The Anatomy of Jane (24 page)

“Thank you. Honestly, when I opened it, I was terrified. I had so many people tell me I was too young. I was too cocky. I was too ‘something’. Some of the greatest critics in the world lived in the same forty-five mile radius. I’ll never forget Gabriel Gaétan, my first critic after opening. ‘La Hauteur,
parfaitement fade et oubliable
.’ La Hauteur, perfectly bland and forgettable.”

He laughed softly at me. “Did you weep?”

“Weep? Ha! I made a special menu, and it took me weeks to create it. I even called it ‘The Gaétan’ in his honor. He’s quite proud. Even to this day, he comes in and demands ‘The Gaétan’, but it did tempt other critics to write poor reviews, though.”

“You are a double-edged sword upon yourself,” he said, and I just shrugged.

“If stabbing oneself is the way to a perfect dish, stab on,” I said.

“La Hauteur is still open and beloved. You have another restaurant in your home country and in Rome. How do you manage them all?”

“Technology is a beautiful thing. Once a week, I converse with all my chefs. We go over the menus and I get updates. To keep them on their feet, I even send critics to scare the hell out of them. I also visit throughout the year, but in disguise.”

“You are a reality show in the making.”

“God, no.” Reality would be one half pornography and one half the cooking networks. “I prefer to keep my personal life just that…personal.”

“So you do not have a special muse for your food?” he asked anyway. “I read a critic of yours who said only a man who’s in love can cook as you do.”

“I’m in love with food…and some may argue with me.” That got a few snickers from my own kitchen staff.

“So if there is no one keeping you here, what next? You’ve been in Boston four years now; Where do you see yourself going next? After all, the world of food is vast. India, Thailand, Africa, South America maybe?”

“I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m really enjoying Boston.”

“My advice, Chef Wesley, is while you’re still young…explore more. See more and your food will thank you for it.”

I hated how part of me was thrilled by the idea. Just packing up with my knives and going out there again…but the more I thought about it, the less possible it became.

Max.

Now Jane.

It wasn’t just me any more. I couldn’t just leave…I knew that, but it didn’t make the feeling go away.

“You’re excited by the thought, aren’t you?”

“For now, Boston is my home. But who knows what the future holds?”

Chapter Fifteen

Oh my god! I screamed and jumped back, wrapping my arms around my chest as Irene burst into the changing room. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m catching you when your guard is down. Jesus Christ!” Her eyes dropped down to the hickeys that were all over my chest. “Is my cousin trying to screw you or eat you alive?”

“Irene! Get out!”

“Calm down! We’re both women. Besides, I’ve already seen the evidence,” she said, waving her hand over my body.

“Just because we’re women doesn’t mean I want you staring at me naked.” I glared at her, waiting for her to leave. Instead, she just sat down on the small changing room bench and crossed her legs.

“Jane. Please explain to me how you were my maid one day and my cousin’s fiancée the next.” she asked.

“Can I get dressed first?”

She handed me my bra. Dropping my arms, I snatched it from her. She tilted her head to the side, still staring wide-eyed.

“You know you’re a bit weird,” I said to her, snapping the clip in place.

“Direct. Not weird,” she corrected. “Now that your boobs are covered, or rather Max’s boobs, since he marked them up—”

“Irene.”

“Jane.”

Sighing, I grabbed my skirt from beside her and she took it back.

“Irene.”

She got up and poked her head outside the curtain. “The pink one, yep, and the…yes…she’s also going to need jewelry so have William bring everything.”

Spinning back around to me, she held a romantic soft pink lace cocktail dress with sleeves in one hand and in the other, a pair of beige heels.

“This is what you’re wearing.”

“Wearing to where?”

“To meet Max’s parents.”

“What?” It was a little soon to be meeting parents, especially after the first time I’d met Max’s mother.

“She called me five minutes ago, and the one thing you’ll learn quickly is to never say no to Elspeth Yates.”

“Watch me.” Reaching into my bag, I grabbed my phone.

“Jane, don’t. Max needs to focus on his story. You need to prove to him and everyone else that you can’t be messed with. The only way you can do that is to step up to Elspeth.” She stretched out her hands again. “The only way you have a chance of standing toe to toe with Elspeth is if you are dressed perfectly. She can pick at your personality, but she can’t speak ill of Vera Wang.”

“What’s wrong with my personality?”

“Jane, I’m trying to build you up right now. Come on, get dressed,” she said. I couldn’t believe her. She really did not give a fuck.

Taking the dress from her, I slid it on, but it wouldn’t zip up.

“Do Vera Wang’s models have boobs?”

“It’s not Vera’s fault, your body is disproportional.”

“I have boobs. I like carbs. Sue me! And can we stop talking about Vera Wang as if we know her?”

“I do know her,” Irene shot back before sticking her head out of the curtains again. Ignoring her as she commanded her troops, I turned back to the mirror.

C cups were good cups! I knew a dozen strippers that had to pay for what God had given me naturally. All these designers cut their dresses as if the women who would where them were prepubescent. At that rate, I was going to have to buy a size up and take in everything at the waist.

“Frowning gives you lines.”

“So does living,” I shot back, and she giggled.

“True. But really, stop frowning. You’re going to be fine. You’re strong and confident. Most women would have flipped out on me by now.”

“I’ve been doing that for the last five minutes. You just don’t seem to notice,” I replied, and for some reason, I couldn’t help but smile. I liked Irene. She did not believe in personal space and had no filter, but it just added to her charm.

“Ma’am,” someone said behind the curtain. Irene reached back to bring out a black and gold detailed jacquard dress with cap sleeves. Without arguing, I slipped the dress on. It fit like a glove, hugging every curve of my body, and stopped right above the knees. It was stunning.

“As always, Alexander McQueen to the rescue! God bless his soul.” She closed her eyes as if she were actually praying for the man. “Now shoes. Please tell me you can walk in heels.”

“I can walk in heels.”

She put a pair of stunning shoes in front me, and when I stepped into them, I really felt like someone important. Reaching up, I tied up my hair into a quick but messy bun.

“Brilliant. You have a knack for this.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

“Now, makeup.”

Oh, my god! It was never ending!

Eight bags of clothes.

Six bags of shoes.

Three bags of handbags.

All this and a credit card in Maxwell’s name damaged beyond repair, and we were done. Poor Roberts, the driver Max had with me all day, couldn’t even fit it all in the trunk. He had to call another car. What was worse was the fact that we hadn’t even gotten everything Irene said I quote ‘just needed’, so we had ordered the items to be brought to the penthouse.

“Maxwell is going to lose his mind when he sees the bill,” I muttered more to myself.

“We actually spent less than he thought we would.” She lifted up her phone and sure enough, Max had texted her.

‘The bank called me because of the spending you two have been doing. I’m glad. Make sure to order at least two of everything she likes in another color. Don’t show her the price.’

“He’s bossy even in text messages.” She sighed, throwing her phone back into her purse.

“What else do I need to know about your family?”

“You mean to impress them?”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

“I have no idea. I’ve been working on that since I was born.” She meant it as a joke, but I could tell she was really bothered by it.

Saying nothing else, I pulled out my own phone just as I got a text from Wesley.

‘Are you okay? Max told me he let Irene kidnap you.’

‘Save me. She’s relentless. :(’

‘If you’re really not having fun, I’ll come now.’

I smiled at that.

‘Thanks. But she’s taking me to meet Max’s parents.’

‘Oh…Max didn’t tell me about that.’

‘Yeah, his mother just summoned us. I’m sure she’s heard about the engagement.’

‘R.I.P.’

‘Not funny!’
I typed, even though I did laugh. ‘
I just want to be back in our safe haven
.’

‘Safe haven?’

‘The penthouse where we don’t have to pretend to anyone or lie or anything. When it’s just…simply us’

‘Me too.’

‘Before I forget, how was the interview? Is Chef Névenoé in awe of your greatness?’

‘Damn straight!’

‘How will we live with your ego now?’

‘Ha. We’ll find a way. But no, really, Chef Névenoé was great. He’s a great person to seek advice from. He’s made me think a lot.’

‘About what?’

“Jane.”

“Huh?” I glanced up at her.

“We’re here.”

“Shit, okay.”

I texted back quickly, and saw the three dots that meant he was typing.
‘Wesley let’s talk more when I get back home? Okay. Sorry. Gotta run, bye love you.’

“Oh my god!” I screamed, staring at the text I sent.

“Jane, what is it?”

“Tell me there is a way to take a text back!” I screamed at her, seeing that he still hadn’t read it…then he read it. “Kill me. Please kill me.”

“Jane, what is it?”

She reached for the phone, but I hugged it to my chest like it was bread at the last supper at fat camp.

“Jane, you’re being weird…weirder than normal.”

I looked back at my phone and he hadn’t replied. I couldn’t bring myself to explain the colossal fuck up I had just done. Love you? Not even ‘Luv’ but, actual love?
Fuck me man! Ahh.

“Ma’am, would you like me to keep driving?” Roberts asked, and I thought he was talking to Irene, but he was talking to me. I was a ma’am now.

“Jane.” Irene put her hands on my shoulders. “Whatever emotional crisis you are going through at this moment is going to have to wait. Do you understand me? You are now going to go head to head with some of the most powerful women in this city, so you need to slay them down, like Khaleesi at Astapor.”

“I’ve only watched the first season of
Game of Thrones,
so I have no idea what that means,” I replied, and she looked insulted.

“How can you only be in the first season?”

“I work a lot.”
Or at least, I did.
Lately sex had been taking up a bigger part of my life.

“You and I are watching the rest later. Now come on.” She took my hand and I let her as I tried to forget about my horribly embarrassing text.

Roberts held the door open for us, and I noticed we were at the Museum of Fine Arts.

“I’ll be here until you’re ready to leave, ma’am,” Roberts said to me.

“Thank you.” I nodded to him as I followed Irene up the stairs and into the building. It was past closing time, but there were dozens of beautiful people all dressed up, wine in their hands, laughing among themselves. Just like at the first party I had attended with Irene, a few of them gave her the evil eye while others ignored her altogether; however, this time she kept her head up.

“Ma’am, can I have your coat?” a server asked. I handed it to him as Irene did, but I was growing annoyed with this ‘ma’am’ shit.

“If it isn’t just Jane,” announced Archibald Saint James as he came up to me with his blond hair slicked back and a white scarf over his black suit jacket. Knowing what I knew about him from Max, I didn’t want to spend any time near him.