Chapter 176
Cornelia waltzed into the kitchen and popped open the fridge to find it stocked to the brim with food
It looked like he was gearing up for his wifeâs return
She pulled out a prime cut of ribeye steak from the fridge, President Hartley, how about ribeye pasta for tonight?â
âSure. You guide me. Iâll do the cookingâ Marcus turned around to tie on a fresh apron. He was originally clad in a grey and white homely outfit, but even with the apron on, a didnât affect his beauty at all. Cornelia was skeptical that this man, who probably couldnât even boil water, could pull off this dish, âPresident Hartley, why donât you just stick to boiling the pasta?â âThe quickest and most effective way to learn a new skill is to do it yourself âMarcus grabbed the chopping board and knife, âShould I cut the meat first?â
Insistent on doing it himself, Cornelia didnât want to stand in his way. âYou should start by marinating the steak.â
âAlright.â Marcus obediently complied.
âWhatâs next?â
âPour some olive of into the pan, wait till it starts smoking a bit, and then add the steakâ
She said he did Marcus looked focused and committed, his movements still elegant as if he were not learning to cook but handling business deals worth billions.
Cornelia was slightly dazed watching him.
After completing the steps as per Corneliaâs instructions, Marcus looked up to find her gaze on him. Suddenly, he felt a wave of satisfaction. âWhatâs wrong? What am I doing wrong?â
His deep, soothing voice jotted Cornelia back to reality. She blushed, âAfter frying one side for five minutes, itâs time to flip the steak.â
âAlright.â As he replied, he effortlessly flipped the steak with a spatula.
Cornelia was taken aback by his proficiency. âPresident Hartley, do you know how to cook?â
Marcus responded while keeping an eye on the pan, âThough I seldom have the time to cook, I wouldnât let myself be totally clueless about these basic life skillsâ
The man who helms the Hartley Group, worth billions and topping the list of global billionaires, knows that cooking is an essential life skill.
Meanwhile, some notâsoâgoodâlooking men never cook at home, claiming that itâs a womanâs job and men are meant for bigger things.
Cornelia suddenly found herself envying Mrs. Hartley.
Observing that the steak was almost done, Cornelia added. âTake the steak out and let it rest before you slice it.â She handed Marcus the tomatoes, olives, and capers she had prepared. âNow add these to the pan. After about two minutes, add the pasta and water.â
As Marcus added the ingredients to the pan, the unexpected heat wave fogged up his glasses, blurring his vision to the point he couldnât see anything, âCornelia, âhelp me take off my glassesâ
Marcus was so tall that he had to stoop a little to get close to her