Anton nodded in agreement at her assessment of both cats spending time in either apartment. He knew she was right, as Tesla had already proved his good behavior last night and this morning.<br/><br/>With Licorice settled on her kitty furniture, he knew what was coming next. Tesla eyed his landing spot. Stella, however, had other things in mind as her cat was denied the opportunity. He was sure to let her know it, too. He constantly wriggled in her arms while vocalizing his displeasure. Anton felt bad for Licorice, as her expression was one of sheer helplessness, knowing she couldn’t lift a paw to rescue her Maine Coon from the clutches of the evil, fire-haired lady.<br/><br/>Although Stella obviously outweighed her cat, Tesla still managed a respectable struggle, almost escaping twice. His redheaded neighbor was not about to lose this attempt at kidnapping. Anton could’ve sworn that Licorice scowled at him, as if accusing him of not even attempting to assist her playmate. Following their departure, he expected an earful from his Persian roommate. Proof that cats were indeed unpredictable, she instead lay down where she stood in an obvious sulk. Anton chose to leave the tempest well-enough alone.<br/><br/>In order to help pass the time, he dove back into the third volume of the Anno Dracula series. With the moody Licorice quiet, it was going to be a peaceful afternoon. Glancing at the clock, he figured he’d start cooking about a quarter-to-five or so, with a text to Stella around six, inviting her downstairs.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;&lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt;​</div><br/>Just about that time, as a bookmark was placed at the beginning of Chapter 30, titled<i>Cinema Inferno, </i>he surmised that things needed to get cooking. The story, on the other hand, was getting better and better with each passing page. The Crimson Executioner was proving to be quite the adversary, as he continued to pick off vampire elders one by one.<br/><br/>Two cups of rice received his initial attention. It needed to be first rinsed then cooked. The latter took about 20-25minutes, while it required cooling for another 20 minutes. Once that was on its way, everything else was laid out on the countertop: Extra-virgin olive oil, rock salt, peppercorns, herb seasoning, the<i>Double-Kick Hot Sauce</i>, and of course, the two stars of the evening, the pair of New York strips and the dozen tiger prawns.<br/><br/>According to the three-ounce jar, the hot sauce was comprised of Habanero and Serrano Peppers, water, apple cider vinegar, and mustard powder. Hell, the Habaneros alone were enough to melt your eyebrows. Adding the Serranoes to the mix would liquefy everything else. Both he and Stella would get their asses kicked by the hot sauce, as he threw in a few teaspoons’ worth to the olive oil, sautéing the prawns to a bright orange, nearly matching Stella’s hair. The thought of her was not lost on him, as he now turned his attention to the steaks.<br/><br/>Slightly less than an hour later, everything was on a low simmer. The table had already been set while the steaks were cooking. Anton left the wine alone, waiting to see what his guest preferred. Licorice, meanwhile, still hadn’t budged from her spot on the treehouse. A woman scorned and all that, he amusingly thought. He changed into a pair of casual, black slacks, slipping over his head a three-button, cherry-colored Henley. The buttons remained undone, as he hated any restrictions around his neck. He texted Stella that all was ready, and to<u><i>please, please</i></u>remember to bring Tesla. He had no desire to have Licorice pissed at him for the remainder of the evening.