Page 42 of The Chef

I can see Cliff mulling it over in his mind. I can see he doesn’t like the prospect of me helping manage the place.

“I know Bay will do a good job,” Dominika chimes in. She winks at me. “She’s got my approval.”

Cliff shakes his head at both of us. “I want nothing to do with this. I can manage this restaurant, and cook for it, on my own. Without you, Bay.”

“I can do this, trust me.”

“I don’t believe you can.”

“You’re not even giving me a chance?”

Cliff ignores me. “Dominika,” he says. “I’ll book you a flight in the morning. I’ll call you.”

With that, he briskly leaves the office without as much as a second glance at me.

What the fuck’s wrong with this man?

One moment he’s putting himself into harm’s way to defend me, and the next he’s refusing my help. It’s like he really likes me but also, at the same time, acts like I’m the most disgusting human on the planet.

What does he truly think of me?

“Don’t worry about Cliff,” Dominika says to me, squeezing my hand tight again. “He needs your help and will come around to you, trust me.”

“I hope he does. I need this job.”

“Then fight for it.”

“You think I should? You think it’s worth it?”

“Definitely. I trust you, Bay. I know you’ll do a fine job here.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“You’ll get to him, I know it. Plus, now you know where my secret wine stash is. You’ll be able to deal with him.”

I hug her again and she pulls herself in close.

“Thank you, Dominika. For everything.”

“No need.”

“I’m sorry about your dad.”

“Me too.”

“I hope going home’s okay.”

“Thanks, Bay,” she replies. “Stick it out here, please. For me. Cliff needs you.”

I scoff. “I hope you’re right because I need the job. I need the money.”

14

BAY

Pearl tugs at my hand as we pass by the toy store in the center of the shopping mall. Her little fingers pull at mine with all the force she can muster.

It isn’t very effective.