“Screw you, Craig.”
“I love you, too, man. Looking forward to your piece.”
Craig was his friend, and Landon didn’t want to hang him out to dry. Besides, Landon was in an abysmal mood. Venting about the gummy worm that almost killed him might be cathartic. It would be an allegorical piece reflecting on his trip to Weldon entitled “The Pitfalls of Brilliance.”
“Well, you’re going to have to do all the fact-checking and background research,” he said. “I’m not missing my flight for your bromance gone wrong.”
* * *
His head was floating a few inches above his neck, and only three of his four limbs seemed fully awake. But Landon embraced his jet lag like a light hangover, an inevitable part of his lifestyle. Gulping a sip of his venti coffee, Landon rolled into Cal Coast’s parking structure in his new ride. He’d had his assistant pick up the Alfa Romeo Giulia and park it in his garage for when he returned from Asia.
He traveled eight out of twelve months for his job. It made no sense to invest in a car only to have it sit in the garage for a better part of the year. His condo was largely unfurnished for the same reason. “Home” was just a forgettable rest stop before he was on the go again.
Landon had chosen his profession because of the ever-changing landscape and the freedom it offered. When he’d given up his dream of becoming a chef, the nomadic lifestyle had lured him like the call of never-never land. He’d led an itinerant life for more than a decade, and it had never bothered him before. But this last trip had been different.
He’d gone through the motions of visiting eclectic villages, towns, and cities with their scenic beauty. He’d had the privilege of sampling unique, mouthwatering food at local institutions, as well as new, innovative restaurants, but none of it had moved him. None of it had been fun.
Had he spent all his wanderlust? Landon swiped his hands down his face. He had no idea, but nothing felt right anymore. He’d been on edge during the entire trip, and the only thing that had settled him was impulse-buying a car online.
Landon entered the building lobby, appreciating its welcome familiarity, and hopped on the elevator with a light step. Flying home this time had meant something different. He came home because he’d missed it, and it felt good to be back. Walking into the office and sitting at his desk gave him a quiet satisfaction. He turned his gaze out the window, letting his lips curve in a content smile.
Craig threw a stack of email printouts on Landon’s desk, jolting him out of his reverie. “For your reading enjoyment.”
“I got back from a monthlong assignment in Asia less than twelve hours ago. Can’t a man have some peace and quiet around here?”
“And by around here, you mean your place of work?” His editor arched an eyebrow at him.
“Precisely.” Landon grinned and picked up the first email. His smile disappeared, and he sat up in his seat. “What is this?”
“It’s an email from the owner and baker of Comfort Zone, Aubrey Choi, requesting a second chance. She claims the cake you ate was a special order for a little girl’s birthday, but her part-time employee accidentally served it to you.”
Aubrey. She had continued to invade his thoughts while he was abroad. She was bold, sweet, and bursting with life. The sex was amazing, but their conversations in between had been equally memorable. He’d been seriously considering returning to Weldon to find her, but Craig saved him from that potential disaster.
Aubrey Choi, the owner of Comfort Zone, and his Aubrey, the goddess in bed, were one and the same. Panic filled his throat. Had she seduced him to get a positive review? It wasn’t the first time a restaurateur had tried to bribe him. He’d rejected every last one of those overtures, because what the literal hell? Those people had demagnetized moral compasses.
He took a deep breath through his nose. As his initial shock receded, logic regained control of his mind. Aubrey never once mentioned Comfort Zone or her profession. She couldn’t have known he was the customer who’d eaten the peculiar cake. And he definitely hadn’t seen her at the bakery. As farfetched as it sounded, they had met by pure chance. A food critic and a baker. It was fucking serendipity.
Even so, they’d slept together, and he couldn’t address the unfortunate cake mix-up without putting his reputation on the line. Landon never got involved with a subject of his review. He’d worked too hard and sacrificed too much to risk compromising his professional reputation. The opinion of a critic who could be bought—with money or sex—held no value. If he reviewed Comfort Zone again, his readers would know he’d broken his no-second-review rule, and that would draw unwanted attention to him and Aubrey, which would beg the question of why her and why now.
“I put you on the spot to write that review, so I didn’t bother you with it, especially since these kinds of complaints usually die down after a while. But in this case, every sugar-loving citizen in Weldon must’ve emailed me. This is not going away quietly.” Pulling up the nearest chair, Craig dropped a stack of files to the floor and sat down in its place. “I know you don’t review the same restaurant twice even if the magazine’s policy allows it.”
“You’re right.” Landon sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair. “I never review the same place twice.”
“But Ms. Choi’s story is pretty compelling. With a six-year-old girl and a teenage part-timer to corroborate it? California Coast Monthly could become the Grinch who stole Weldon’s favorite baker.”
“This isn’t the first time we’ve had restaurateurs beg for a retraction or a second chance. The magazine will have no reputation to save if it backpedals on every negative review.”
“If you’re willing to take another trip to Weldon for a second review, I’ll write an editor’s note, explaining that it’s a onetime exception to the rule.”
“That’s only going to create a slippery slope. We’ll be bombarded with complaints regarding the exception. You did it that time, why not us?”
“You were reluctant to write the review in the first place. Why are you being so stubborn now?”
“I have my reasons.” The last thing he needed was to embroil Cal Coast in a scandal because of his personal life.
“Be reasonable, Landon. I looked into her story, and it checks out.”
“I can’t.” He hated not being able to retract his review. Aubrey was an amazing woman, and she deserved better. He could only hope his review would fade from everyone’s mind soon so she could go on with her life.
“This isn’t a request, Kim.” Iron laced Craig’s voice. He rarely pulled rank on him.
“My answer is still no. It won’t do the magazine any good.” Landon arched his eyebrow and allowed a cocky grin to touch his lips. “Do you need my resignation?”
“Asshole,” Craig said, dropping his boss voice. “You know you’re too damn good to lose.”
“Just trust me on this.”
“At least tell me why.”
“No.” Landon wasn’t dragging his friend into his moral dilemma. His headbutting emotions were already more than he could handle.