Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: I Need You

As Ivy looked through Hunter’s file, her eyes caught the section detailing his education, and she frowned.

“Catering school outside the country?” Ivy murmured aloud, surprised. She hadn’t known he was formally trained.

Perhaps that was why Selena insisted that she should hire Hunter regardless of their issue. She mused as she continued going through his file.

Further down, she noticed another detail that made her pause and her frown deepened.

“An architect?” she said, blinking. “What’s a trained architect doing in a kitchen?”

She leaned back in her chair, her curiosity piqued. Why would someone with qualifications like these pursue a career as a chef? Her fingers drummed against the desk as she mulled it over.

Then, her gaze returned to his name. Hunter Stone. Where have I heard that before? She tried to place it, racking her brain for any memory that might explain the familiarity.

There was something about it that she couldn’t place her hands on. Besides, if he went to a catering school, and was that good, why then was he jobless?

There was something fishy about him and no matter how she thought about it, it seemed as though he was up to something. How did he even know about the vacancy at the restaurant?

Or did he quit his job just to apply here? To get back at her? That couldn’t be it right? Since there was no way he could’ve applied that Monday.

Thinking about it, she immediately pressed the intercom, calling Selena in.

“You sent for me ma’am,” Selena said and Ivy nodded.

“Yes. When did Hunter apply for this job?” she asked and Selena flipped through her file.

“Over the weekend, ma’am,” Selena said and Ivy looked at her with disapproving eyes.

“Why schedule an interview so soon if he had applied over the weekend. Besides, didn’t I say you shouldn’t work on weekends?” she chided and Selena sighed.

“I know I shouldn’t have but since we didn’t have any pending applicant, I decided to schedule the interview yesterday being Monday, hoping he’d pass and would resume today. We needed a chef and I couldn’t sit back and do nothing,” Selena said and Ivy nodded before dismissing her.

After hearing all Selena said, coupled with the fact that they had gotten off on the wrong foot, Ivy had no doubt that this was Hunter’s way of getting back at her.

He must’ve an ulterior motive. Maybe to make her fall for him or something so he could prove to himself that all girls were at his disposal.

She might have figured out why he applied for the job, she still couldn’t fight off the gnawing feeling in her guts.

Why was his name ringing a bell? Where could she possibly have heard it? She mused and then she thought back to their first encounter at the club.

Maybe he mentioned his full name then? Shoving the thought aside, she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

What mattered was the fact that she would have a chef regardless of the game he wanted to play.

She would let him work her while looking for a better option and if indeed his plan was to seduce her and make her fall in love with him, she would just have to play along with him and have him fall for her instead.

She would show him that she was no fool and she wasn’t disposable to any man.

Making up her mind, she picked up her phone and dialed his number.

Hunter answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

Ivy’s voice was cool and professional as she said, “It’s Ivy.”

Ivy? Did that mean his plan had worked? So that was it? She preferred men who acted responsible? Well, that was what he was going to give to her, plenty at that.

There was a brief pause, and when Hunter spoke again, his tone was even. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked even though he already knew why.

He just needed to hear it straight from her mouth. He would’ve even preferred seeing it on her face. How embarrassing and difficult it must be calling to offer him a job she clearly said she wouldn’t give him.

Ivy who had expected smugness or gloating but his calm demeanor couldn’t help being caught her off guard.

Not what I was expecting. But then again, he probably was doing this to get on her good side. Too bad she already knew his plan. She mused with a smirk.

“I’ve decided to hire you. Like you said, I need you,” she said briskly. “You can resume tomorrow.”

Hunter smiled. So she knew she needed him? So fulfilling to see her coming off of her high horse. Too bad he couldn’t make jest of her now. He mused with a satisfied smile.

Hunter’s voice remained steady. “Thank you for this, Ma’am. I promise won’t let you down.”

Ivy narrowed her eyes, even though he couldn’t see her. “Don’t thank me yet. Prove that I didn’t make a mistake hiring you. That’s all I expect.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll make sure you testify that working with me would be the best experience so far,” Hunter said and Ivy raised a brow.

“Really?”

“What I mean is that I understand and you won’t regret it. I’ll show you with not just my words but my actions too,” Hunter said while trying to stop himself from laughing.

Ivy paused for a moment, waiting for some hint of arrogance or sarcasm. When none came, she nodded to herself and said, “Good. See you tomorrow.” She hung up before he could respond.

Leaning back in her chair, Ivy stared at the ceiling. Hunter Stone… what are you playing at? She didn’t trust his sudden humility, but she couldn’t deny that she needed him.

She would have to come up with ways to make him fall for her if truly that was his plan. She told herself as she looked ahead.

She had done what was best for her restaurant, now all she had to do was get a replacement quickly since she was sure Hunter wouldn’t last more than a month there.

Pulling out her phone, she decided to put out job vacancy on all job hunting sites hoping she would get a positive result this time.

When she did, she was going to make sure Hunter didn’t stay another second in her restaurant.