I turned off my music and listened. I could hear shouting.
It was my aunt, and she was absolutely berating someone.
Bandit was perched on the bed, his head cocked as he listened.
“It’s okay, boy,” I told him, as I stood up and cracked open the door.
Her voice came loud and clear. “I don’t understand what is so difficult about following a specific recipe.”
I strained to hear Jordan’s response. “I tried my best, but some of those ingredients I can’t find in Canada.”
“Why do you always have excuses after excuses? I’m so tired of you giving me words instead of real food that I can actually eat.”
Rage washed over me like liquid fire. I could feel my face heat up as I skipped down the stairs toward the kitchen. I stood in the doorway and observed.
Lena was blocking Jordan in the corner and getting in his face. He looked both sad and scared, and when he saw me standing there, he dropped his gaze in shame.
“What is going on?” My voice came out sharp.
My aunt spun on her heels and stared at me boldly, as if she couldn’t believe her luck that I would show up and join the fight. “I don’t understand why this dishwasher still has a job. He’s one of the worst cooks I’ve ever met in my life. He simply can’t cook.”
“We love Jordan and his cooking,” I started, but she cut me off.
“I don’t care what you like and don’t like. He’s not flexible, he doesn’t even know how to make borscht, and he can’t follow simple recipes.”
“We love him,” I repeated, willing my own voice not to shake.
She raised one eyebrow at me. “We’ll see.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I stood my ground until she walked out of the kitchen and moved back upstairs.
Jordan turned away from me.
I walked over and put my arm around his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He gave me a short nod, too choked up to speak.
“She’s a fucking battle axe,” I told him. “No one likes her.”
He gave a wet snicker. “I really liked this job.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Please don’t quit,” I breathed.
He gave me an apologetic look. “I’m pretty sure she’s going to fire me.”
“I won’t let her,” I promised, but I think we both knew I didn’t have that kind of power. Lena had been ruining both our lives since she’d arrived.
He gave a sad nod. “I just want to own my own restaurant. I honestly feel like I couldn’t be further from my dreams.”
“Jordan.” My voice held a level of anguish I couldn’t hide.
“Maybe it’s time I moved on.”
My heart cracked a bit. “I’m going to talk to Axel, okay?”
His voice dropped. “She’s really hard to work for.”
