“As long as you call me Kira.”
“Agreed. Now, if you will follow me, we will get started on your duties.”
Evidently the taskmaster sent someone else to do his dirty work. “Is Tarek not here?”
Athena opened the door wide. “He is currently working on his own project. He has instructed me to have you look over the plans for the kitchen.”
At least the woman didn’t seem offended by the request. “I’m not certain what I have to offer you in that regard, but I’m willing to give my opinion.”
“Obviously Tarek values your opinion,” she said, the first touch of acrimony in her tone. “Now if you will please follow me.”
Kira complied, trailing behind Athena as they walked through the high-ceiling lobby, complete with a gigantic purple Persian rug covering polished black marble floors—reminiscent of another marble floor.
She shoved the memories away and continued to survey the area. Unlike Tarek’s beach rental, the décor was much more traditional, evident from the rich wood furniture and sofas covered in red, violet and gold fabrics. They continued through a lengthy corridor to the left and paused at an opening that revealed a large space, barren aside from a stainless-steel prep station centered in the middle of the room.
“This is it,” Athena announced. “Or where it will be once the kitchen is complete.”
“It’s definitely a blank slate,” Kira said. “Do you have some sort of blueprint for the layout?”
“Of course.” Athena strode to the industrial island, picked up a notebook computer and held it out to Kira. “This is the current plan.”
She studied the diagram before regarding Athena again. “Only one refrigerator?”
The woman looked at Kira as if she were daft. “A large refrigerator.”
She studied the plan a few more moments before regarding Athena again. “Do you intend to serve wine?”
“Yes. We will be catering to travelers from around the world.”
Well-heeled travelers, no doubt. “Then I suggest you add a wine refrigerator.”
“I will take that into consideration, but the cupboards are scheduled to be installed this afternoon and the appliances delivered in the morning. It would cost money to make these last-minute additions.”
As if the missing mogul would care. “I’m sure Tarek has a contingency in the budget to cover any added expense if the original layout needs to be reconfigured.” Kira returned to the graphic to avoid Athena’s glare. “Will the restaurant be serving only guests, or will it be open to the public?”
“Both.”
That sent the mental wheels into a spin. “Then perhaps you should add another prep area next to the dishwasher since you have some wasted space. My mother always said you can never have enough room for food preparation.”
Athena actually smiled. “That is a good suggestion, though it might not be feasible to have it here for a few more days.”
Finally, they were getting somewhere. “A few more days shouldn’t matter too much.”
“Tell me, was your mother a cook?”
Kira handed the notepad back to her. “A chef. She worked for the former king of Bajul for many years. My father tended to the palace’s gardens.”
Athena lifted a thin brow. “Ah. You are the daughter of domestics.”
She suddenly felt like that inadequate schoolgirl again. A commoner among royalty. Yet she would not let Athena’s snobbery shatter her confidence. “Yes, I am, and very proud of my heritage. So much so I am following in their footsteps.”
Athena leaned a narrow hip against the metal counter. “As a cook or a groundskeeper?”
Kira felt her internal temperature begin to rise. “Neither, actually. I’m the director of the household in charge of all the palace staff.”
The woman’s smile was entirely too snide. “How nice that your parents’ humble lifestyle afforded you that position.”
She felt puzzled by Athena’s suddenly disagreeable demeanor, yet Kira wasn’t beyond matching her condescension. “A degree in hotel management afforded me that position, as well as a recommendation from the current king.”
“I see. Did the current king recommend you to Tarek?”
Every word that came out of the woman’s mouth sounded like an indictment. “As a matter of fact, he requested I accompany Tarek here as a temporary assistant.”
Athena looked as if she’d swallowed something sour. “Since the two of you appear to be on a first-name basis, exactly how are you assisting him?”
Kira suddenly understood the reason behind Athena’s attitude. Jealousy, pure and simple. “Look, Tarek and I have socialized before and have become friends. If you’re suggesting more exists between us, you’re wrong.” Aside from a baby, a fact that would remain hidden from this woman, and the rest of the world, for the time being. “If you have a problem working with me, then I suggest you take it up with him.”