Chapter Text
The next day came way too quickly and you were hardly able to get much sleep. The events from the night before consumed your mind and the fact that chef Nanami personally asked you to recreate your dessert again had you on pins and needles. You knew you were capable of making it again, but the pressure was on and you’d never experienced this kind of nervousness before.
You did the best you could with trying to push past these feelings, but it was proving to be difficult. You went for a run, you paid your bills, you called your mom, literally anything to keep your mind off what was to come later. But time was funny like that and your free time was over in a blink of an eye. It was now time to go to work.
You ended up getting to the kitchen slightly earlier than usual, but this gave you a chance to do some breathing exercises and triple-check you had everything you needed for your black forest cake. The other chefs said hello to you as they filed in, but you kept to your station as you started to prep.
It was another busy night so Nanami was busy running things to pay you too much attention, but every so often he would stand behind you and watch your technique. You could feel his eyes watching your every move and knew it must be obvious that your hands were shaking from nerves. What the fuck was happening to you? You shouldn’t be this nervous and yet here you were feeling like you were back in school, about to get graded on a final you weren’t prepared for.
The cake was finally done and ready. It didn’t look that bad and you were actually pretty impressed with the results, maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as you thought. You called Nanami over, swallowing hard as he approached you - bags under his eyes that he somehow made look attractive. “Um… I finished…” you trailed off, unable to look him in the eyes. “If you’re not confident in your work then why are you showing it to me?” He asked, slight annoyance in his voice.
That caught you off guard. You stopped fidgeting with your apron and looked up at him, “I am confident in it, chef.” Nanami crossed his arms, looking you up and down with just his eyes. “No, last night you were confident. Tonight, you seemed as if you never stepped into a kitchen before. I’ll ask you again, are you confident in this dish?”
The two of you stared at each other in what felt like eternity but was actually just a couple of seconds. You could feel your face growing warm. He was starting to get on your nerves, but you knew you couldn’t snap at him and say what was really on your mind so instead you took a deep breath and rolled your shoulders back as if standing up slightly straighter would make you his height. You didn’t even come close. “Yes, I’m confident. Please, try it for yourself,” you stepped out of the way and handed him a piece you already cut.
Nanami took the plate from your hand, your fingers making slight contact. You held your breath as you watched him take a bite of the cake, quietly chewing and showing no sign of approval or disapproval in his face. It was like watching a perfectly chiseled statue come to life just to have a bite of your cake.
“I was right,” he handed you back the plate, “you weren’t confident.” He said no more and turned around, leaving you to sit with what he just said. Your heart sank and you felt like an idiot as you were left alone. He was right, and you knew it, you weren’t confident in your baking today and he could taste it. Sure, it might have tasted good to the untrained tongue but of course he would be able to find the flaws in it.
Holding back tears, you began to clean up your station and assumed you’d have to make a quick dessert to make up for your failure. However, Nanami called back out to you as he plated a dish for a customer, “You don’t have time for a new dessert. We will serve what you have, but know that it’s because of you my guests won’t be getting the best cake they could be having.” That was all he needed to say for your tears to break through and stream down your face. “Yes, chef,” you sniffled.
If last night was a career high then tonight was the exact opposite. The rest of the night was a blur and all you were able to do was mentally beat yourself up. And while you were mad with yourself, you were also mad at Nanami for embarrassing you like that and vowed you’d get back at him with an even better dish. You were going to make him regret ever being disappointed in you.
The kitchen closed and you ended up outside with a cigarette in hand as you tried to think of something new to make. You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn’t realize Nanami was standing in front of you, hand out and asking for a light. He finally snapped his fingers in front of your face and you came back to reality. You stared at him with puffy and red eyes from crying, your bottom lip completely chewed up.
“Did you bring the lighter I asked for? I forgot mine again,” his stress from early had washed away and it was like a different Nanami was there before you. The same Nanami who made your heart flutter just twenty-four hours ago. You nodded quietly and handed him the lighter. The two of you smoked in silence as if this was becoming your new nightly tradition. Nothing but cold air and tension between you and your mentor.
“I had high hopes for you tonight,” Nanami breaks the silence, “did something happen to cause your mind to be somewhere else tonight?” He blows smoke away from you and looks up at the night sky. You take a moment to respond, afraid you might start crying again if you speak. “No, chef…” how do you tell him it’s because of him that you were nervous? That sounds so lame and childish, you’re a professional and should act like one. “I know I put a lot of pressure on you and the kitchen, but that’s because I believe in you. I hired you because I know you can handle it, but maybe I went to far tonight…” he sounded genuinely hurt by that thought.
You look up at him, your cigarette at your side and burning away. “Is there anything I can do to help?” He asks now looking down at you. His face is soft and caring, he means it. “Help me?” You ask in disbelief. Nanami doesn’t answer, but instead puts out his cigarette and heads back inside, motioning you to follow.
The kitchen is quiet with just the two of you in there. You wouldn’t know just an hour ago people were screaming at each other about a dish that was plated wrong or someone losing their mind over not being able to find a specific mixing bowl. It all seemed so trivial in the quiet afterglow.
Nanami stands behind you at your station, his chest slightly brushing against your back and that’s when you feel his large hands on top of your shoulders. You jump at the feeling, but his grip tightens and you are unable to move. He begins rubbing your shoulders as if massaging a tender piece of meat to prep. His grip is strong and yet relaxing at the same time and your body begins to melt. “See, now you’re relaxed,” he almost whispers, causing your face to turn bright red.
This felt like a dream, a dream the two of you were having together. His hands move from your shoulders and down your arms, making their way to your small hands. You almost forget how to breathe as you watch his large hands cover yours. He begins to rub them, focusing on the palms first and then the fingers. “A chef’s hands are just as important as any knife or equipment they might use, you need to treat them with respect and tend to them,” his face is side by side with yours now and you can feel his hot breath on your ear.
You close your eyes and lean into the wave of relaxation Nanami delivers, but just as soon as you begin to welcome it he’s stopped and has pulled away, taking his warmth with him. You’ve never felt so cold before. “Now that you’re relaxed, make me the cake again,” he commands and you don’t hesitate at all to fight him. “Yes, chef.”
As you work, something feels different within you. You feel a sense of peace and where there was once fear and anxiety is now confidence and tranquility. It didn’t bother you that Nanami hovered over you as you worked. In fact, you quite liked him watching as if you were putting on a private show for him. However, that feeling didn’t last long because just as you started to project confidence you felt his hands snake around you and grab your breasts tightly.
You let out a gasp, but his grip on you was too tight for you to pull away. “Shhh, it’s okay. Keep working. If you want to continue in my kitchen then you shouldn’t let anything distract you. I don’t care if someone comes running in on fire, you finish what you started and make the best dessert anyone has ever had,” his voice was stern and commanding. Your head was spinning and cheeks red as the brightest tomato in the kitchen, but you nodded slowly and continued to work as he fondled you.
Nanami’s hands traveled all across your body as you worked. He grabbed your ass, licked your neck with his hot tongue, rubbed himself up against you. There was no hiding the hardening bulge between his legs as he pressed it into your back. And there was no denying that you weren’t enjoying yourself as well. Your core tightened with every touch and every lick, a growing pool of liquid soaked your underwear.
It felt like your heart was going to explode, did he do this with the other chefs? You had never heard anyone mention it before, but maybe he swore them into secrecy or threatened to fire them if they spoke out. Nanami didn’t seem like that kind of monster though. Once this was over you would confront him about his methods .
Finally, your cake was done and Nanami’s hand released you from his grip. You felt like you would turn into a puddle at any moment now, but instantly perked up as he took a taste of your dessert.
This time was different, you could see his face come to life as he took a bite. A smile spread across his face, “That’s my girl.” Your core tightened and face burned as you almost fell over from the shock of his praise. “I can taste your confidence this time,” he took another bite. “Thank you, chef,” you managed to get out.
Nanami finished the piece of cake and took a step closer to you, almost trapping you between himself and the stainless steel counter behind you. “Umm, chef,” you started. “Yes, chef ?” He smirked. Oh boy. “About what happened tonight…” he waited for you to continue showing no sign of guilt. “Umm…” you were struggling and he could tell.
“If you’re going to ask about the distractions I implemented, let me ask you this - did I overstep? If so, please tell me and I will resign immediately. But something tells me you enjoyed it, your cake is proof of that.”
You rubbed your thighs together, trying to hide the evidence that he was right. “It just seemed… unusual,” you looked away with embarrassment. Nanami gently placed a hand on your turned away cheek, guiding you back to look at him, “It worked though, didn’t it? I must admit, I was a little nervous myself as I’ve never done something like this before, but something told me it’s what you needed.” All you could do was nod. “Thank you, chef.”
“Because you did so well tonight, I’m going to offer you a reward of your choosing,” he continued to hold your face as if it was made of glass. “A reward?” Was him fondling your body not a reward? He must know the effect he had on your body. “Yes, anything you’d like. It could be a raise or paid time off or new clothes or…” he trailed off with a sly smile, letting you fill in whatever perverted thing your mind had wandered off to. Without thinking, your answer tumbled out of your mouth, “I want you to fuck me.”
Your hands shot up to your mouth as you realized what you had just said. Fuck. Shit. This was bad. But Nanami just smiled and leaned in for a soft kiss, “I can’t wait to see what you make after I’m done with you.”