When he reached his chair, Ellen stood. "Where have you been and why are you dressed liked that?" she whispered.
He turned to the group and Ellen sat down. "My apologies to everyone. I had a late night and awoke this morning next to a beautiful woman. We fell asleep watching a movie last night."
Everyone laughed but Ellen and Colleen.
"Derek, we can delay the meeting, if you want to get cleaned up," one of the men said.
Derek rubbed his hand over his face feeling the stubble. "No, we can still hold it, but I need breakfast. Ellen, would you go get some doughnuts, bagels, and scones from the bakery in town. Oh, and have someone make a big pot of coffee. I don't feel like fruit and juice this morning."
A cheer and applause rose in the room.
"I was going to take notes for the meeting," Ellen said.
"Colleen can do that, can't you?" He looked over at her.
"Of course," she answered, looking a little shocked.
Ellen marched out of the room.
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, through the opening from the kitchen to the front of the bakery, Jenny saw Ellen walk in through the front door.
"Can I help you?" Becky asked from behind the counter.
"I called in an order for doughnuts and pastries for the James Corporation."
Jenny stood just out of sight next to the window listening.
"Of course, we have them all boxed up and ready for you," Becky said.
"Is Jenny Marshall here today?"
Jenny cringed when she heard Ellen ask for her.
"She's working in the kitchen."
"I'd like to speak to her, if I could."
"Jenny, Mrs. Dunlop would like to speak with you and could you bring out that order for the James Corporation?"
Jenny picked up the two large boxes and carried them out to the counter. "Here you are, Mrs. Dunlop."
"That will be nine-teen, ninety-five," Becky said.
Ellen gave her a credit card and Becky swiped through the reader.
"Miss Marshall, did my brother spend the night with you last night?"
"I don't think that's any of your business."
"It's my business if it involves my brother and his future. Do you really think you would fit in at the extravagant events that he attends? I'm sure you'd fall flat on your face in a formal dress and a pair of heels. You're good in the kitchen. I'll admit that, but I think that's where you need to stay, with the other servants."
Jenny took a step toward the counter, but Becky grabbed her arm. “Mrs. Dunlop, if you will sign this credit slip, I think you should leave."
"You're asking me to leave?"
"No, I'm telling you to leave."
"You realize that you're not the only place in town with baked goods."
"I do and as much as I would hate to lose the James Corporation's business, I will not allow you or anyone else speak to one of my employees like that."
Ellen signed the slip and put her copy in her purse. She picked up the boxes of pastries and left the store without saying another word.
"Oh Becky, I told you this wouldn't work out." Jenny buried her head into Becky's shoulder.
"There, there, honey. Let's go into my office before another customer comes in."
In the office, Jenny sat down and Becky handed her a tissue. "Haven't we been here before?"
Jenny nodded.
"So, you know everything I'm going to say, right?"
"Yes."
"Good, I don't have to repeat it then. Now, I want to know everything. We’re late this morning because you were with Derek?"
Jenny raised her head a little, looking at Becky. "Yes."
"Oh honey, that's wonderful." She threw her arms around Jenny and then looked her in the eye. "You used protection, didn't you?"
Jenny laughed. "It wasn't like that. We fell asleep on my couch watching a movie. Nothing happened."
"Apparently, his sister doesn't know that."
"Derek had a nine-o'clock meeting. He had to go straight there and I’m afraid he wasn't exactly dressed for a business meeting. He must have told her that he was with me."
Low Fat Strawberry Scones
1 cup fresh strawberries, cut into small pieces
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar plus 1 tsp for topping
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/ 2 half stick of butter, cut up in pieces
3/4 cups 1% light buttermilk (cold)
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat the oven to 400° f. Mix strawberries with 1 tbsp of sugar and set aside. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Add the butter into the flour. Mix well.
In a medium bowl, mix the buttermilk, vanilla. Using a fork, slowly stir in the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, until all the mixture is moistened. Do not over work the dough. Fold in the strawberries.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop 8 equal large spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet (to avoid tough scones, do not press or compact). Bake in the center rack 18 minutes. Remove and let them cool about 5 minutes before eating.
Chapter Seven
Sunday morning came quickly and Jenny wanted to make sure she was ready when Derek got there to take her to the football game. As she gave her hair a final brush, she surveyed herself in the mirror. She wore a Bengals jersey, blue jeans, and boots. A knock at the door told her he had arrived.
"Good morning," he said when she opened the door.
"Good morning. Please come in."
"They're calling for a little snow today. That should make for an exciting game." He stepped inside. "We should probably get going. Traffic will be heavy."
"I'm ready." Jenny put on her coat, scarf, gloves, and hat and they went out to his SUV and headed to Cincinnati for the game.
The closer they got to the stadium, the heavier the traffic became. Finally, Derek pulled up to a parking attendant who was directing traffic and showed him a card. He gave Derek a pass to put on the dash and motioned him through a gate and out of the long line of cars.
"Oh my gosh, we're parking in the VIP lot right next to the stadium," Jenny raved. "When I go to a game with my dad and brother, we have park way up on Third Street. It's such a long walk."
"That's probably hard on your dad."
"It's hard on all of us." She laughed.
"Maybe we can bring your dad and brother to a game sometime and no one will have to walk very far."
"That would be great."
Derek parked in a reserved spot and they both got out of the truck. As they neared the entrance gate, he stopped Jenny. "Here, you'll need to wear this." He hung her ticket, attached to a lanyard, around her neck. "They'll scan it at the gate."
Once inside the stadium, Derek directed her up a series of escalators. She looked at the ticket around her neck. "I've never seen a ticket like this. We usually order ours online and we print them out."
They got off of the escalator and started walking. "Those kind are for the regular outdoor seats. We'll be watching the game from the James Corporation's suite."
Jenny came to a dead stop. "We're going to be in a suite?"
"Yes, with about eighteen other people, most of them from my office."
"Derek, you should have told me. Look what I'm wearing?"
"You look fine. It's a football game. Don't worry." He put his hand on her back and guided her to an elevator.
Before they could get on, a security person checked their tickets and then pushed a button allowing them on. They stepped off of the elevator into a carpeted corridor decorated in the team colors of black and orange. Derek motioned her toward an open doorway and inside she found it to be a luxury suite with the front glass window looking out onto the football field.
With no one else in the suite yet, Jenny went to the front row of seats to look out the window. "We're on the fifty yard line."
"Almost. Other than the team
owner's suite, we have one of the best in the stadium," he proudly boosted.
Some of the catering staff came in and started setting up the buffet along the one wall, while another one worked at the bar in the rear.
"Would you like something to drink?" Derek asked.
"A diet soda, please." She sat down in one of the seats while he went for her drink. She looked out over the field and wondered how the day would go. Derek said other people from his office would be there and she hoped Colleen wouldn't be one of them.
He brought her a soda and a cranberry juice for himself and sat down. They spent about twenty minutes talking before other guests began arriving. Jenny stayed in her seat and watched as Derek greeted each of his workers and their guests. Whenever they were close enough, he would introduce her as his date and when he was too far away, he would catch her eye and wink or wave.
As the Bengals took the field for their warm-ups, she turned to the field and used some binoculars to get a closer view. A few minutes later, he heard Derek give a loud shout to someone. She turned around and saw him greeting Wes and Cynthia. Great. Wes dressed casually in a shirt and jeans, but Cynthia wore black slacks, pink sweater, and heels. Heels? To a football game? She turned her attention back to the field, determined not to let Cynthia spoil her day.
As the suite grew more crowded, Jenny's hopes of Colleen not being there seemed greater. It didn't take long for Derek to find his way back to Jenny. "Would you like a refill?"
"Not yet."
"Why don't you come and sit next to me at the table with Wes and Cynthia?"
She looked back at the table and Wes gave her a smile and wave. Cynthia looked away.
"I really don't have anything in common with them. Besides, the game is going to start soon."
Derek leaned down closer. "Wes is my best friend and I would really like for you to become friends with him also."
"It's not Wes I have a problem with. Cynthia doesn't like me and my feelings toward her are the same."
"How do you know she doesn't like you?"
"This really isn't the place to go into that right now."
"Jenny, please. I want you with me at their table."
How could she refuse his sweet eyes? "Okay, but I'm going to need something stronger than diet soda to drink."
Jenny followed Derek back to the table and took a seat between him and Wes.
"Wes, Cynthia, you both remember Jenny."
"It's good to see you again, Jenny," Wes said.
"Of course, I remember her," Cynthia said. "She's the cook you hired for your dinner party."
"Thanks, Wes. Yes, Cynthia. I was the cook at Derek's dinner party and I'm so glad you enjoyed the Toffee Cheesecake I served. As I recall, you had two pieces."
Wes snickered.
"You must be mistaken, I would have never eaten two pieces."
"No, I distinctly remember you requesting a second piece in the living room with your coffee."
Before Cynthia could respond, Derek jumped in. "Would anyone like a drink? I know I could use one."
"Me, too," Wes said. "Let me help you get them."
"No! You sit here," Derek said pushing Wes back into his seat. "What can I get everyone?"
"Bring me a scotch on the rocks," Wes said.
"I'll have a Mimosa," Cynthia requested.
"Okay. Jenny, for you?"
"I think I'll have a beer, please."
"You know what," Wes broke in. "It's a football game, change mine to a beer, too."
"Now, we're talking. Cynthia, do you want to make it unanimous and change to a beer?"
"Certainly not. That's such a nasty drink."
"All right, that's three beers and a mimosa," Derek said. He left for the bar.
"We need popcorn." Jenny jumped up and went to the buffet where a popper had popcorn exploding out of the cooker.
With the help of the bartender, Derek returned with the drinks at the same time Jenny returned with a big bowl of popcorn. Before they could sit, everyone stood for the playing of the National Anthem.
Soon, the football game started. Derek, Jenny, and Wes paid close attention to the game, but Cynthia sat at the table not uttering a word, never clapping, and mostly looked bored.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bengals led. "Anyone want a refill?" Derek asked.
"Another beer for me," Wes said.
"Me, too," Jenny added.
"Two more beers. Cynthia, anything for you?"
"No."
"Okay, then. Jenny, would you mind getting me a turkey sandwich and some of the mac and cheese?" Derek asked.
"Sure. I'm getting hungry, too."
Derek left to get the drinks.
"That sounds good," Wes said, standing. "Can I get you something, Cynthia?"
"I'll take some chicken salad."
Jenny and Wes walked over to the buffet and began filling their plates. "You and Cynthia seem to be two completely different types of people. I hope you don't mind me asking, but what do you see in her?" she asked.
"We're more alike than you think. We both like art, classical music, and current events."
"But, apparently not football."
"I may have made a lapse in judgment asking her here today," he joked. "You know, I could say the same thing about you and Derek. You two seem pretty different too."
"Yes, we definitely come from opposite sides of the track, but we have a few things in common. We both like football and food too. I like to cook it and he likes to eat it."
Wes laughed. With their plates full, they turned to head back to the table. Jenny saw Derek standing at the bar talking to Ellen and her husband, who when she took a step back, Jenny saw something she didn't like. "Oh no."
"What's wrong?" Wes asked.
She hadn't intended for him to hear her, but thought what the hell. "Colleen Michaels is here."
"Ah, the competition."
"What? Oh, no, no, not competition. Not at all."
"It's pretty obvious that you're both interested in him."
"Well, okay. But, how do I compete with her? She smart, a college graduate, and they have way more in common, not to mention she sees him every day at work."
"You just be yourself. If Derek didn't like you, he wouldn't have brought you here today, right?"
"I suppose."
"We better get back to the table before Cynthia thinks I'm interested in you."
"Just another excuse for her to hate me."
"She doesn't hate you. Why would you think that?"
Jenny thought it would be better not to cause a problem, so she brushed it off. "No reason. Just a feeling." They walked back to their table.
Wes placed Cynthia's sandwich in front of her.
"Wesley, that’s not what I told you to get me."
"You said chicken salad and that's what I got you."
"Yes, chicken salad, not a chicken salad sandwich. You know I don't eat bread."
Wes took a deep breath. "You're right. I'm sorry. Would you like me to get you some chicken salad?"
"No, I'll just eat it off of the bread."
Jenny started to say something to Cynthia, but Wes put his hand on her arm and nodded his head no.
Derek walked back over to the table setting Jenny and Wes' beers in front of them. "Look who showed up, better late than never."
"Hello everyone," Ellen said. "I'm sorry we're late, but John just couldn't seem to get moving today." Her husband sat down, not even looking at her. "I think you all know Colleen. She’s been wanting to learn all about football, so we just had to bring her. Derek, you sit here next to Colleen and explain everything to her."
Ellen grabbed Derek by the arm and pulled him over into the seat next to Colleen. He looked over at Jenny and sort of shrugged his shoulders.
Everyone turned their attention to the game. Just as the game clock ran out at halftime, the Bengals' quarterback threw a long pass ending in a touchdown. John, Derek, Jenny, and Wes stood up and cheered. Ellen, Colleen,
and Cynthia stayed stoic. When everyone sat back down, Jenny saw Ellen nudge Colleen.
"Derek, would you explain what happened?" Colleen asked.
"Well, you see," he started to explain, but then Jenny cleared her throat. "We, ah, we scored a touchdown."
"Oh, I see. Yeah for our team."
Jenny started to laugh, but the stare from Derek stopped her in mid-chuckle. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the restroom." Jenny stood and left the suite.
When she came out of the restroom, Colleen and Cynthia stood in the hallway. She knew they were there waiting for her, but tried to ignore them.
"Jenny, a word, please," Cynthia said.
What now. "Yes."
"Here." Cynthia held out several bills of money.
"What's this?"
"Money, of course. This should be enough for you to take a taxi home."
"Why would I take a taxi home? I came with Derek."
"Don't you get it?" Colleen interjected. "He brought you because you're his charity case. He wants you to experience things you've missed."
"I've been to football games here before."
She started to step around them, but Cynthia stopped her. "But, not in one of these luxury suites, right?"
"Well, no." She looked down.
"Take the money and go home." Cynthia held the money out again.
"No. I don't believe it."
"You think you have him all to yourself, don't you?" Colleen said. "I don't suppose he told you that he and I are going out on Wednesday night."
"Colleen has some paintings displayed at an art show downtown. Wes and I are going with them."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"To prove to you that you have no chance with Derek," Cynthia said, holding the money toward her again.
Jenny pushed the money away. "You're not buying me off." She walked back into the suite.
With the home team ahead, most of the guests in the suite were talking to each other rather than paying close attention to the game. Derek was the perfect host, making sure he visited with each person. Finally, after making the rounds, he rejoined Jenny, who sat at the table alone now.
A Kitchen Affair Page 9
