CHAPTER 17

DAKOTA’S POV

Fortunately, the dream I had last night did not repeat itself. Somehow I forget about it and I can say that I feel fine. Sometimes I really can’t help but get a headache because I try to remember every time I feel the pain in my back. Only Willow knows about that, so she is the only one who applies the ointment to somehow reduce the pain.

“Chef Ivo’s birthday is coming up. What do you think we should surprise him with?” Shane asked as we sorted through the trash. We were the only two there. Probably so that Chef Ivo wouldn’t hear us talking about this matter.

I don’t know anything other than Chef Ivo, so I can’t think of anything good to surprise or give him as a gift. I shrugged my shoulders. “I can’t think of anything,” I said because it was true.

She looked at me as if to say that she didn’t believe me. “I don’t want to believe it.”

“Ha? Why? It’s true that I don’t know much about him, Shane.”

She stood up properly, then crossed her arms. “Do you think we don’t notice that you and Chef Ivo are getting close these past few days?” She raised an eyebrow.

“W-what? what are you saying, Isn’t it?” I laughed because of what she said. What is it that notices? Because for me, the conversation between the two of us is normal. It cannot be called ‘close friends’ because Chef Ivo is like that to all of us. Especially me. I do my best so that they all become friends with me. Even with Ashton, I try to get along and make friends with him, even though he always has a hot head with everyone.

“It’s true. Did you know that even Ashton notices that? Yes, Chef Ivo is also really friendly, but he has never taken care of us the way he took care of you.”

“I do not know what you’re saying.”

“Yes, Dakota. That never asked us if we take any medicine when we are sick. Especially the one who will buy it himself.” Her eyes narrowed and then approached me as if she was shaking me. “Tell me now that you are not close friends? Hmm.”

I avoided then laughed lightly. “Just like that. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who was busy when he told that I run of my medicine the other day, so he ran to buy it for me. Don’t think too much about that.” I tied up the garbage in the trash bag and carefully put it inside the big trash bin. Shane was silent, but when I turned to her, she had a silly grin on her lips. “W-why are you smiling like that, huh?”

She stepped slowly. “Do you know that we have never seen Chef Ivo act like that? Even with Miss Claire, she wasn’t that concerned.”

I seem to be running out of words on how to convince my friend that Chef Ivo is not giving me special treatment. “How do you know? Miss Claire is not here often. So how do you compare?”

That’s when Shane stopped and thought. “Hmm. Even though, right?”

“For me, Chef Ivo treats us equally as friends. You know, we’re lucky to have him,” I said. I can see that Chef is really kind to us. Sometimes it’s inevitable that he gets serious, especially when it comes to work. He is very passionate and focused when it comes to the kitchen and running the business. In fact, he could have kicked Willow and me out of the restaurant on our first day, but he didn’t. He is so kind that he trusts immediately.

“Well, you’re right there. That was very nice and, like Ashton, we didn’t want to leave his restaurant because he was nice. Our rent in our rooms, that’s free. He doesn’t want us to pay anymore. As long as the work is done properly so that there are no problems, he will be fine with it. Our salary is also high. He’s the best chef, the best businessman, and even boss.” It is obvious to Shane that she admires Chef Ivo very much. She’s also proud.

“That’s why. So, you are the ones who know that he is really kind to everyone, so don’t think anything of us.” I was still shaking.

We started walking inside the restaurant when she stopped me and grabbed my arm. “But first, what is a good gift for him? Maybe you have suggestions.”

I faced her. “I don’t really know what he wants, but I think that with our simple effort, he will appreciate it immediately. He looks like a non-materialistic person.” That’s what I see to Chef Ivo. He’s so simple, but it’s so well formed. Even though it’s wearing rags, it’s still handsome and fragrant.

“Later, we will all talk to each other. If there’s one person who knows too much about Chef, it’s not us.”

We both looked at each other. Only one person came to mind and we both mentioned who it was. “It’s Ashton!”

We were facing each other at a table. Chef Ivo said goodbye early because he was leaving and said he had a friend to make money with. That was the opportunity we got to talk to the seven of us. We all looked at Ashton. We knew it was only forced to talk to us because one of its eyebrows was raised again.

“What are your suggestions? You should have options,” Ashton said to them while sitting half-body on the edge of the table. Liam and Kurt were just standing behind it.

I want to laugh because Ashton seems to be a boss of the two. I simply told Willow what was on my mind, causing her to laugh as well. Shane and Wendy noticed us, so we also told them what I was thinking.

“Why are you always laughing? You are not taking this meeting seriously, are you?” Ashton said with a frown.

“Well, the three of you look funny. Looks like you’re a boss and you have two assistants, Liam and Kurt.” Shane spoke.

Instead of being annoyed, Ashton obviously liked the idea. “Really?” He turned to the two men behind. “My assistants, by the way,” he said arrogantly, but he immediately shook his head when Liam gave him a rather strong pat on the head. “It hurts!” He whines.

“You’re so arrogant!” Kurt said, laughing.

“Did I say that? They said it!” He faces us. “Is it my fault that I’m handsome, right?”

Wendy immediately shook her head and Shane laughed even harder. Willow and I kept our mouths shut. “You look like a syndicate leader, Ashton,” Shane said, causing Ashton to wince. Its eyes narrowed.

“Is that so? Have the meeting—” He was about to stand up, but Liam immediately grabbed his shoulder. It looked up at it. “Why?”

“Don’t be a killjoy. Tell us what Chef Ivo wants so we can prepare a surprise,” said Liam.

“After you insulted me?”

“You can’t be funny! Of course. You’re handsome. The most handsome person here is you. You’re even more handsome than Chef Ivo, aren’t you, Dakota?” Wendy asked me.

I didn’t know what to say because all of their attention suddenly turned to me. I wasn’t ready to answer, but when I saw Ashton looking at me and act looking handsome, I just nodded right away. “Y-yeah!” Even though what I said was against my mind and heart, I didn’t take it back because someone might not help us.

Ashton sat up, then took a deep breath before looking at each of us. “You know, during the time that Chef Ivo and I have been friends, as far as I know him, he is a very simple person. I have never seen such things as love. Well, except for his things that are needed in business, but when it comes to things that can be called luxury, he doesn’t have any.”

We nodded. Wendy writes down the things Ashton says so we have something to refer back to. Ashton said a lot more but only one thing caught my attention.

“I haven’t really seen his family even once since then. He is also a very secretive person when it comes to his private life. I met one of his family, but he was his cousin and he only introduced me once.”

That made me wonder where his family was. Does he no longer have a family? Why don’t we see any of his relatives strolling through the restaurant? I’ve been thinking a lot about Chef Ivo. Now it seems that I want to know that thing so that somehow I know something about him.