Chapter 3798
“I asked Tatum to prepare something for me to eat since I didn’t have dinner tonight,” Elora said.
Mrs. Ormond looked concerned and replied, “You didn’t eat anything? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have asked Tatum to make something special for you so that you could enjoy a nice meal as soon as you got home.”
“You are so picky with your food. Even the best chefs struggle to stay in our house for more than a year or two. It’s impressive if they last three months,” she added, shaking her head. “What will you do if no one wants to apply for the job in the future? Are you planning to starve? The other chefs we have also make delicious food.”
She sighed, worried about Elora’s pickiness and what might happen if they ran out of chefs willing to work for them.
Elora was silent for a moment before responding, “I can’t worry too much about the future. Right now, I’m enjoying Tatum’s cooking, and I haven’t grown tired of it.”
“Tatum’s only been here for a month,” Mrs. Ormond pointed out. “You might feel differently if he stays longer. What if we offer him a longer contract?”
Elora considered this. “Mom, Tatum is talented and ambitious. He doesn’t want to be confined to just our kitchen. He hopes more people can experience his cooking. If he stays for a full year, that would be great, but we don’t need to push for a longer contract.”
“If he wants to move on and focus on his own business, I won’t hold him back,” Elora continued. “And if that happens, we can always hire another chef. With so many skilled cooks out there, I’m sure we will find someone suitable.”
She paused and added, “But of course, if Tatum agrees to stay longer, that would be even better. It’s too soon to decide.”
Consider this: he hasn’t even finished his first year yet. For all we know, I might grow tired of his cooking in just a few months.” Mrs. Ormond was momentarily left speechless.
“Mom, I’m going to take these items to my room,” Elora said. “Tatum should have supper ready soon. I’ll eat a little and then take a walk in the yard to help me sleep.” She understood that overeating would keep her awake, so she intended to have only a light snack to satisfy her hunger.
“Alright, go ahead,” Mrs. Ormond replied. “I’m heading to bed myself. Your dad hasn’t returned yet; he’s always out and about since retiring. I have no idea what he’s up to.” She sighed and returned to her room, still grumbling about her absent husband.
Ten minutes later, Elora sat down to enjoy the supper Tatum had prepared for her. It was a small portion—just enough to ease her hunger without making her feel overly full.
“Tatum, you don’t need to stay here. Feel free to rest,” Elora said kindly when she noticed he was still present.
Tatum replied, “Miss, would you like some company for your walk? I’m not ready to sleep yet and would be happy to join you.”