professionally. "Ahh yes here you are. My name is Alice and I'll show you to your table." She says and shows us to a lovely booth. I glace over my shoulder and see a gorgeous man staring at us as we take our seats. When I look back he's gone.
"What would you like to drink?"Alice says bringing me from my thoughts about the tall dark and handsome man. "I'll have a martini up and a little dirty." I say and Angels orders a cosmopolitan. "I'll take those orders to the bar and your waiter will be right with you." Alice says and dances away. I look over the menu and everything sounds delicious. Just then our waiter shows up. "Hi my name is Garrett and I'll be your waiter for this evening. Would you like to start out with our signature appetizer tonight? It's fire roasted artichokes with a garlic dipping sauce." He says. "Yes that sounds great." I reply. "Do you need a moment or are you ready to order?" He asks. We place our orders and he quickly leaves us to talk.
While Angela takes a call I look around and notice how beautiful the place really is. It's fancy without being pretentious. The low lighting adds an intimate feel to the place. The table linens are a beautiful cream color and the crystal chandelier sparkles. It's the type of place that makes you feel welcomed. You can see the staff is family and friends than people that just work together. I love places like this. I just hope the food is as good as the atmosphere.
Garrett brings our food and the smell is amazing. I ordered the LA SCALA LOBSTER. It's a Cold Water Lobster Tail, Full or Half, Broiled or Grilled and Served with Lemon Scented Mediterranean Rice. Angela ordered CHICKEN LA SCALA which is a 1/2 Roasted Chicken with Roasted Garlic Asiago Sauce with Sautéed Vegetables served over Mashed Potatoes. I thank our waiter and hungrily dig in. The first bite is positively orgasmic. Isabella Swan is a genius. I taste a bite of Angela's and it is equally as good. We eagerly devour our food making sure to keep room for dessert.
We are informed that the pastry chef only makes one kind of dessert a night and never repeats himself. We place an order for tonight's dessert a triple chocolate cake with Amaretto cream. Garrett brings us the cake and it's almost too pretty to eat. The cake is in a box made of pulled sugar. I open the box and the cake is absolutely divine. The first layer is white chocolate, and the second is a milk chocolate with hazelnuts, and the bottom layer is a rich dark chocolate. There is a dollop of an exquisite Amaretto cream and each bite I can't help but moan in delight.
"Has everything been good tonight?" Garrett asks. "Everything has been really delicious. I would love to meet your pastry chef. The cake was absolutely heavenly." I say. "Very well I'll let him know that you asked to see him." He says and walks away.
JPOV:
"Hey Jake guess who wants to give you a compliment in person." Garrett says. "Who?" I reply. "Rosalie Hale. Man if I were you I'd be running out to see her. She has got to be the hottest woman I've seen." He says. "Don't let Kate find out you said that." Jared one of the line cooks says with a laugh. "What my wife doesn't know won't hurt her. Besides she knows I love her." He says with a smile. I nod my head and laugh. This is why I love working here. Everyone is so close. We're a family and family is definitely what I need now.
I walk out and head towards her booth. I can't help but feel a little nervous. She's so beautiful I can't help but stare at her. "Hello Ladies, I'm Jacob the pastry chef." I say and offer my hand to both. "It's nice to meet you Jacob I'm Rosalie and this is Angela." She says. "Please have a seat and talk with us for a moment." She says. I pull up a chair and sit. At first the conversation was friendly, mostly about the cake and working here. But it starts to turn into an interrogation about my past, especially why I left New York City. "Yeah umm…that something I really don't want to discuss." I say trying to be polite. "I don't see why you can't answer the question. It's not a hard question. Why did you walk away from a job most people would kill for? I hardly believe it was to take a job here." She says dismissively. She is really starting to push my buttons.
"It's really none of you business Blondie." I say getting ticked off more and more. "Excuse me. Did you just call me Blondie, dog!!?" She seethes. Great she has a temper too. "Dog? Is that how they teach you to talk to people over at the paper you work for?" I sneer right back. Bella is definitely gonna kill me for pissing her off but she had it coming. "Let's go Angela. I won't sit here and get treated like this a moment longer." She huffs and grabs her purse and takes off for the door. "I'm sorry she can be kinda too much sometimes. She does mean well." The brunette says and walks away with an apologetic smile.
I walk back into the kitchen and Bella and Edward are standing there looking none to happy. "Tell me you didn't yell at Rosalie Hale." Bella says already knowing the answer. "Sorry Bells but she was just asking too many personal questions. Things I don't want to talk about right now."I say still kind of fuming. "I understand Jake, I really do but you have to make this right. We can't afford a bad critique from her of all people." She says worriedly. "Don't worry Bells I'll fix it some how. I promise." I say. Oh I definitely have my work cut out for me when it comes to Blondie.
A/N: I hope you like this Please Review.