Chapter 3: Addie’s Game-2
599 Words
I had an hour before being on air and presenting the weather (clear skies with a high of sixty-two, above-average temperatures, and a low of forty-one for the night; curl up with a blanket and a good book) and decided to creep Benjamin Nicholas Cutter.
Didn’t everyone creep each other these days? I was pretty sure they did, including me. If you wanted to learn anything about anyone, creeping on the Internet was necessary. I keyed in Ben’s full name into Google and watched a number of sites appear. Hundreds of articles stared at me, numerous dessert recipes were available to click on, and a lot of sites wanted to send me to online bookstores where I could buy his cookbooks, both in electronic format and hardback.
One site drew my attention. It was destiny at play again without me even realizing. I clicked on the site that read Top Pastry Chef Comes Out and started to read a conversation between Addaline “Addie” Davidson, a beautiful food critic from the New York Caller Times, and Ben when he was twenty-four, four years ago:
Addie asked, “What dessert would best describe your current relationship?”
“Lemon Squares sprinkled with old powdered sugar.”
“So it’s sour and uneventful?”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Addie cut to the chase during the interview and asked, “Rumors in the sweets world imply that you’re gay. Is this true?”
“I won’t deny that, but I feel that being gay doesn’t define who I am. My composition is made up of confectionary sugar, eggs, and a lot of flour.”
“The gay man doesn’t precede the pastry chef, correct?”
“It never has and never will. Who I sleep with is my business. I bake for the world, but never kiss and tell.”
“You have dated world-known models, though. Cindy Martino. Gwennith Bardou. Ashley Amstead. Tell me why you would date those beautiful women if you’re into men.”
“Both women and men find me attractive.”
“What about your proposal to Danielle Lithe?”
“I never proposed to her. The media came up with that all on their own.”
“Was it a scam to hide your sexuality?”
“I wasn’t hiding anything. I’ve been honest with everyone and myself. I’ve never told anyone that I’m straight or gay.”
“Is it true that Danielle was pregnant with your child?”
“It wasn’t my child. We never slept together. You can discuss Danielle with her.”
“Fair is fair, Mr. Cutter. Tell me about your education.”
The article provided Ben’s history. Born and raised in Miami. The spitting image of his father. No siblings. No aunt and uncle. Attended Julian de Floure Culinary Institute for two years, obtained his culinary degree at Merachi Tu Manbarre in Paris, and opened his first Sugaring Ben Pastry House at the age of twenty-two in downtown Miami, which was funded by his grandmother, Louise Anne Cutter, who had died the previous winter from a heart attack and then pneumonia.
“How many Sugaring Ben’s would you like to open?”
“Seven: Chicago, New York City, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington D.C..”
“So across the nation.”
“As many as I can produce, without being mundane.”
“Do you hate being mundane?”
“I loathe the word hate. But, yes, I don’t like being mundane. That scares me. I’ve never been mundane in my life and don’t want to start now.”
Addie then asked personal questions that she wanted one-word answers in response, sort of like a game between the pair. Ben was happy to play.
“What is your favorite color?”
“Royal Blue.”
“Do you see yourself marrying a man?”
“Yes. Someday. I just haven’t met the right guy as of yet.”
“Do you see yourself marrying a woman?”
“Not quite.”
“Do you see yourself having children?”
“Three. No more. No less. Three is a nice number.”
“You’re using too many words for my game, Mr. Cutter.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s how you play. Now, tell me, vanilla or chocolate?”
“Raspberry.”
“Donuts or strudel?”
“Strudel.”
“Boxers or briefs?”
“Briefs.”
“Cars or trucks?”
“Trucks.”
“Top or bottom?”
“I won’t answer that. You’re classier than that, Miss Davidson.”
“Good answer.”
The article ended there. Addie thanked Ben for his time. Ben told the woman that he was glad to be part of the interview.
Addie said, “Until we meet again.”
“Or sooner.”
- Writer
