Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

A few hours later, Olive stood in front of her full-length mirror, scrutinizing her reflection. Chaos had told her to dress comfortably, but she still wanted to look good.

A knock at her door made her heart leap. She took a deep breath, smoothing down her sweater one last time before going to answer it.

Chaos stood in the hallway, looking devastatingly handsome in dark jeans and a button-down that stretched enticingly across his broad shoulders. His hazel eyes lit up as they roamed over her, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"You look beautiful," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Olive's spine.

"You're not so bad yourself," Olive replied, proud of how steady her voice sounded despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Chaos chuckled, offering her his arm. "Shall we? Your ride awaits, my lady."

Olive laughed, linking her arm through his. "Such a gentleman. Lead the way, good sir."

They made their way down to the street where a sleek black town car waited. The driver opened the door for them, and Olive slid in, followed closely by Chaos. As the car pulled away from the curb, Olive turned to him, curiosity getting the better of her.

"So, are you going to tell me where we're going? Or is this one of those ‘I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you' situations?"

Chaos grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now where's the fun in spoiling the surprise? Don't worry, we're picking up your friend Athena on the way. I promise it's nothing sinister."

Olive raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. That's exactly what a sinister person would say, you know."

"Damn, you've seen right through my evil plan," Chaos deadpanned. "I suppose I'll have to cancel the shark tank and the laser beams."

Olive burst out laughing, the last of her nerves melting away. There was something about Chaos that put her at ease, even as he sent her heart racing.

They picked up Athena, who gave Chaos an appraising once-over before declaring him "acceptable." Olive could have died of embarrassment, but Chaos took it in stride, seeming amused by Athena's protective big sister act.

As they drove through the city, Olive tried to guess where they might be going based on the landmarks they passed. But when the car finally came to a stop, she found herself completely baffled.

They were parked in front of a trendy-looking building with large windows and a sign that read "Culinary Institute of New York." Olive turned to Chaos, confusion written all over her face.

"A cooking school?" she asked.

Chaos nodded, a hint of nervousness creeping into his expression. "I arranged a special cooking class for my senior management team. I thought... well, I thought you might enjoy it. Was I wrong?"

Olive's heart melted at the uncertainty in his voice. She reached out, squeezing his hand. "No, you weren't wrong. This is... this is amazing, Chaos. Thank you."

The relief on his face was palpable. He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles that sent sparks racing up her arm. "I'm glad. Shall we?"

As they entered the building, Olive was struck by the bustling energy of the place. The air was filled with the tantalizing aromas of various dishes being prepared, and the sound of chopping, sizzling, and lively conversation.

They were led to a large, state-of-the-art kitchen where about a dozen people were already gathered, chatting and laughing as they donned aprons. Olive recognized a few faces from business magazines and tech news sites - these were some of the most powerful people in the industry.

A tall, muscular man with warm brown eyes and a scar above his right eyebrow approached them, a friendly grin on his face.

"About time you showed up, boss," he said, clapping Chaos on the shoulder. "I was starting to think you'd chickened out."

Chaos rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "As if. Olive, Athena, this is Baxter Lennox, my COO and occasional pain in the ass. Bax, this is Olive Russo and her cousin Athena."

Baxter's brows shot up as he turned to Olive, recognition dawning on his face. "Ah, so you're the famous Olive. I've heard a lot about you."

Olive felt her cheeks heat. "All good things, I hope?"

"Oh, the best," Baxter assured her with a wink. "I haven't seen Chaos this worked up over a woman in... well, ever."

"All right, that's enough out of you," Chaos grumbled, but Olive could see the pleased glint in his eye.

Baxter turned his attention to Athena, his grin widening. "And who might you be, beautiful?"

Athena raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Someone way out of your league, Casanova."

Baxter clutched his chest in mock pain. "Ouch. I'm wounded."

"You'll live," Athena replied dryly, but Olive could see the spark of interest in her cousin's eyes.

Before the banter could continue, a booming voice called for everyone's attention. Olive turned to see a tall, imposing man with salt-and-pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard striding into the room.

"Good afternoon, everyone! I'm Chef Stefano, and I'll be your instructor for tonight's class. I hope you're all ready to get your hands dirty and create some culinary magic!"

As Chef Stefano began explaining the menu they'd be preparing - a three-course Italian feast - Olive felt a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her. She'd always loved cooking, but she'd never attempted anything this fancy before.

Chaos must have sensed her apprehension because he leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Don't worry. If all else fails, we can always order pizza."

Olive giggled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. She looked up at Chaos, warmth spreading through her chest at the gentle encouragement in his eyes. "Team Chaos and Olive?" she asked, holding out her hand.

Chaos took it, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Team Chaos and Olive," he agreed with a grin.

As they moved to their assigned cooking station, Olive couldn't help but marvel at how natural it felt to work alongside Chaos. They fell into an easy rhythm, chopping vegetables and stirring sauces, their movements in sync as if they'd been cooking together for years.

Chaos proved to be surprisingly adept in the kitchen, his precise, efficient movements reminding Olive of the way he commanded a boardroom.

But there was a playfulness to him here she hadn't seen before. He cracked jokes as they worked, his deep laughter sending pleasant shivers down Olive's spine.

"You know," Olive said as she stirred the risotto, "I'm impressed. I didn't expect a tech mogul to be so handy with a spatula."

Chaos grinned, sprinkling herbs into the sauce he was preparing. "What can I say? I'm a man of many talents. Though I have to admit, my culinary skills are usually limited to protein shakes and grilled chicken."

Olive laughed, bumping her hip against his playfully. "Well, you're doing pretty well for a novice. Maybe there's hope for you yet."

"High praise indeed," Chaos teased. "Though I have to say, my motivation tonight is particularly strong. I've got a beautiful woman to impress, after all."

Olive met his gaze with a saucy smirk of her own. "Oh? And how's that going for you?"

Chaos leaned in close, his voice dropping to a low rumble that made Olive's toes curl in her boots. "I don't know. You tell me."

The sexual tension between them sparked like electricity, so intense, Olive could almost taste it. She opened her mouth to respond - with what, she wasn't entirely sure - when a voice cut through their bubble.

"Oi! Lovebirds! The risotto's about to boil over!"

Olive yelped, spinning back to the stove just in time to prevent a culinary disaster. She shot a grateful look at Baxter, who was grinning at them from the next station over.

"Thanks for the save," she said, stirring the risotto vigorously.

Baxter winked. "No problem. Though I have to say, if that's what it takes to get Chaos to smile like that, I might have to let a few more dishes burn."

Olive glanced at Chaos, her heart skipping a beat at the soft, almost vulnerable expression on his face as he looked at her. It was a far cry from the stoic, commanding presence she'd first encountered at the charity gala.

As the evening progressed, Olive found herself thoroughly enjoying not just Chaos's company, but the entire group dynamic. Chaos's team was a diverse and entertaining bunch, full of quick wit and friendly banter. She was particularly amused by the ongoing flirtation between Athena and Baxter, which had evolved into a kind of verbal sparring match.

"You know," Athena drawled as she expertly plated their appetizer, "for a tech nerd, you're not half bad at this cooking thing."

Baxter grinned, unfazed by her backhanded compliment. "What can I say? I'm good with my hands in all sorts of ways."

Athena rolled her eyes, but Olive could see the hint of a smile tugging at her cousin's lips. "Keep dreaming, Lennox."

As they finally sat to enjoy the fruits of their labor, Olive couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. The food was delicious - their risotto had turned out creamy and perfectly al dente, the chicken piccata was tender and flavorful, and the tiramisu for dessert was to die for.

But more than the food, it was the company that made the evening special. Olive found herself laughing more than she had in years, drawn into animated discussions about everything from the latest tech innovations to the merits of various romance novel tropes.

Throughout it all, Chaos was a constant presence at her side, his hand occasionally brushing hers under the table, his eyes seeking her out across the room. Each little interaction sent a thrill through Olive, building a delicious tension that had her simultaneously yearning for and dreading the end of the evening.

As the night wound down and people began to leave, Chef Stefano approached their table, a warm smile on his face.

"I hope you all enjoyed yourselves tonight," he said. "But the evening isn't quite over yet. As part of our commitment to giving back to the community, we've prepared extra portions of everything you've made tonight. If you're willing, we'd love for you to help us serve these meals at a local shelter."

Olive's heart swelled at the suggestion. She turned to Chaos, ready to express her enthusiasm, only to find him already looking at her with a soft smile.

"What do you say?" he asked. "Feel like spreading some culinary joy?"

Olive beamed at him. "Absolutely. Lead the way, Chef."

The group made their way to a nearby shelter, their arms laden with containers of food. As they began serving, Olive was struck by the genuine warmth and compassion she saw in Chaos. He chatted easily with the shelter residents, listening to their stories with genuine interest and offering words of encouragement.