Page 23 of Culinary Chaos (Hotel Bombshell #1)

“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.”

“Will you talk to the hotel staff about it?” Hope put her hand back on Angelica’s elbow. She wanted to make sure that Angelica was feeling better, right? It had nothing to do with wanting and needing to touch her to make sure that she was okay.

“I don’t know.” Angelica looked over Hope’s shoulder at something before locking her eyes back on Hope.

The blues in Angelica’s eyes were so light and pale that in this lighting, and with the dark black suit that she was wearing, her eyes looked gray. How many other colors could they change depending on the situation? Hope wanted to know.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because it’s not my responsibility to tell them what to do.”

“Do you think John will listen to us?”

“No,” Angelica said so calmly that it unnerved her. “No, I don’t think he will.”

“So when we pack up to leave in a couple of days, what are all the people here going to do?” Hope squeezed Angelica’s arm.

“They’re either going to quit and find a new job or they’re going to work here until John and Nova burn it to the ground.

I can tell them what I’d do in the situation, but that’s all the advice I can give them.

The decision has to be theirs.” Angelica lifted the glass to her lips and took another long sip.

“Thanks for the water. I think I just forgot to eat.”

“Forgot to… eat…” Hope jumped from work to personal, immediately switching modes to once again taking care of Angelica. “I can add in an order for you in the kitchen, if you’d like.”

“That’d be good. Thanks.” Angelica gave her a brief smile and handed the glass back over before taking a step and putting some distance between them. “If John comes back into the kitchen tonight, please let me know.”

“Immediately or…?” Hope held the sweating glass in both her hands.

“Immediately,” Angelica confirmed. “I don’t like bullies.”

Just that one statement put more ease in Hope’s heart than anything else that had happened since they’d arrived there. She nodded her understanding and stayed put while Angelica walked back inside, followed by the camera that was designated as hers.

Just what the hell footage would they use from that?

Hope prayed it was nothing.