“Wha–” Maisie interrupted, “Who was that? Knox?”
“I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you later.” I frowned. “Maybe.” Because I would be going to Lucy’s and trying to confess my feelings.
Right after this interview.
I hung up and pocketed my phone, though my heart didn’t stop skipping in my chest, aching to go back to Lucy right now and fix all of this.
“Sorry about that, sir.” I smiled and shook his hand. “I just got some news, but I’m good to go now.”
Valero shook my hand with a firm grip. “Nothing to worry about. Family’s important. Nothing emergent, I hope?”
I shook my head, but I felt the lie tug at me again. “No, but something I’ll have to handle later. For now, I’m really grateful you found the time to talk with me about the position.”
He grinned. “I’m glad, too. Family is important to us, as a family-owned business, so let’s get this rolling. I’ll show you the place, then we can sit down and chat.”
He led me back through the dining room, with at least a hundred seats, all surrounding darkly stained wooden tables and dark chairs. There were wall decorations that I’d never seen before, quotes made from black iron, a coat of arms made in that same black iron in the shape of knives.
They matched the feel of a pub-and-grill restaurant perfectly, and I knew I would have been stoked to pour over all the details under normal circumstances.
But today wasn’t normal circumstances. Today, Lucy might be crying into his pillow because his family are jackasses who don’t actually give a fuck about him past the notoriety he could bring them.
“We have a small staff right now, but we work hard for our customers.” Valero’s voice cut back in, pulling me back into the moment as we stepped into a roomy, clean kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a slew of prep that was being done by three prep cooks, their knife cuts thrumming evenly throughout the echoes of the room.
“And you work with your sister, right?” I asked, because I’d done my research. This place had been really tempting. I liked their values on their website and the family-first mentality.
Felix grinned. “Yes. Isabel. She and I are twins, and we spent every spare moment together growing up. We learned young how to cook from our mother, despite our father’s insistence.”
I frowned. “He didn’t want you to cook?”
Felix shrugged. “He wanted to provide for us and Mama. That meant stopping her from cooking food that has bonded her family together for generations. I don’t think he ever really understood that, even if he tried to. He’s high society, you see, so when Isabel and I decided to start this business, he and Mama were finally excited about the same thing. Dad thought it was a great business venture, and Mama was touched that we are carrying on our family legacy with food.”
“That’s really sweet.”
And it was. I felt myself relax as Felix continued the tour, explaining the expectations they had for me as assistant kitchen manager and sous chef. Not only was it about cooking and leading, but also about managing inventory, learning where our ingredients came from, and how to source the freshest food at the best price.
Even so, as that chef part of me called to this place, my heart couldn’t stop thinking about Lucy.
He needed someone right now, and I wanted to be that someone.
“So, what do you say?”
I tuned back into the conversation, where Felix was grinning at me and leaning across the bar from the other side.
“Sorry,” I shook my head, “I missed that part.”
His smile fell, a concerned frown taking its place. “Are you sure you’re alright, Mr. Bristol?”
I winced. “It’s Knox, and…”
Lucy’s eyes came to my mind, even as I tried to swat away the sight. But I couldn’t. It was driving me up the wall.
I needed to see him.
“And?”
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head, decision made. “I have to go. Someone needs me.”
Felix’s eyes widened. “What? Why? You have to go so soon?”
