Chapter 8

~Emily~

Since Father-in-law's funeral, Tabitha had taken up residence in my home, her constant presence making it feel like she had been there for months, not just two days. I, on the other hand, had been avoiding her like the plague, seeking refuge in the comfort of my library. Not that I'd been able to focus on anything, but it was a preferable alternative to clashing with Tabitha.

A loud knock on the Library door startled me and I immediately opened it to meet Tabitha standing there, a smug expression plastered on her face.

“We have a guest coming over" She finally said, her eyes glinting with condescension

“We? I wasn't aware… “ I protested but she interjected

"Well, you are now” She replied, and just when I was about to speak, she placed a finger on my lips, "And don't you think I am informing you because I consider you worthy. Our guest has requested a delicacy specifically prepared by the woman of the house so you're going to do exactly that. Cook” She said, raising an eyebrow as a smirk spread across her face

"We have chefs Mother” I replied as if to remind her

"I dismissed them for the week," She said, a satisfied smile spreading across her face

Two years into our marriage, I have never lifted a finger to help with household chores, not even to do laundry. Our estate was staffed with over a hundred domestic workers, who handled every aspect of our daily lives. Cooking, however, was a different story. Although I'd never cooked for Andrew or his family, I wasn't a novice in the kitchen. In fact, three years before our marriage, I had attended one of America's top culinary schools and graduated among the top three. But the Stanfords remained oblivious to my culinary skills, mainly because they didn't care about my abilities.

Was this Tabitha's feeble attempt to embarrass me in front of our esteemed guest? I was determined to prove her wrong. I would show her that I was more than just a pampered housewife; I was capable and useful.

I turned to Tabitha, a calm smile spreading across my face.

”What time is our guest arriving?” I asked

Tabitha's eyes narrowed slightly. “In three hours,” she replied, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

She paused, studying my expression. “I don't like the look on your face,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “You look...confident. I can cook for our guest myself if you're not up to the task.”

I knew she was lying, trying to gauge my reaction. But I didn't take the bait. Instead, I shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, don't bother, Mother. Who am I to reject our guest's request? Besides, I'm sure you have more important things to attend to.”

Tabitha's eyes flashed with surprise, but I just smiled sweetly. I was determined to impress her, to show her that I was more than just a pampered housewife. I was going to cook a meal that would leave our guest speechless, and Tabitha would be forced to take notice

Three hours was more than enough time to cook something extraordinary. I could feel a surge of adrenaline as I headed toward the kitchen, my mind already racing with recipe ideas

As I stepped into the kitchen, a sense of calm focus washed over me. I decided that I was going to make a classic Beef Wellington, accompanied by a side of roasted vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. The aroma of sautéed onions and mushrooms filled the air as I carefully assembled the Wellington, wrapping it in a flaky puff pastry.

As the dish baked to perfection in the oven, I moved on to preparing the vegetables and potatoes. The sizzle of the vegetables in the pan and the creamy texture of the mashed potatoes added to the symphony of flavors and textures.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I took the Wellington out of the oven, and the golden-brown pastry glistened in the light. I let it rest for a few minutes before slicing it thinly, revealing the tender beef and flavorful mushroom duxelles inside.

With the cooking complete, I turned my attention to setting the table. I chose the finest china and crystal glasses, adding a touch of elegance to the formal dining room. However, I did encounter a bit of trouble when I struggled to fold the napkins into perfect triangles. But after a few attempts, I finally got the hang of it.

As I stepped back to admire my handiwork, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. The table was arranged beautifully, with each element perfectly in place. The Beef Wellington, roasted vegetables, and garlic mashed potatoes looked and smelled incredible, filling the room with an irresistible aroma.

I couldn't wait to share the creation with our guest.

Checking the time, I still had over 30 minutes left. I took a quick bath to wash off the food's aroma, then changed into a stunning black silk dress, paired with diamond-encrusted earrings.

As I walked back to the dining room, the doorbell rang, and Tabitha glided towards the door, a subtle smile playing on her lips "Don't worry, darling, I'll get it," she said, her voice bubbly

I was taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise. Tabitha had never called me ‘darling’ before. It was a first, and it caught me off guard.

For a moment, I wondered if the aroma of the food wafting from the dining room had already begun to work its magic on Tabitha. Was she impressed by the savory scents, or was it something more? Whatever the reason, I was determined to make a lasting impression. With a smile, I stepped aside, letting Tabitha answer the door.

“Oh my darling, you look absolutely stunning,” Tabitha cooed, her eyes fixed on the person at the door.

I watched, intrigued, as Tabitha enveloped a brunette in a warm hug. The person's face was hidden behind a curtain of hair, but as they pulled back, a familiar voice said, "Thank you so much for having me, ma."

As the person stepped into view, my eyes widened in surprise. It was Kate, Andrew's secretary. She definitely couldn't be the guest Tabitha was talking about. I mean, I hadn't just spent over two hours slaving away in the kitchen for Kate, had I?

But before I could process my thoughts, Tabitha's voice cut in, interrupting my thoughts, "Darling, would you please go get your husband? Our guest has arrived."

I felt a flicker of annoyance, but I suppressed it and instead forced a smile, "I wasn't aware we were expecting Kate."I said

"That's not how to treat a guest, darling. We must make her feel welcome."

Kate's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with triumph as she intertwined her hands with Tabitha's.

I pushed aside my unease, determined to play the perfect hostess. After all, I was already impressing Tabitha. I couldn't let that stop now.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Kate would spend a few hours, savor my exquisite cooking and realize she couldn't hold a candle to me. Meanwhile, Tabitha would regret her past criticism, and Andrew's love for me will be rekindled.

I took a deep breath and pasted a smile on my face, "Pardon my manners, Catherine? It's a pleasure having you around. I'll go get my husband now.” I said.

Just as I turned to leave, Andrew descended the staircase, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. The doorbell rang, breaking the spell.

Tabitha raised an eyebrow, her gaze darting from Andrew to the door. "Andrew, are you expecting someone else?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Yes, I am." Andrew nodded, his expression neutral.

Kate, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly spoke up, her voice dripping with flirtation. "Hi, Mr. Andrew," she purred, her finger tracing the curve of her lips as she batted her eyelashes. That was when I noticed what she was wearing - a see-through dress that left nothing to the imagination. My eyes widened in shock as I caught a glimpse of her nipple peeking through the sheer fabric.

A flush of embarrassment and annoyance warmed my face. Who did she think she was, dressing like that in my home?

Tabitha's eyes narrowed slightly, but she turned to answer the door. As she swung it open, a deep, familiar voice boomed from the other side, filling the room with its warm, rich tone. "Beautiful day, isn't it? What smells so incredible?"

My heart sank as Thomas Brown stepped into view, his tall frame looming in the doorway. His gaze locked onto Andrew's face, a brief smile flickering on his lips before his eyes slid to mine.

For a moment, our gazes clashed, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Then, his eyes lingered on my face, before traveling down, and a slow, suggestive smirk spread across his face.

Pervert! Who invited him here?!