Dominic had moved into the massive estate on the corner just two weeks prior, and Philip had invited him purely to prove that the wealthiest man in the zip code wanted to be his friend. The newcomer politely accepted the invitation and brought a bottle of vintage wine that cost more than Philip’s entire stock of expensive beer.
Dominic tasted a piece of the grilled meat and gave a polite nod, but his expression changed completely when he tried a spoonful of the homemade truffle mac and cheese. He lingered over the roasted red pepper salsa and the warm artisan bread, remaining silent for a very long time before finally speaking up.
“Who actually made this side dish?” Dominic asked while looking around the table with genuine curiosity. Philip let out a dismissive snort and took a swig of his beer before answering.
“Oh, Isabella just threw that together as a side, but the real star of the show is right here on the grill,” Philip said with a condescending grin. Dominic turned his gaze toward the kitchen window and saw Isabella through the glass, her hair messy from the steam and a small flour stain on her cheek as she bent over the sink to wash another heavy pan.