“Sure, sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“I’ll believe you when I see her.”
His mother smiles, kissing him on the temple. He closes his eyes and relaxes. He’s safe.
He’s home.
Alexander: I’m here. I miss you.
Eden reads his text over and over again until the words are seared into the back of her eyes. She misses him, too. A lot. Eden can feel it in her bones, in the way she constantly looks to her left expecting him to be there. She’s sure she’ll have the kitchen running smoothly, but there’s no denying how different it will feel being at the front of the line all alone.
Except she’s not alone. Not really.
Sebastian pulls her into the kitchen office as soon as she arrives at La Rouge, seething. His eyes are bloodshot with controlled rage, the vein at his temple pulsing.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he asks, holding up what she assumes is Alexander’s resignation letter. “Did he say anything to you? Where is he?”
“It’s as much of a surprise to you as it is to me,” she says in as even a tone as she can muster.
“That ungrateful little...” Sebastian grumbles something under his breath. What it is, Eden can’t be sure, though she knows it’s likely nothing flattering. “No matter. I was going to get rid of him sooner or later.”
“W-what?”
“Don’t worry about it, my dear. It’s just business.”
Eden’s stomach flips. She doesn’t believe Sebastian for a second. She gets the sense that this is a lot more personal than he’s letting on.
“Have you thought much more about my offer?” he asks, shredding Alexander’s letter into tiny pieces before carelessly tossing it in the nearby garbage bin.
She steels herself, standing that much straighter and holding her head high. “I have.”
“Excellent. Which restaurant would you like to run? Obviously La Rougeis now available to—”
“Actually,” she says quickly, “I’ve decided to decline.”
Sebastian freezes. Insulted. In disbelief. He looks like he’s been slapped clean across the face. Eden wonders, ever so briefly, if she should.
“Youdecline?” he echoes, words dripping with something cold and cruel.
“Your offer was most gracious,” Eden replies politely. “But I believe such an opportunity should go to someone much more deserving. I still have a lot to learn in my role as sous chef, and I cannot confidently say that I will be able to lead an entire restaurant at my current skill level.”
She’s stiff in her delivery, but only because she’s rehearsed her little spiel in the mirror too many times to count. A deliberately crafted speech designed to be polite, but direct. Sebastian has one of two options: accept, or lose his shit. Eden sincerely doubts he’s willing to come out as the true snake in human flesh that he is, so it comes as no surprise when Sebastian relaxes into a smile.
A venomous smile, but it’s better than the alternative.
“I hope you understand how rare my offer is,” he says slowly. “I could turn you into a star, my dear. Even greater than Alexander ever was. Under my tutelage, there isn’t anywhere in the world you can’t go without someone knowing your name. Think about it a little harder, Eden. Fame, fortune, your own restaurant, even your own cooking show. Alexander never liked the spotlight. But you? You could shine, my dear. Brighter than anyone else. I could give you everything.”
Eden bites down on her tongue. There are only two things she really wants: to find her parents, and to be with Alexander.
And she isn’t willing to sacrifice herself to Sebastian to achieve either of those goals.
Faking her way into the sous chef position at La Rouge had been a means to an end. Signing on with Sebastian permanently had never been in her original game plan.
She forces a smile. “Like I said, sir. I’m afraid I will have to decline. But thank you.”
Sebastian’s expression darkens. “I will not ask again, Eden.”
