“Those kids aremyresponsibility! Not my grandmother’s, andnotsome hired help’s either! You made promises too! Don’t forget that part!”
“I know, baby,” he cajoled, shaking his head as he rolled his eyes up toward the sky. “You’re taking what I said the wrong way. It’s not like you’d never be able to help or spend time with them! I just think you should live your life a bit before being saddled with kids who aren’t even yours!”
The whites of his eyes became more pronounced as soon as he realized what he’d said. His words died off and left us with a tense silence as we stared at each other. He put his hands up quickly, shaking his head as I continued to glare at him. “Shit, baby, that—that didn’t come out right! I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant… We’re still young, you know? Kids change everything in your life and I’m just not sure if…”
“You don’t think I realize that?” I questioned, my voice cold even to my ears and straining as I tried to hold myself together. Pain tightened and squeezed my chest as I tried not to look at him with nearly as much disgust as I felt for him at that moment. How could he not see how hard I’d been working and how far I’d come with the kids in the year since they’d lost their parents? And he just wanted me to throw them off onto someone else so I could skip off into the sunset with him instead of keeping their well-being and what was best for them in mind?
“You’re saying it as if I haven’t been looking after them for the past year. I think I know by now just how much kids can change everything in your life, and no, this isn’t how I wanted or expected things to go, but they’re my responsibility now and there’s no way I’m going to run off and play house with you while they need me.”
“Quinn—”
“I think I left a few things behind in the kitchen,” I lied, turning around to head back inside the manor. “It’s getting late. You should probably head home and rest up before your shift tomorrow.”
Marlon scoffed, and I could hear his footsteps retreating in the opposite direction, but I didn’t dare look back.
Marlon had always been a handsome man. Tall and slim, with a wide and boyish grin that bore his pearly white teeth. His smooth ochre skin always reminded me of the warm morning light in a dark forest. He was beautiful. I’d fallen for him the moment I caught sight of him almost four years ago, when he first walked into the restaurant, searching for a job.
But in moments like these, I often wondered what it was I’d ever seen in him in the first place. All the handsomeness and smooth-talking in the world couldn’t make him seem attractive to me after he’d said something likethatwithout a second thought.
I tried to put the conversation out of my brain as I returned to the kitchen, skimming it to check for any of the kitchenware IknewI hadn’t left behind. Instead of finding forgotten Tupperware bowls, though, I caught sight of a man and a woman making out as if their lives depended on it.
They jumped apart as soon as they caught wind of my presence, and I sent them an apologetic — if not awkward,—smile as I attempted to back out of the room again, only for the man to start speaking before I could escape.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. You’re the caterer, aren’t you? The food tonight was excellent!”
They were both attractive, looking every bit as rich as all the rest of the people who’d been inside this mansion. The man was a blonde Adonis with tortoiseshell glasses, and he beamed at me as he came over, reaching a hand out for me to shake.
“Yes, the food service was wonderful,” the woman added, clearly nervous as she side-eyed the man before sending me a smile. “My compliments to the chef! It was an amazing array of dishes, and I particularly enjoyed the blackened salmon!”
“Oh, thank you.” I smiled. “That’s an excellent choice. It’s one of the more popular dishes at our restaurant. The fillet is sourced locally! You must visit one day and try the other seafood dishes—”
“I was just saying to… To my friend here that I wanted to stop by!” He nodded, all too enthusiastically. “I’d love to eat at… at…”
“SharpEats.”
“SharpEats!” He nodded again, so hard that I thought his neck might roll right off his shoulders. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited before, but your food is exquisite, so I’ll be sure to make the trip soon. What do you say?” he turned to look at the woman. “Maybe you should consider hiring Miss Sharpe to cater your upcoming wedding! That would be a treat.”
“Oh,” she laughed him off, swatting at his chest. “I’m sure it’d be excellent service, but you know the wedding is going to be a very intimate affair. My fiancé wants it to be strictly friends and family…” She drifted off as my eyes widened, nearly bulging out of my head.
I couldn’t believe my own ears! These two were making out in the middle of the open kitchen while she was engaged to a whole other man?
Yikes.
“Right.” I put on my best smile as I discreetly began backing away. “Well, it was lovely to meet you all, but I have to get going. I hope to see you in the restaurant soon!”
“Wait!” the man called, jolting forward as if to grab me and keep me from moving another inch, but his hand lingered in the air between us before falling to his side. He let out a nervous chuckle, sending me a small smile. “Do you think it would be possible to…”
“Keep what you just saw to yourself?” the woman finished for him. “I think it would be best if no one else found out about…”
“Right, of course!” I nodded quickly, backing away ever-so-slowly. I didn’t want anything to do with whatever was going on here, and the sooner I could get away from these people, the better. “I won’t say a word.”
“Thank you so much,” the man breathed. “We really appreciate it.”
“Absolutely. I’ve really got to go now. Great meeting you!”
Not wanting to be part of this conspiracy any longer, I turned and rushed out of the kitchen, the doors swinging behind me as I heard their panicked whispers start up as soon as I’d left.
I was too tired from the long day to even think about it anymore after that. My feet were killing me, right along with the rest of my body. All I wanted was to get back to my home (which was conveniently located on the second floor of the building that housed the restaurant) as possible and get some rest before my shift tomorrow.
