"I must say, the stew you made was something I could never forget, even though I only tried it once," Jessica Dunn commented, licking her lips.

During that time, I had completely stopped cooking, including making the wholesome stews for Arjun Carlson. I used to prepare various hearty stews to help boost his health. Each one required careful simmering, but since he thought I was useless, I didn't see any reason to continue.

However, one day Arjun tricked me into believing he had a stomachache. Feeling sorry for him, I gave in and made the stew once again. He eagerly took it to Jessica, claiming she was overworked. When the container came back, I noticed lipstick marks on it. My heart clenched with pain, and in a moment of anger, I smashed the container. While cleaning up the pieces, one shard cut deep into my hand, stinging sharply, and I couldn't help but burst into tears. How had my life turned into such a mess?

Little did I know, that single taste of stew gave Jessica the idea to hire me.

"Jessica, you're a savvy businesswoman with a great reputation. You could hire anyone you want, and I'm really quite ordinary…" I protested.

"You're anything but ordinary. Your cooking and stew-making skills not only taste wonderful but also revitalize the body. It's nothing like the restaurant chefs' techniques. If I may ask, is it a family secret?" she inquired.

I couldn't help but admire Jessica; she had such a keen sense of taste.

"Jessica, you have an astute palate. My grandmother, Caroline Franklin, came from a line of royal chefs, quite famous in their day. She inherited some of their skills and eventually opened a small eatery. My grandfather was a herbalist, so he added some health-focused recipes to the menu. After my grandmother passed away, my uncle, Quentin Reyes, took over the eatery, which is now a prestigious private dining establishment, though mostly known to true food enthusiasts."

Jessica's eyes sparkled with excitement at the story.

"I knew it! This cooking technique has a legacy to it. Arjun, that fool, has no idea what he had. He's like a bull in a china shop, completely oblivious to the treasures around him."

Jessica shook her head in disbelief, adding, "That idiot's been enjoying your food all these years without appreciating it—it's like casting pearls before swine!"

For some reason, hearing Jessica criticize Arjun filled me with immense satisfaction. It was incredibly gratifying.

Jessica observed my expression, and when she saw my smile, she clapped her hands together excitedly. "Kayleigh, I'm serious about hiring you, and if the offer isn't tempting enough, we can definitely negotiate. By the way, I have to ask—are you the one styling Arjun for his outings? His previous fashion sense was as off-putting as mustard in your eyes. Now, he looks like a celebrity on the red carpet."

I nodded. To choose Arjun's wardrobe, I bought countless men's fashion magazines and studied them carefully. I also went online to read about the history of men's fashion and its development over time. I even invested in courses on men's grooming and hair care. Arjun takes good care of himself and looks at least five years younger than me.

Jessica seemed intrigued. "With all that effort, why not give yourself a makeover?"

I sighed. Ever since I was little, I've loved taking care of dolls—making clothes for them, tucking them in with blankets, and using toy kitchen sets to pretend to cook. I've even seen a psychologist about it; I might just have a classic caregiver personality. I enjoy creating comfortable environments and taking care of others, ensuring they have the best possible experience. And most importantly, I have an eye for beauty. Whether it's a man or a woman, I appreciate attractive people. If I can bring happiness to someone good-looking, it gives me great satisfaction.

Arjun is quite handsome, and I've been charmed by his looks. I just couldn't help it. Similarly, I can't seem to dislike Jessica. She has a slim waist, an impressive bust, long legs, and her feet look delicate and fair in her high heels. Her eyes are exotically almond-shaped, her lips have a captivating curve, and her chin has a distinctive cleft that adds to her allure. When Jessica smiles at me, my heart flutters.

I'm confident that my preferences are normal; it's just that her beauty is breathtakingly striking. Arjun is attractive too, but he falls short of Jessica's allure. When he was younger, he resembled Keanu Reeves with a more refined presence. That's why I enjoyed dressing him up—he was a sight to behold. However, over the years, his charm has faded due to his indulgent lifestyle.

After I explained this to Jessica, she gazed at me with narrowed eyes for quite some time. Her look made me feel warm all over. Please, don't flirt with me—we're supposed to be rivals in love.

Jessica licked her lips and said, "I heard from Arjun's team that you managed to sort out his stomach problems?"

I nodded. "In business, it's tough to maintain regular meals; there's always another meeting, another drink. The stress from negotiations can be intense. I've tried many things for his stomach issues. Depending on the season and his symptoms, I had different remedies ready. Besides wholesome soups, I've concocted various hangover cures. I even taught myself reflexology and developed a foot massage routine to help him stay healthy."

Jessica looked at my hands, her eyes shining with interest. "Kayleigh, you are truly remarkable!" Her smile was broad and genuine.

She pulled out a pen and crossed out the twenty thousand on the contract. I was confused.

She wrote thirty thousand instead, then paused, crossed it out, and wrote fifty thousand.

I swallowed hard. A fifty-thousand-dollar monthly salary was incredibly tempting for someone like me who's used to managing the home.

I couldn't help but mumble, "Actually, I've also studied sound therapy, essential oil blending, and the latest in scalp treatments..."

Suddenly, I stopped myself. Wait, this is wrong. I'm here to meet the woman my husband is infatuated with, not to sell my skills.

Jessica raised her perfectly arched eyebrow and gave me a playful wink. A big one. I blushed slightly.

She crossed out the fifty thousand and changed it to seventy thousand. Then she added more benefits as she wrote, announcing each perk with her alluring voice.

"If you agree to be my personal assistant, you'll get six to eight days off each month. During those days, you'll enjoy all-inclusive services at five-star hotels, including Swedish massages, full-body spa treatments, a luxury suite with a panoramic view, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, hot springs access, seafood feasts, and private chef services. Plus, in the evenings, you can visit a lounge owned by a friend of mine. With my gold card, you can book male models, starting with four, from exotic types to sweet young things..."

I grabbed Jessica's soft hand abruptly. "Alright, I'll sign."

Turning her down felt almost impolite. I can be a bit of a pushover.

Jessica gave me another big wink and patted my hand. "You cave in so easily. No negotiating at all. You're just too easy to manage."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. No, my preferences are all good. Really. They're fine!