Alpha Culinary Love

A muffled response came from somewhere deep in the house, and Jiyeon could hear the sound of Yura's footsteps getting closer. A moment later, her wife appeared at the door of the dining room, barefoot and in more casual clothes, clearly having shed her business attire in favor of comfort.

Yura's eyes immediately fell on the spread in front of her. "Wow, Jiyeon, you really went all out, didn't you?"

Jiyeon crossed her arms, leaning against the table with a sly grin. "You doubted me? I told you this would be unforgettable."

Yura circled the table like a lioness stalking her prey, examining the dishes with exaggerated care. "Seared scallops with miso glaze, fennel and citrus salad, and—" she paused dramatically, inhaling the scent—"truffle risotto? You weren't kidding. You really want to make me fat, don't you?"

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "Please, like that's even possible with your metabolism. You could eat a whole cow and not gain an ounce."

Yura grinned, pulling out a chair and sitting down with the casual elegance that came naturally to her. "Well, if you keep feeding me like this, we might test that theory. What's the occasion?"

Jiyeon shrugged, sitting across from her. "No occasion. Just felt like it."

Yura arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. So, this has nothing to do with the fact that you're feeling guilty for keeping secrets from me, like opening a whole new restaurant branch without properly telling me?"

Jiyeon's smirk widened. "Oh, so that's what this is about? You're still mad about that?"

"Mad? No," Yura said, picking up her fork and taking a bite of the risotto, her eyes closing briefly as she savored the rich flavors. "Annoyed? Maybe a little."

Jiyeon shrugged, feigning innocence. "I could've sworn I mentioned it. Maybe you were too busy plotting your hostile takeovers or whatever it is you do."

Yura snorted, shaking her head. "You make it sound like I run an evil corporation. I don't

plot

takeovers, Jiyeon. It's all perfectly legal."

"Legal, sure. Ethical? Questionable."

"Oh please, you're one to talk," Yura countered, pointing her fork at Jiyeon. "You rule your kitchens with an iron fist. Your staff is terrified of you."

"They're not terrified," Jiyeon said, feigning offense. "They respect me. There's a difference."

"Uh-huh," Yura muttered, taking another bite. "Sure, they respect you—by trembling every time you walk into the room."

Jiyeon grinned. "That's how it should be. Standards, Yura. If I don't maintain them, the whole operation falls apart."

Yura shook her head, clearly amused. "I have to say, though, this is damn good. Even if you are a dictator in the kitchen."

"Dictator?" Jiyeon leaned back in her chair, arms folded. "You're really pushing it tonight."

Yura leaned forward, her eyes glinting mischievously. "What are you going to do, make it spicier next time to shut me up?"

Jiyeon's grin turned devious. "You know me too well."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the warmth of the food and the soft glow of the chandelier above casting a serene atmosphere over the room. The clinking of silverware and the occasional hum of approval from Yura were the only sounds, and Jiyeon found herself relaxing into the moment.

"So," Yura said after a while, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Now that your little empire's expanding, what's next? More restaurants? Maybe a cooking show?"

Jiyeon chuckled, though the idea of a cooking show wasn't entirely unappealing. "I don't know yet. I'm still focused on making sure the new branch is running smoothly. After that, who knows?"

"Maybe you should teach cooking," Yura suggested, her tone only half-serious. "You've got that terrifyingly competent vibe that would make students cry."

Jiyeon laughed. "That's because you know how high my standards are. Teaching would just be another headache, dealing with people who don't know a fillet from a sirloin."

"Yeah, but think of all the fun you could have terrorizing them," Yura teased. "You could be the Gordon Ramsay of Korea."

Jiyeon pretended to mull it over. "Hmm, I do like the sound of that."

Yura shook her head, her laughter soft and warm. "God, we'd never hear the end of it. You'd become a national treasure overnight."

"National treasure?" Jiyeon scoffed, though she was secretly amused by the thought. "I'm already a national treasure in the kitchen."

"You're my treasure," Yura said, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone as she reached across the table, taking Jiyeon's hand in hers. "The food is just a bonus."

Jiyeon looked at her, surprised by the sudden shift in Yura's tone. There was sincerity in her wife's eyes, something deeper than their usual banter. Jiyeon felt her heart flutter for a moment, caught off guard by the tenderness in Yura's gaze.

"Don't go getting all sappy on me now," Jiyeon teased, though her voice had softened. "You're ruining your image as the cool, unflappable businesswoman."

Yura smirked, her thumb gently stroking the back of Jiyeon's hand. "I can be both. Multitalented, remember?"

Jiyeon rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "I suppose I'll allow it."

For a while, they sat there, hands intertwined, the teasing and banter giving way to something quieter, more intimate. It wasn't often they had moments like this, where the busy noise of their lives faded into the background and it was just the two of them, sharing a meal, sharing their lives.

"Jiyeon," Yura said softly after a while, breaking the comfortable silence. "You know, you're more than just a great chef. You're amazing at what you do, but you're also an amazing partner."

Jiyeon blinked, surprised by the compliment. "Where's this coming from?"

Yura shrugged, her grip on Jiyeon's hand tightening slightly. "Just… I've been thinking about it. Everything you've built, everything we've built together. I'm proud of you."

Jiyeon felt a lump form in her throat, and she quickly pushed it down, not wanting to get too emotional. "You're not bad yourself, you know," she said, her voice light, though she squeezed Yura's hand in return.

They shared a quiet smile, the moment hanging in the air between them like a delicate thread. And for once, Jiyeon didn't feel the need to break the silence with a joke or a quip. Instead, she let herself enjoy the warmth of Yura's hand in hers, the taste of good food still lingering on her tongue, and the comfortable stillness of the night surrounding them.

Yura broke the moment with a playful smile. "Now, about dessert…"

Jiyeon groaned, pulling her hand back. "Of course you'd ruin the moment with your endless appetite."

"Hey, you made me wait all day for this, so dessert better be spectacular," Yura teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Jiyeon shook her head, getting up from her chair with a grin. "You'll get your dessert, don't worry. But don't expect it to be too sweet. You've had enough sugar for one night."

"Good thing I like things spicy," Yura quipped, winking as Jiyeon disappeared into the kitchen to prepare the final course of the evening.

Yura wandered into the dining room, her steps light but her expression expectant. She spotted the table, already set with the dishes Jiyeon had prepared, and her eyes widened. "Scallops and truffle risotto?" Yura's lips curled into a grin. "Are we celebrating something, or are you just trying to outdo yourself?"

Jiyeon smirked from where she stood by the counter, wiping her hands on a towel. "Maybe both. I figured you deserved something special after all your 'helpful' advice in the kitchen earlier."

Yura snorted, taking her seat. "If this is what I get for being annoying, maybe I should keep it up."

"Trust me," Jiyeon said, walking over and placing the plates in front of Yura, "there's only so much 'help' I can tolerate before I resort to poisoning."

Yura laughed, picking up her fork. "Ah, threats of death over dinner. It's just like the early days of our relationship."

Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, sitting down across from her. "Please, the early days were nothing compared to now. Back then, you were still pretending to be polite."

Yura chewed thoughtfully on a bite of scallop, savoring the rich, buttery flavor before responding. "True. Now, I can tell you when something's actually burnt without fear of bodily harm."

Jiyeon narrowed her eyes playfully. "Keep it up and I'll serve you nothing but instant ramen for a week."

"Noted," Yura said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "But for the record, this is amazing. The scallops are perfectly seared, and the miso glaze? Genius."

Jiyeon's smirk softened into a genuine smile. Compliments from Yura always meant something, even when delivered with her trademark sarcasm. "I'm glad you like it. Though, knowing you, you'll find something to complain about before dessert."

Yura's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh, absolutely. It's practically my job now."

The two of them ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the gentle clink of silverware and the soft hum of the house settling around them. Despite Yura's constant teasing, Jiyeon could see the way her wife's shoulders had relaxed, how she took her time with each bite. It wasn't just about the food—it was the ritual of it, the intimacy of sharing a meal together after a long day.

"Are you planning on heading to the new restaurant tomorrow?" Yura asked after a while, her tone casual but her gaze sharp.

Jiyeon shrugged. "Probably. I want to check in with the staff, see how they're handling the opening week without me hovering over them."

"You should take the day off," Yura suggested, though her voice was more a command than a request. "You've been running yourself ragged with all this."

Jiyeon gave her a sideways glance. "Since when do you care about me taking time off?"

Yura tilted her head, her expression softening in a way that Jiyeon knew all too well. "I care because I know you won't. And because I don't want to see you burn out before we even get to the real fun part of building this empire together."

Jiyeon let out a small sigh, her fork resting on the edge of her plate. She knew Yura was right, but the idea of taking time off when there was so much to do felt impossible. "You make it sound like I'm on the verge of collapse."

"You might not feel it yet, but I've seen that look on your face before." Yura leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Take a break, even if it's just for a day. The restaurant will survive, and so will the staff. They might even appreciate the chance to impress you without you watching their every move."

Jiyeon stared at her for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Alright. One day. But if I come back and find out they've messed up even one dish—"

"They won't," Yura interrupted, her tone firm. "Trust them. And trust me. You've earned a little downtime, Jiyeon."

Jiyeon smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Fine. Tomorrow, I'll take the day off."

"Good," Yura said with a satisfied grin. "Now, let's talk about dessert."

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