Chapter 27

They are staying at a regular farm.

The farm has quite a few houses, but the rooms are basic and only offer essential accommodations. Of course, for Michael, this kind of place wasn't meant for people to live in.

Michael looked around with disdain.

He couldn't wrap his head around why, with all the budget they had for activities, Eric picked this place.

"Mr. Allen said when we visit the welfare home,we're here to help, not to be a hassle. So, we can only stay at the farm near the welfare institute.and we'Il have to take care of our food and accommodation." Isabella explained to Michael while making the bed.

Knowing Michael's preferences, Isabella had brought all his personal stuff from home,

By the time they finished setting up the dorn, it was almost noon.

"Come on. we need to cook," Isabella said,dragging Michael towards the courtyard.

Michael had never set foot in a kitchen before and had no clue what raw ingredients even looked like.

"But what if I don't know how to cook?" Michael hesitated. "Isn't it bad to just eat and not help? How about I call Aaron to send us some food?"

"No need. Mr. Allen said the best part of a team is everyone doing what they're good at. So, it's fine if you can't cook. I can," Isabella reassured him.pulling him into the courtyard.

Eric stood in front of the stove, the flickering flames casting shadows on

his profile,accentuating his chiseled features.

His fingers pinched a thick-cut steak, the vibrant red marbling with fine streaks of fat. The cast-iron skillet was already sizzling hot; with a flick of his wrist, olive oilglided into the pan.

As the steak hit the surface, the oil crackled, and he leaned back slightly, a casual smile playing at the corners of his lips. One hand casually tucked in his pocket, he held a pair of tongs in the other, occasionally pressing down on the steak's surface to perfectly seal in the juices.

He had the heat just right; the moment he flipped it, the edges of the steak were already a tempting deep brown, the fat melting under the high temperature, dripping into the flames and creating a series of small pops.

He sprinkled a pinch of coarse salt, his fingers deftly twisting black pepper,letting the granules fall like confetti. Finally, he picked up a small chunk of butter, letting it melt slowly along the edge of the steak, the creamy aroma mingling with the meaty scent in the air.

He turned off the heat and lifted the steak gently, placing it on a warmed plate, the dark red juices seeping out and pooling at the bottom. He glanced down, a satisfied hum escaping his lips, then casually grabbed a handful of rosemary, crushing the leaves between his fingers,letting the fragments fall to add the finishing touch to the dish.

"Medíum rare, just right," he chuckled, his voice laced with a lazy confidence. As he lifted his gaze, his eyes burned like flames, captivating and intense.

Michael finally got what Eric was up to. This wasn't just about cooking a steak; it was a display of his captivating charm that made hearts race and cheeks flush.

Watching Eric's skills, Isabella was in awe and muttered, "Wow, Mr. Allen

is so cool!"

Olivia added, "Totally, guys who can cook are just the best."

Although Michael thought Eric looked really handsome while cooking, he felt that Eric was using this to attract Isabella, comparing his strengths to others'weaknesses.

Michael thought, 'This is so sneaky. Is he trying to make me look bad because I can't cook? Eric is cunning.'

The more Michael thought about it, the more annoyed he got. He pulled Isabella away, grumbling, "Stop watching. It's just cooking. What's the big deal? It might not even taste good."

"No, Mr. Allen's cooking is really good," Isabella defended Eric.

"How do you know?" Michael asked, irritated.

Isabella didn't get why Michael was suddenly so upset, so she calmly explained, "I heard it from our colleagues. Apparently, the company has this event every year, and Mr. Allen always cooks."

Michael felt a bit better, knowing Eric was cooking for everyone and not just trying to impress Isabella.

"Wait till we get back, I'll cook for you," Michael said jealously,holding Isabella close.

"You can cook?" Isabella asked, surprised.

She gave Michael a once-over, doubting if he could even hold a knife right.

Seeing Isabella's skepticism, Michael got even more annoyed. "What's so hard about cooking? I can definitely make something better than his."

When a guy's competitive streak kicks in, even someone as smart as

Michael can start talking nonsense.

His stubbornness made Isabella chuckle, but she tried to keep it in.She teased him with a smile, "How about giving Mr. Allen a break and showing off your skills?"

Michael shot back arrogantly, "I'm not here to perform like a circus monkey. Besides, the food I make is just for you."

Isabella didn't want to call him out, so she played along. "Of course, your amazing cooking skills are just for me."

Her support clearly made him happy, so when Eric called them to eat, he surprisingly didn't throw a fit.

During the meal, Isabella kept quiet, worried about upsetting Michael.

Unexpectedly, Michael wasn't awkward at all. He praised Eric's cooking and encouraged Isabella to eat more.

After the meal, Michael saw Isabella and Olivia chatting, so he quietly stepped out and called Aaron. "Check if Mr. Victor Allen from headquarters has any investments or businesses in hotels or restaurants."

"Mr. Johnson, are you suspecting him of embezzling funds, or..." Aaron was confused about Michael's intentions.

"It's not that deep. I just want to hire one of his chefs for my home,"Michael explained.

"That's it?". Aaron was surprised by the simplicity of the task.

"Yes, that's it. Or if you want a challenge, you can also check if any of his family members are in the restaurant business," Michael added.

"Okay, Mr.Johnson," Aaron replied.

Michael reminded him, "Don't overcomplicate it. Just find their chef and offer more money to hire them."

"Got it!" Aaron quickly agreed, finding it rare to have such a straightforward task.

When Michael returned, people in the courtyard were still raving about Eric's cooking. Picky eaters debated which dish was the best and could rival a restaurant's signature dish, while those good at cooking surrounded Eric,asking for tips.

Eric was surrounded by a group of women.

Michael glanced over and nodded in satisfaction. He thought smugly,Great, Isabela isn't among them. Eric's scheming is pointless. Isabella isn't interested in that stuff at all, enjoying the delicious food.'

Seeing him come in from the gate, Isabella walked overand quietly asked if he was tired and needed a rest.

Michael was extremely pleased, thinking that Isabella was indeed the woman he had his eyes on,with good taste and a broad perspective, who wouldn't be swayed by other men's flashy but empty tricks.

He held Isabella's hand and looked at Eric, who happened to glance over.Michael raised an eyebrow,showing his disdain.