the chef

one | mrs styles

"So Louis, I saw on your profile that you cater to vegan and gluten free lifestyles?"

Louis shifted his gaze from the woman's pointy-toed heels and smiled at her. They were so sharp, she could stab his eyes out with her stilettos if need-be.

He gulped nervously in front of the solemn woman, folding his hands in his lap and nodding with a hum. She began tasting the third and final dish that Louis had prepared for sampling.

"I'm big on no cross-contamination. All your meals will be pristine, Mrs. Styles. I have experience cooking for families with allergies as well as celiac disease, and I'm acquainted with diverse vegan alternatives."

The woman only nodded, then looked back down at her papers on Louis, giving the lad time to glance around the home where he might possibly be a live-in chef.

Bethany Styles was a bitch.

Not just any bitch, her kindness was incredibly phony and translucent. She was so fake it was abominable.

After every bogus smile, her beautiful features returned to their cold position. Her stony glances made the man apprehensive, but from the looks of their home, Louis knew this job would be an excellent opportunity.

It was very modern and luxurious. It felt open and spacious, yet cold and unwelcoming. Kind of like Bethany.

It lacked any family photos or anything of seemingly sentimental value. It was pretty, but somewhat empty on the inside.

The paintings on the wall livened it up, screaming out what the home itself lacked. They provoked thought and emotion, whereas the woman on the couch in front of him just...provoked anxiety.

"I-I love the paintings, ma'am," he commented, and she lit up. For the first time a genuine smile was on her face when she looked up at her potential employee.

"I wish I could say the same. My husband is an art geek," Bethany said, practically cooing as she spoke of her partner, whom Louis had yet to meet. He just hoped the man was nicer than his misses.

"I let him keep this one from his bachelor pad days," she pointed to the one above the baby grand piano, with her nude acrylic nails, "I'm so tired of it, but boys will be boys."

Louis just forced a chuckle alongside her laugh. He relaxed a bit, knowing the interview was going well. He really needed this, and was getting his hopes up.

"My daughter is allergic to tree nuts. I'm vegan. We're all gluten free too because I just feel like it's better for the body, you know?" she explained, shrugging her shoulders and fixing her long platinum blonde hair.

It was then Louis concluded she was probably an almond mom.

"I ensure you I will be vigilant with all my ingredients," Louis promised.

"Thank you. Hey, if I'm craving something can I just let you know?" Bethany questioned quickly, "We're planning for another baby."

Louis smiled at that, despite the woman's straight face.

"That's brilliant, I wish you the best. I usually do weekly meal plans that I'll run by you. But I can make anything at anytime, just ask," he explained.

"When can you start?"