Page 30 of Brutal King

“Come on,” Trent said as he turned to lead the way out of the kitchen.

“I believe in getting an early start,” I blurted out, feeling the need to say something.

“Yeah,” Trent said as he shot me a dismissive glance. “I kind of got that from when Katrina said it.”

“Right,” I muttered.

We followed him to his small but efficiently furnished office; just a small desk topped with glass, a leather chair behind it and a red velvet armchair facing it.

“Not only is this my first time working for the Lee family,” Trent said. “But it is also my first time working with students from the academy. I very much look forward to the experience.”

“I do hope we won’t be a disappointment to you,” Kat said.

“I seriously doubt that,” he said with a brilliantly white smile obviously meant just for her.

Damn.

“Mr. Singh has given me a few guidelines...” He went around to sit behind his small desk and pulled a red binder from the top drawer. “You know... what he expects from you and what challenges he wants you to meet and all that. So I’ve prepared what I hope is an appropriate project for you.”

Kat sat down in the armchair facing the desk while I was left standing practically in the doorway.

“Here you go,” Trent said as he pushed the binder toward Kat.

Before she could take it, I stepped forward and picked it up. Both looked at me as if I’d committed the most horrible offense.

I opened the binder. “We’re to hire a sous-chef, waiting staff and busboy,” I said with a touch of surprise.

“That’s right,” Blondie said.

“We are to find appropriate suppliers for all the food, including condiments, sauces and any take out containers we might need.”

“That’s right.”

“And we are to run the restaurant, preferably with a profit, for the entire semester, and write an entire report on our experience.”

“Right again, young man,” Trent said.

Young man? Christ... we’re nearly the same age, Blondie.

“That all sounds so very exciting,” Kat said. “A bigger challenge than I expected, but very exciting.”

“Yes,” Trent said. “And, needless to say, Mr. Lee would like to officially open the doors to the public within the month. Actually, he would be more than pleased if we were ready to receive our first customers within two weeks.”

“Within two weeks? Even a month is pushing it,” I said. “Hire a crew, find suppliers and...”

“Is that too much for you?” Trent said with such derision, I wanted to smack him.

“No,” I said as I closed the binder and set it on the desk. “Not at all.”

“Good.” Trent smiled knowingly at Kat.

What the hell did that smile mean? Did he think I was a wimp? That I wasn’t up to the task? Hell, did he know who I was? I had half a mind to put him in his place.

“Of course,” he went on. “I’ll have final say on any hirings. And I’ll be here to help guide you along the way... should you need it. I’ll be checking in on you every step of the way and reporting back to Mr. Singh, and when all is said and done, I’ll give him my final grade on your work here.”

Great. This bozo had my future in his hands.

“I can’t wait to get started,” Kat said. She stood and smiled at Trent. “Thank you so much for taking the time to lay this all out for us.”