Heat Wave of Desire

“Even though Sean is gone?” one of the other staff members responded with a snort. “Everyone came to the Belleza because of his reputation.”

“Yeah,” another staffer joined in. “Did you hear he’s opening up his own restaurant?”

There were several whispers among the crowd.

“Settle down.” Kimberly glared at the man who started the conversation; she could see out of the corner of her eye that Gabrielle had been mortally offended by his comment. Kimberly suspected some of the staff had doubts about the kitchen living up to its reputation since her brother had left. But Gabrielle was a skilled chef and Kimberly would not let her be disrespected. “Sean was talented, no doubt, but Gabrielle is our secret weapon. The Belleza will shine with Gabrielle at the helm.”

She smiled at the chef, who offered a fake smile. She knew her friend well enough to know that the comments had struck a nerve. “Gabrielle, why don’t you tell us what’s on tap for this month’s tasting menu?”

The experience was open to only a few select guests who were considered to be the crème de la crème. Gabrielle had designed some creative selections for their sophisticated palates. Now Kimberly was forcing her to face her fears and not let the staff comments get her down.

Gabrielle cleared her throat before speaking. She started off slowly with her initial comments about her starter, but bounced back with a livelier description of her second course, entrée and dessert. By the end, she had everyone at the meeting salivating.

After the meeting ended, her employees began filtering out. Gabrielle tried to make a fast getaway, but Kimberly called out to her. “Can you stay behind for a moment?”

Robyn stayed behind, too, and when it was just the three of them, Kimberly closed the door.

“Kim, do we have to do this now?” Gabrielle asked sharply. Now that the door was closed, all pretense of confidence had gone away.

“Yes, we do.”

“Why can’t you let this rest?”

“When has she ever let anything rest?” Robyn replied. “You know how she gets.”

“I can’t let you go when you’re upset, not without talking about it first.”

“Why talk? It won’t change anything.” Gabrielle’s tone was chilly as she continued, “All those people think I got my job as executive chef out of nepotism. That because you and I are friends, I was chosen to step into the role.”

“But it’s not true,” Robyn said firmly. “You’re a damn good chef, Gabby.”

“I know that!” Gabrielle blurted out. “But they don’t. And I won’t change their opinion anytime soon. I’ll have to earn their respect day by day and I’m fine with that. Do you think this is my first rodeo? It’s not. Do you think it was easy turning my back on medical school and choosing the culinary field? Do you think it was easy when I came back to the States after France and dealt with the old boys’ network in New York? Well, it wasn’t.”

“Of course,” Kimberly said. She knew how hard it had been for Gabrielle to go against her parents’ wishes. Even more so when they’d cut off her trust fund. Thank God for her grandmother’s financial support. It had allowed Gabby to attend culinary school in France, otherwise who knew how long it would have taken for Gabby to realize her dream. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” She patted her chest and inclined her head to Robyn. “We know that it wasn’t an easy road for you, but you have persevered and all I wanted to say is that I have your back.”

“That’s all?”

Kimberly nodded. “That’s it in a nutshell. I wouldn’t have appointed you and my father wouldn’t have backed me if we didn’t think you were and are the chef to keep the Belleza at the top.”

“Thank you, Kim. That means a lot. I guess I just needed to hear it.”

Kimberly patted her hand. “We all do sometimes.” Yesterday, she’d needed the very same thing from her father. “So how about we all look at the mock-ups that Robyn prepared to wow Hayley Dunham and talk menus?”

Over the next hour, she, Robyn and Gabrielle did just that. By the end they’d agreed to present three themes to Hayley Dunham, who was coming in two days. It would give Gabrielle enough time to purchase several items that were critical to the complicated four-course menu that included a dessert using molecular gastronomy.

“Are you sure you haven’t put too much on yourself?” Kimberly asked her. “It’s an elaborate one.”

“It is, but it’ll guarantee us winning the Dunham contract,” Gabrielle replied. “And it’s important to me that we do.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Robyn said. “If anything goes wrong...”

“Nothing will go wrong.” Gabrielle popped up from her chair. “This would be a big coup for us. I can just see my parents’ faces now...” Her voice trailed as she stared out the window.

“What about them?” Kimberly asked.

“They’ve attended the Dunham gala every year,” Gabrielle answered.

“Did you?” Robyn asked.

Kimberly knew Robyn had grown up in the projects. Her friend looked a bit starstruck at the thought of Gabrielle at such a lavish event.

Gabrielle shook her head. “No, it wasn’t really my thing, but my parents always did. Can you imagine how shocked they would be to learn that I am partially behind its success?”

“It would certainly make a statement,” Robyn replied.

“Then it’s no-holds-barred,” Kimberly said. “We go all out.” Gabrielle wasn’t the only one with something to prove. She would show her parents and her brothers that she could make the Belleza an even greater success. There was no doubt in her mind that with her and her friends’ hard work, it would be.

* * *

Instead of going to the pool, which was his usual MO for this time of day, Jaxon stayed in his villa. He wasn’t going to be present in Beverly Hills for the Dunham Foundation Board of Directors’ meeting, but he would call in. Despite how angry he was with his parents, the work he did at the Dunham Foundation was important to him and he wouldn’t shirk it.

How could he when it was founded by his great-grandparents? They’d given a twenty-five-thousand-dollar donation to start the Foundation during a time of great unrest in the country. African-Americans were fighting against injustice and his grandparents had wanted to help those less fortunate during those tough times. The Foundation had come a long way from its humble beginnings.

Today, the Dunham Foundation was a success because they’d harnessed his grandparents’ initial investments into future growth capital, which was part of the work Jaxon oversaw among his other duties as director. In addition to promoting democratic values and reducing injustice, the Foundation gave grants to reduce poverty, foster cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures with higher education and deepen connections to nature and community around them.

He dialed the Foundation’s number and Pam, the receptionist, answered.

“Jaxon,” she whispered into the phone. “Your parents are fit to be tied that you didn’t return for the meeting.”

“I expected as much, but thanks for the heads-up, Pam. Patch me through to the conference room.”

“Sure thing. Good luck.”

Several seconds later, the connection was made and a feminine voice asked, “Jaxon, is that you?” He didn’t need to be present to know who it was. It was his mother.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m here.”

“The question is why you aren’t here?” his father asked through the line.

“Let’s not get into that right now,” Jaxon responded. “I assume everyone is present. Has roll call been taken?”

“No, we were just about to do it,” his sister, Hayley, replied. She was secretary as well as a director at the Foundation along with his parents, his uncle, Robert, and aunt, Eleanor, and their two sons, Andre and Mason.

“Then let’s get started,” his father replied.

After roll call was taken, his cousin, who was in charge of grants, went through several grantee applications, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

“Well, I, for one, think we should finally get involved with autism,” Jaxon heard his aunt Eleanor say. “The disorder is becoming more prevalent. This would be a great cause to champion.”