A knock sounds at the door a moment later.
Saved by the chef.
The front door opens, and a moment later a trolley is wheeled into the dining room. Holly gives Wynter a small wave before disappearing again, leaving us alone.
I reach for the silver domes and lift them one by one. Steam rises from perfectly cooked steaks, rich and savoury, and even I have to admit the smell is enough to make my mouth water.
Across from me, Wynter’s whole face lights up.
For a second, I just watch her. Then I pick up my knife and fork.
“Why didn’t you get the job you moved here for?” I ask.
She cuts into her steak, taking a moment before answering. “They said someone else had more experience.” There’s bitterness in her voice. “After I worked for free for a month.” She glances up at me and adds, “Personally, I think the boss was sleeping with her.”
I huff out a quiet laugh through my nose. It’s not uncommon.
As I watch her eat, it hits me that this is what she needs more than anything else—a break. A bit of luck. A chance to catch her breath.
And despite my better judgement, I respect her for doing what she had to do, for putting her dream on hold so she can survive.
“I’ll try harder to back off,” I say.
Her fork stills. Then she nods once, a small smile tugging at her mouth before she drops her gaze back to the plate.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
WYNTER
It’s Catherine’s final day, and Anika is trying to be brave about it, but I can tell she’s upset. Her eyes are glassy, her answers short, and for the last hour we’ve sat in near silence while Netflix plays some series she’s had on repeat all week.
“Do you ever go out?” she asks eventually, her voice quiet.
I glance over. “Out?”
“To bars, clubs, anywhere fun.”
I shake my head. “Not here. I did back home. But . . . I haven’t really made any friends in London.”
“You’ve been here six months.”
“I know.” I give a small shrug. “It’s hard when you don’t know anyone. I went for drinks once with a few people from the publishing firm, but they were a bit . . . odd. We didn’t exactly stay in touch after I left.”
“I used to love going out,” she says softly, a sad smile touching her mouth.
I seize on that, hoping to lift her mood a little. “What was your favourite drink?”
That gets a better smile. “Easy. Vodka and orange.”
I pull a face. “Absolutely not. That sounds vile. I’m a Cosmo girl.”
She huffs a laugh through her nose. “Who are your friends back home?”
“Kate and Filip,” I say, smiling despite myself. “He’s gay, she’s chaotic, and together they can make even the most boring night fun. I miss them both like mad.”
“Don’t they visit?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t want them seeing the flat I was in before. They’d have dragged me home.”
