Eden opens the envelope and finds a single check inside. She’s never seen so many zeros in front of the decimal place before. “What is this?”
“Your signing bonus,” he explains simply, like it’s a stupid question.
“This is… incredibly generous of you, sir.”
It really, truly is. The check could pay for a PI like Maxine Kendo two, maybe even three times over. Eden could finally afford a nice apartment, all the delicious food she wants to eat, all of the pretty dresses her heart could ever desire.
Sebastian smiles. “Think of it as an investment. And that’s also on top of your yearly salary, which I assure you is quite competitive. You’ll make the same amount that Alexander earns in no time at all.”
Her hands can’t stop shaking. She wants to pinch herself to make sure this is real. “I don’t know what to say,” she admits.
“You don’t have to accept the offer right away. Please think on it, though I personally wouldn’t take too long. Things tend to move fast in my line of work.”
“Who will be Alexander’s sous chef? If I accept, I mean.”
“There’s no need to concern yourself with finding a replacement. With the way things are going, I doubt there will be any need to...” Sebastian trails off, laughing gently. “Don’t mind me. Just the ramblings of an old man. Please let me know your answer as soon as possible. Hold onto the check. To serve as inspiration.”
Eden slips the check back into the envelope and then stuffs the envelope into the pocket of her apron. “Thank you, sir. I’ll definitely mull it over.”
“That’s my girl. Thank you for your time, dear.”
“You as well.”
“Best get back to the grind, then. I think service has started.”
“Um, right. Thanks.”
She gets up and walks back to the kitchen, so frazzled that she doesn’t notice Alexander standing anxiously on the other side at first, clearly waiting for her.
“What did he want?” he asks, voice raspy. His brow is twisted with worry, and his cheeks are a little flushed. He looms near her, like he wants to reach out, but forces himself not to.
Eden takes a deep breath. She doesn’t know how to begin. Even though it’s a flimsy piece of paper, the check in her pocket weighs a million tons. If she accepts Sebastian’s offer, she’ll finally have the money she needs to find her parents. She’ll have everything she could ever need.
But doubt creeps in and infests her mind. What if she can’t do it? Alexander makes running a kitchen look easy. What if she can’t pull it off, Sebastian realizes she’s full of shit, and he fires her due to incompetence? She’ll end up right back at square one. She’ll have left her friends behind.
She’ll have lefthimbehind.
What will this mean for them if she accepts? If she doesn’t? Eden’s too overwhelmed to deal with any of this right now.
He tries again, so soft and sweet and genuinely worried that Eden wants to cry. “Are you okay? Did he say something to you?”
“I’m fine.” She takes another deep breath. “What are the specials tonight?”
Alexander shifts in his spot. “Eden.”
“The specials. What are they?”
“The salmon filet,” he says slowly. “And the fois gras.”
She brushes right past him. “Okay. Let’s get to work.”
She pretends not to notice the way he opens his mouth to speak, just to think against it and close up again.
This is the worst shift he’s had in weeks.
The restaurant is slammed. Peter is understandably adjusting to the responsibilities of his new role, so things aren’t running as smoothly as they could be. And worst of all?
Eden won’t look at him.
