Chapter 39 Chef Anna
It was almost nighttime when Anna returned from grocery shopping, sweating profusely. Without wasting any time, she headed straight into the kitchen and began cooking.
“You should’ve sent one of the butlers to get the groceries for you,” I said, and Anna glanced back at me.
“You’re too kind, boss. Either way, I prefer doing it myself. Cooking is just another hobby of mine, so I enjoy it,” Anna replied as she pulled out a brand-new sharp knife from its carton. The blade glinted under the bright lights above, and I noticed a grin forming on her face.
She brought out a new chopping board as well and tossed the old one into the trash. Then she took out a cabbage and began chopping it, her hands moving with precise motions, each cut nearly identical in size. After finishing with the cabbage, she brought out several broccoli heads and started chopping them as well.
‘Cabbage and broccoli… what is she planning to make?’
But Anna didn’t stop there. She grabbed some garlic and began chopping that too.
“Anna, what are you cooking?” I finally asked.
“Boss, honestly… I don’t even know,” Anna said with a crazed grin. “I just want to make something tasty.” She lit the gas stove and placed a frying pan over the flame.
What the heck? Is she some kind of food maniac?
She poured a little oil into the pan and lowered the heat. Then, without warning, she cracked about nine eggs into the pan and added the cabbage on top. I was bewildered, but I stayed silent and watched.
Slowly, the eggs began to solidify, gently frying in the oil. Anna flipped the mixture so the other side could cook with the cabbage. Though the eggs looked firm on the outside, they remained gooey inside, and with the cabbage blending into them, it already looked delicious.
Even Wheezy couldn’t help but watch from a distance, seemingly mesmerized by the scent wafting through the air.
In another pan, Anna used the remaining cabbage to prepare a salad along with the broccoli and other ingredients, mixing everything together with homemade mayonnaise until the aroma became even more enticing.
Next, she brought out a fresh ribeye and gave it a playful slap, grinning. She injected it with brine, sprinkled seasoning over it, slapped on spices and pepper, and then placed it on the grill.
While the meat cooked, Anna melted cheese over it, juices dripping onto the grill as the scent exploded throughout the kitchen. I was practically drooling. After a while, once the steak reached a perfect medium-well, Anna removed it and began plating everything she had prepared.
Naturally, Wheezy received his portion first, purring nonstop as if scolding me.
While the food was still being prepared, Eric entered the room.
“B-Boss, I’ve ordered for the new site to be prepared. Do you need help with anything else?” Eric asked, gulping as he stole glances at Anna from the corner of his eye.
“Eric, you can just admit you want some of Anna’s cooking, you damn foodie. Is that why you’re sweating?” I laughed, noticing how flushed and nervous he looked. His face turned red in embarrassment.
“I—I’m sorry, boss,” Eric apologized.
“It’s fine. From now on, consider it normal, mandatory even, to eat with me and Anna. You work and guard me all the time with barely any rest, so it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re taken care of,” I said. Eric bowed slightly.
“I really appreciate it, boss.”
I then told Anna to serve Eric as well, and once the table was set, we began eating.
“Boss, may I ask you something?” Anna suddenly said.
“Go ahead. Ask me anything,” I replied.
“Boss… do you know how to cook?”
Hearing that, I almost choked on my food but forced a laugh. I took a sip of juice before answering.
“To be honest, not really. Ever since I was born, I’ve always been surrounded by cooks and maids. There was a time I tried cooking, but when my dad found out, he punished all the maids. Still, I’m not completely useless, I can make one or two things,” I admitted.
“I see… I noticed you were staring at me while I was cooking. That look felt more like you were learning,” Anna said quietly.
“Haha, nothing escapes your eyes, huh? You’re right, I was learning from you,” I admitted with a small laugh.
“That’s great, boss. Learning to cook will be useful, especially when you get married to Ru—”
I quickly covered Anna’s mouth, my face burning red.
“Anna! Stop teasing the boss!” Eric shouted.
“Calm down, Eric. Anna didn’t do anything wrong. I was just embarrassed because she was about to say something a man shouldn’t hear,” I sighed softly. Anna grinned widely.
Watching her like this, I began to see her more as a mischievous younger sister. Sometimes, though, I couldn’t help but feel pity for her, wondering what she must have gone through at such a young age to gain so much experience.
After we finished eating, I stepped outside and headed toward the shooting site that had been prepared for me.