"Kasey, right? This way," Jason said, waving her inside his house. No hello, no hi, just 'this way'.
Kasey followed him into the large office where he motioned for her to sit in one of the comfortable-looking wingback chairs. He sat in the other one, a small end table separating them. He tapped at his phone, no doubt pulling up their brief email correspondence.
"So you're a sophomore at Stone Academy. Have you chosen a specialty yet?"
"Culinary Arts with an emphasis in nutrition. I'm kind of a health nut." She smiled. Interviews usually stressed her out but there was something about Jason that put her at ease despite the so-far brief interaction.
Jason nodded and looked at his phone again, smiled, and pocketed it. He turned his full gaze to Kasey.
"We've had problems filling this position with a quality candidate. There seems to be a miscommunication with what we're asking. So, tell me what you understand the job to be."
"Well, the ad said you're hiring a personal chef in exchange for use of a guest house?"
"Exactly. Very simple." Jason smiled. He was a handsome man. No grey in his hair and distinguished in that older gent sort of way despite clearly being under forty. "You'd get, rent-free, our guest house. My wife, Charlotte, and I get to use your developing culinary skills. We're both very busy and often don't have time to cook. Eating out is both unhealthy and expensive."
"Makes perfect sense."
"There's a second part. We also need some housework done. Vacuuming, tidying up, sweeping, laundry, and the like. Nothing too crazy as it's just the two of us and we're generally pretty neat. About ten hours a week workable around your school schedule. In exchange, we'll pay you three hundred in cash each week."
"That sounds more than fair." Kasey did a mental backflip. An actual job cooking, a rent-free guest house, and cash in hand. This sounded like the perfect job while she finished school. "That sounds great, actually. I can't imagine why you'd have trouble with a deal like that."
"Don't agree to anything yet." Jason stood abruptly. "You still need the tour."
He led her to the large open kitchen. It was as beautiful as the rest of the house. Kasey thought it was more inviting and functional than opulent. Bone white granite countertops, large island, modern stainless steel appliances.
"My wife and I are going to need lunches four times during the workweek and dinner another four. Sunday is your day off as that's our date night and we usually eat out. And about once a week we order take-out or pizza. We both wake up early for our jobs and usually grab breakfast on the go. Keeping fruit and muffins stocked and the coffee maker ready to go ought to handle that, though we'll let you know the night before if we have any special requests. We'll give you a credit card for shopping and whatever other errands you'd run on our behalf."
He waved her across the large living room he called the great room and through glass double doors to the patio.
There, next to the modest swimming pool, was the guest house. Kasey did another set of mental gymnastics. It was beautiful.
"It's small but cozy."
The guest house was a classic carriage house design, meaning it was an apartment over the detached garage. Stairs on the outside led to a private door.
The front door led to a modest living room, with enough space for the couch and TV already there. On the far wall was the tiny kitchen and dining area, a vastly scaled-down version of the main one but sufficient for her needs. The single bedroom and bathroom were on the far side of the building, opposite the main house for added privacy.
Kasey agreed, small but cozy. And a vast improvement over the dorms from last year. She'd have more space here than in any roommate situation she'd find in town.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Of course," Jason began, "I'd draw up a formal rental agreement. Normal landlord-tenant rules would apply. You'll have your own key, your own entrance. And you may bring over whomever you'd wish provided that they don't go into the main house."
"Does that mean you're offering me the job?" Kasey asked.
Jason grinned, "Almost, there's one last thing."
Kasey waited.
"We're going to have to test your cooking skills."
***
Jason gave her the option of leaving and coming back the next day but Kasey didn't want to miss the opportunity. She wanted this job. It was almost too good to be true. Live in a guesthouse of a young successful couple in a nice suburb, five miles from school. Part-time housekeeping would put enough money in her pocket to give her a great little nest egg at the end of it all. And all this while her classmates fought claws out for underpaying line cook jobs at faux trendy burrito and burger joints.
No way was she letting this opportunity pass.
If Jason's instructions of just cooking something, anything, wasn't intimidating enough, the random contents of the kitchen made it a true test.
But Kasey put on her game face.
She was at home in the kitchen and once she got her bearings, exploring the fridge and pantry for options and ideas, she slipped into her comfort zone. After ten minutes she had a chicken breast out and lightly seasoned and was chopping garlic and onion.
Jason sat silently, watching from his seat along the outside of the island. She tried her best to ignore him, to pretend he wasn't watching her every move. It didn't feel creepy or untoward, not like that handsy professor from last year. No, she wanted to impress him, wanted him to like her.
With the garlic and onion roasting in hot oil, she threw in the chicken breast whole and smiled when it sizzled.
In a pan, she laid out some asparagus with salt, pepper and a dollop of sweet cream butter, covered it with foil and threw it into the double deck oven at high heat. The salad was easier; she found a bag of fresh spinach, along with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella. She assembled those with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Everything came out at the same time and she plated it with flair.
She set the plate in front of Jason and, instead of watching him eat, started cleaning up.
"I say to make anything and you make chicken and vegetables?"
"You want to eat healthier, right? Just try it."
Jason forked the first bite.
"I must say, I'm impressed. You managed to make the most boring dish imaginable not bland and awful. I may be looking forward to eating healthy. "
Kasey curtsied, "There's a plate for your wife in the warmer."
"She's going to love you."
"So I have the job?"
"I'll have to consult with her of course, but I'd say it's yours."
"When do I start?"
"You just did."
***
Kasey moved in that weekend. She brought with her two suitcases, a small desk, a short bookcase, a box of cookbooks, and her bicycle.
It felt liberating to get out of her mom's house. Her mom and stepdad weren't bad people but they had two boys now and needed the extra room. Along with some student loans, they were helping pay for culinary school. She was grateful but that house was insane most days with two boys under 10 wreaking havoc.
She met Charlotte for the first time as she wrestled her small desk up the stairs to the guest house.
"Need help, dear?" A pleasant voice called from the yard behind her.
"Oh no, I got it... Maybe."
Charlotte ran up to help her, grabbing one end and rebalancing it. When they put it down, Kasey got her first good look at her employer.
She was gorgeous. She was in her mid-30s, with dark hair, tan skin, and full lips. She was wearing a sports bra and yoga pants that showed off a toned body. There was a slight sheen of sweat on her skin.
"You didn't have to interrupt your workout on my account," Kasey mumbled.
"It's okay, I've just finished."
Kasey stuck her hand out, "I'm Kasey Rayne."
Charlotte took her hand and looked her up and down, "Charlotte. My husband said you were pretty but you are downright gorgeous."
Kasey blushed, "Oh no, I'm such a mess right now."
"Nonsense. You are lovely."
"Thank you." Kasey pushed a lock of chestnut hair behind her ear, feeling strange that this amazon was calling her gorgeous. People usually called her 'cute'. "Can I make you something? Post-workout snack?"
"Not a chance. You settle in. I'm going to hit the shower. My darling husband has surgery this afternoon so how about we do dinner?"
"Oh, is he okay?"
Charlotte laughed, "No, he's performing the surgery. Didn't he tell you?"
Kasey shook her head.
"He's a surgeon. Orthopedic, and still modest, apparently."
"I didn't exactly ask. What do you do?"
"I do consult work mostly. Brand management."
"Must pay well." Kasey made a vague motion around the guest house. "You have a beautiful home here."
"We do alright."
***
The first few days were busy but almost dreamlike for Kasey. She got up early, dressed, and went to the big kitchen to make sure she saw the Lances off for the day with reasonable breakfast and lunches. Then she'd tidy up a little, grab her backpack, and bike to campus. Her classes were great and she was already distinguishing herself as a top student. After, she'd bike back to the suburb and do an hour or so of chores. Then she had several hours to herself until Charlotte came home. She'd start dinner then, trying to time it to Jason's arrival. Occasionally, they invited her to eat with them but usually, Kasey retreated to the guest house where she studied and relaxed. Around 9 pm she'd come back to fix their lunches for the following day.
That weekend she was to go shopping for that week's food using the credit card they were to give her. They hadn't given her it yet, though. Together they would come up with a meal list together and the Lances were open to trying new creations based on what Kasey was learning.
