Taste of Love - By Stephanie Nicole Page 0,3

chatted away, loud and excited, giving Cameron a killer headache.

Once at the restaurant, Cameron had hoped that Alexandra Lee would at least quiet down a little. The louder she got, the quieter he got, hoping that she would take the hint. People dining at the tables around theirs kept looking over and glaring at the loud woman, much to Cameron's dismay.

"Wow! You're really famous! Everyone keeps staring at you," she told Cameron.

"Something like that," he muttered. His day just couldn't get any worse.

"Hey boss, sorry to bother you, but there is a rather loud and obnoxious woman out there, and she's talking so loud that it's bothering the patrons at the tables surrounding hers."

Madison looked up at Leo, one of her best waiters. He was a little flushed with what looked like frustration. "What would you like me to do about it?" he asked.

Madison continued to bread the chicken as she thought about the dilemma. "Well, you need to be very diplomatic about it in order to not offend her. Offer them the table by the fireplace. It's a little more out of the way. Make up something about it being more romantic or something." She paused and looked up at him. "But please, be very gentle, we don't want to upset anyone."

"Yes ma'am. You can trust me to handle this properly," he said with a smile.

"I know I can. Also, offer the tables around them a free appetizer or dessert once you move them, in order to help make up for the disruption of their dinners."

Leo nodded again and left the kitchen. Madison turned back to the chicken that she was preparing, pleased to have a staff she could rely on.

"Sir, please, I mean no disrespect. We just thought you might be more comfortable by the fireplace," Leo tried to explain once the gentleman started raising his voice.

"Do you know who I am? And you're trying to put me in the back of the restaurant where you sit the rejects?" Cameron yelled, not caring that he was causing more of a scene by carrying on than if he had just moved. This day was one for the record books, that was for sure.

"I would like to speak to the manager," he demanded, standing up and throwing his black fabric napkin onto the table.

"Sir, please. If you will just take your seat, I will go get the manager, and we can work this all out peacefully," Leo tried to reason.

Cameron glared at the waiter and walked to the kitchen. He slammed through the swinging doors, with Leo following right behind him, still trying to reason with him. "Who is in charge here?" he shouted, startling the kitchen staff and making them all look up.

Madison whispered something to the chef standing next to her, telling him what needed to be done to finish the dish she was preparing. She approached the man that had just interrupted the sanctuary of the kitchen. Her walk was graceful and her mood unflappable. She seemed completely calm and in charge.

"Good evening, I am Madison. If there is a problem, we can step into my office and discuss it." She motioned to a hallway that led to her office.

"I said that I want to speak to the person in charge, not some chef," Cameron declared, looking at her as though she was stupid.

Madison lifted her chin the slightest bit. "Well, I own this restaurant, so that would make me the person in charge," she told him, trying not to sound too condescending.

Cameron chuckled in disbelief. "Listen lady, is your husband here? I think this is a little out of your league."

That sent Madison over the edge. Customer or not, she didn't need anyone putting her down, especially not in front of her employees. She stood taller, not backing down from this chauvinist. But at the same time, she refused to stoop to his level, so she kept her response as calm as possible.

"I told you that I own this restaurant. Whenever there is a problem, I handle it."

"Do you know who I am?" Cameron was furious.

She raised an eyebrow and looked at him for a moment. "Well, from the way you're acting, I'm assuming that you are sitting at the table with the woman I was hoping to discreetly move."

"Lady, you're messing with the wrong person. My name is Cameron Rome, and I can make or break your restaurant," he threatened.

"Well, how nice for you, Mr. Rome. I'm surprised that your ego squeezed through the door