Chapter 3 May The Best Man Lose

Every news channel carried the announcement that Mr. Hugh, the number one businessman and the richest man in the country, was looking for a chef.

Hugh Anton sat on a couch in his sitting room, watching the news. He laughed loudly.

This was his way of showing his rivals that he was above them.

He knew they would try to use this opportunity against him. His enemies would see it as a weakness, an opening to strike. But he wanted them to know he wasn't a fool. He wasn't CEO Hugh Anton for nothing.

He could have simply told Robert to hire a high-class chef. But where was the fun in that?

He twirled the glass of red wine in his hand and smirked.

"Well, let the fun begin, and may the best man lose."

---

Mia stood confidently at the back of the line in navy blue jeans, a black tee, and black flats, which were uncomfortable for her. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

A long line of job seekers stretched outside one of Mr. Hugh's five-star hotels.

Security guards conducted a thorough search with scanning gadgets before leading them inside, where an even more meticulous, intimate search took place-female guards inspected the women, while male guards inspected the men.

Mia found the process embarrassing but had no choice.

The number of applicants was roughly thirty, and surprisingly, the majority were men.

"What was it with men and cooking these days?" Mia wondered.

Dixon was a good cook, even Luther could prepare a few meals, but she had only recently learned how to cook properly.

After the search, they were led to a waiting room, where they were called in one by one for their interviews.

Mia grew slightly nervous because none of the candidates who went in had come back out.

She started considering whether she should abandon this plan and go for Plan B instead.

Before she could decide, a male voice whispered beside her.

"Hey, you're up."

She had been so deep in thought that she hadn't heard the guard call her name.

"Oh... thank you," she said, getting up and moving toward the office.

---

"Sit down," Robert, Anton's PA, instructed as soon as she entered.

Mia looked around and noticed a young man seated next to Robert, focused on his computer. On the table, she spotted a familiar device-a polygraph.

"Oh..."

Lucky for her, Luther had once explained how to cheat a polygraph, so this would be easy.

She wore the wires and sat down, remaining as calm as ever.

"Your name?"

"Natasha Donald."

Correct.

"Age?"

"I'm 26 years old."

Correct.

"What made you decide to become a cook?"

... And the interview continued, each answer checking out as correct.

Robert glanced at the man beside him, who gave a nod.

"Go into that room," Robert instructed, pointing to a door on his right.

Mia stood up, bowed slightly, and entered the room.

Inside, there were only a few others-faces she recognized from the waiting area.

But where were the others?

Minutes later, they were given aprons and hair bonnets, then led into the kitchen.

---

The back door of the black Lamborghini swung open, and Anton stepped inside. Without raising his head, he opened a document and started reading through it.

Halfway through, he said, "Take me to Regal Da Ma."

"Okay, sir," the driver responded.

The car stopped at the hotel's back entrance, and the driver quickly opened the door for Anton.

Hands in his pockets, Anton stepped out and stared at the hotel before walking in.

"Good morning, sir," employees greeted him as he passed, bowing respectfully.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

Entering the elevator, he rode up to the third floor. Though he had left Robert in charge of the interview process, a sudden change of heart made him decide to show up.

Robert immediately spotted Anton as he entered the room and walked over.

"Mr. Hugh," he greeted with a bow. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to watch the interview," Anton replied casually, taking a seat and crossing his left leg over his right.

Robert sat beside him.

"Look, Robert, it's not like I don't trust you to handle this," Anton continued. "If I didn't, you wouldn't be my PA or my friend. You know that. But I wanted to see the interview firsthand... and also make Mr. Sham pissed."

Robert chuckled.

Anton's expression was amusing. He had an air of strictness and ruthlessness toward his other employees, but with Robert, he was different-caring, even.

Robert had worked for Anton for a year before their professional relationship turned into a friendship. Over time, he realized that Anton wasn't as bad as people thought. He was simply a man trying to survive, hiding his pain behind a cold exterior. Beneath it all, he was understanding and deeply loyal.

His past still haunted him.

"Now, let's get this done and over with," Anton said, his face turning stone-cold and ruthless once more.

"Let them in," he ordered.

The guard opened the door, and the selected applicants entered.

Out of the thirty who applied, only ten had been chosen for the practical interview. The remaining twenty were deemed 'fakes.'

When Anton spotted a familiar face, his eyes lit up.

"So, she's a cook, huh?" He smiled.

Robert addressed the applicants. Unlike a typical cooking interview, he instructed them to prepare Anton's favorite dish-fried rice.

With the ingredients already in place, they were given a time limit and told to begin.

Anton's attention was fixed on Mia.

"The other ones-the 'fakes'-are in the 'beating room,'" Robert said, but received no response.

He followed Anton's gaze and realized he wasn't staring at something-he was staring at someone. A woman.

Robert observed her. She was beautiful, no doubt, but what was so exceptional about her that had Anton so lost in thought?

"What do you think of her?" Robert whispered in Anton's ear, making him jolt out of his reverie.

"Huh?"

"The way you were looking at her-I wanted to know your thoughts," Robert teased.

It had been a long time since he'd seen Anton show interest in a woman.

A hard glare from Anton made Robert wipe the smirk off his face.

"You have five minutes to wrap up," Robert announced to the applicants.

"The 'fakes' are in the beating room," he repeated.

"Hmm... I'll visit them when I'm done here," Anton responded absentmindedly.

Soon, the applicants began presenting their dishes to the judges-Anton and Robert.

Anton hid his smile when he tasted Mia's food. He was impressed. She was a good cook, and most importantly, she had made his favorite meal perfectly.

After submitting their meals, each applicant exited the kitchen, leaving the judges to taste and rate the dishes.

Robert showed Anton his list of ratings. Anton immediately disagreed.

"Why is Ralph first on that list?" he questioned.

"Because he's good. Didn't you taste his meal?" Robert countered.

"I want Natasha to be my cook," Anton said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Robert sighed but wasn't ready to give up.

"But Anton-"

"Remind me who needs the cook?"

Robert exhaled in defeat. "Fine."

"Ralph can be the assistant cook." Anton said with finality in his tone as he stood up; he has to attend to the 'fakes'.