Page 51 of Culinary Chaos

“I gave your staff all of their options, and no, I’m not going to hold back on what I think’s in their best interest.” Hope put her hands on her hips, curling them into fists as she found her footing and stuck it. “And if I think it’s in their best interest to leave here and find a better job, then I will absolutely push them to it. I’d do that with my own employees if I thought they’doutgrownwhat I had to offer.”

That was a low blow, because in reality Bowen and the others hadn’t outgrown Chateau Orleans. Well, aside from their emotional and intellectual maturity, which was saying a whole lot.

“You’re going to leave me with no one here to work.”

“No, that’s not on me. That’ll be on you and how you treat your employees.” Hope was firm on that point.

“I treat my employees with respect!” John’s voice reverberated through the kitchen. “I treat them like family!”

Hope’s eyes widened. If this was how he treated family, then she would hate to know how he thought he treated employees. And she hated that metaphor anyway. Everyone treated family worse than coworkers. There was greater trust, which meant there was more opportunity for greater failure.

“Then I’d hate to be a part of your family.” Angelica’s voice shocked Hope.

When the hell had she come into the kitchen?

John spun around, finding Angelica staring at him with her arms crossed, lips pursed, and a look of pure hatred on her face. When he tried to move into her space, Angelica didn’t budge an inch. Hope was impressed. She wished she had that kind of control most days.

“I came in to see what the holdup with dinner service is. Now I know.” She stared at him. “Tell me, John, how often is it that you hold up dinner service like this?”

John’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, I’m sorry, would you prefer to go back to degrading not only your employees but Chef Lawrence?” Angelica dropped her hands to her sides, somehow making herself seem even taller. “You know, the chef who is here to fix your kitchen and is trying to do that, but who can’t exactly serve guests while you’re berating her in front of your employees. Management 101 says not to coach or correct someone in front of others.”

Hope wanted to laugh. Angelica was taking him swiftly down a notch with every sentence, and it was stunning to watch. She’d done this before, that was clear, and she knew exactly where to push and where to pull. Angelica was brilliant.

“I suggest you leave the kitchen and take a breather, John. We don’t want you causing more complaints against you than there already are.” Angelica stepped to the side, silently reinforcing her order for him to leave. “And at least this way, the customers in the dining room will get to eat a hot meal instead of a lukewarm one.”

John scoffed at her as he walked by.

Hope watched as he left, making sure he was gone before she turned back to face Angelica—who suddenly looked pale. Hope blinked, concern flashing through her in a second. She stepped forward, putting her hand on Angelica’s arm.

“Are you okay?”

Angelica’s lower lip trembled, and she looked directly into Hope’s eyes. “I—I didn’t realize how hot it was in here.”

“Ange,” Hope lowered her voice, speaking as quietly as she possibly could so that no one else could hear. “Come here.”

Hope pulled Angelica with her, not taking her hand off Angelica’s elbow as she started toward the back door. “Bowen, now’s your chance to impress me! You’re in charge. Get those first few orders going, and I’ll be right back.”

Without looking over her shoulder, Hope took Angelica outside into the humid weather and out of the kitchen. It might not be any cooler out there, but at least there was a slight breeze. Hope turned sharply and put her hands on Angelica’s arms to stop her from moving.

“Seriously, what’s wrong?”

Angelica shook her head again, but she looked so pale. The color that was usually in her cheeks was gone in an instant.

“Did John do something?”

“What? No.” Angelica frowned, shaking firmly that time in the negative. “No, I really just didn’t notice how hot it was in there. I’ll be fine in a minute.”

“Stay here.” Hope hated letting go of her, but she moved quickly back inside. She snagged a glass and poured Angelica some ice water, bringing it back out to her. “Here.”

“Thank you.” Angelica took the glass, their fingers brushing as Hope handed it over. She didn’t sip it at first, but she finally raised it to her lips.

Hope winced when Rex stepped out with a camera right next to him. There was no escaping those this time around. How much of the conversation had they caught on the microphone packs that they were wearing? Hope would have to be far more careful about what she said and did, remembering that those were on her all the time.

“I did talk to the kitchen crew about finding other jobs,” Hope admitted, focusing back on work. Maybe that would make Angelica look at her again, and hopefully this time she wouldn’t seem so lost like she had been before.

“I heard,” Angelica said, pursing her lips. “Before John made his accusations. I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”