Chapter 64

I let out a long pitiful sigh and then made myself get up. There was work to do. A kitchen to organize and a menu to resize. I was the leader of this place and that meant something to me. I walked into the hall—it was like death row in the kitchen. Only Sung-Li had stayed. She was in charge of the desert section, a great p?tissier. She looked up at me and smiled. “You know I love you, Chef Nico.”

“Yeah?” I was a bit choked up.

She was delicately arranging her section. “And if you need a few names, people who could take Olivier’s place—I know many.”

I scratched my head, watching her. She was so methodical and serene. I’d always been too busy to really take notice of how fantastic her plating and deserts were. That was Derek’s specialty. “Hey…when was the last time you got a raise around here?”

“Last year.”

“Okay, well, you’re due for another one. I’ll speak to the accountant. Uh, and by the way, where is he?”

She lifted her chin to the kitchen swinging doors.