Page 1 of Knox's Fate

CHAPTER 1

RUBY

Ruby Edwards, a formidable cook with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue, reveled in the controlled chaos of her bustling kitchen. The sizzle and pop of skillets, the rhythm of knives against cutting boards, the chatter of her assistants all blended into a symphony of which she was the maestro. As the orders for the packed Saturday breakfast crowd at Aspen's Peak Pantry flooded in, Ruby's mind raced with the next dishes on her never-ending list that would need her attention.

She deftly cracked three eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a flurry of motion before pouring them into a hot skillet. Her wrist flicked with precision as she added diced ham, cheddar cheese, roasted peppers and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. The omelet was already starting to puff up, and Ruby expertly folded it over before sliding it and another just like it onto plates and passing them off to the servers.

Despite the chaos around her, Ruby remained unfazed, her mind focused solely on the task at hand. She relished the thrill of a busy meal rush, knowing that she was in her element and in complete control. The kitchen was her domain, and she ruled it with grace and finesse.

As the rush died down, Ruby took a moment to catch her breath and survey the kitchen. The steam rising from the stovetops, the clanging of pots and pans, and the hum of conversation all signaled that things were running smoothly. She couldn't help but feel pride in her team and the dishes they had churned out for the hungry customers.

Ruby's hand froze mid-reach, her entire body tensing as she felt a warm hand snake its way down her back. She turned around to see her boss, Lyle, standing behind her with a sly smile on his face.

"Hey there, beautiful," he greeted with a wink.

Ruby rolled her eyes and pushed past him to grab the spices. "Knock it off, Lyle. The kitchen is busy, and I have work to do."

Lyle chuckled and followed her movements as she started prepping for lunch. Lyle had purchased the Peak Pantry several months ago and had made himself a fixture in the diner and in its kitchen. He’d taken an immediate liking to Ruby. However, the feeling wasn’t mutual, and she’d made it clear from the beginning that she was not interested in any workplace romance.

But that didn't stop Lyle from trying. He was nothing if not persistent. He often flirted with her during her shift, much to Ruby's annoyance. She tolerated it because she liked and needed her job. Chefs these days were a dime a dozen and trendy spots likePeak’s Pantryliked being able to say they had a trained chef and not just some home-schooled cook. But sometimes his advances crossed the line, set her teeth on edge, and made her want to punch him.

As he leaned against the counter, more in the way than anything, Lyle couldn't seem to resist trying to engage her in small talk. "So...I was thinking maybe we could grab some dinner after the end of your shift?" he asked casually.

Ruby sighed and shook her head. "Lyle, I've told you before: I'm not interested in dating anyone from work."

"Come on, Ruby," he persisted. "We have great chemistry in the kitchen, and I think we could have great chemistry outside of it, too."

Ruby slammed down a knife on the cutting board and turned to face him with fire in her eyes. "I am not interested in you romantically, Lyle. Now can you please leave me alone so I can focus on my job?"

"If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me," Lyle said, holding up his hands in surrender with a forced grin before walking back out to the front of the house.

Ruby let out a frustrated sigh as she continued to prepare various elements for their planned lunch specials. She hated having to constantly shut down his advances and wished he would just respect her boundaries.

But she didn't have time to dwell on it for long, as the diner moved right from the breakfast crowd to the lunch rush without seeming to miss a beat.

Ruby let out a sigh of relief as she turned back to her cooking. She hated these encounters with Lyle, who seemed to think that his wealth and power could buy him anything he wanted. She had no intention of becoming another one of his conquests.

As the lunch rush died down and Ruby finished preparing the last few dishes, she couldn't help but feel drained and frustrated from the events of the day. She made her way back to the kitchen staff room for a break before dinner service began.

But as she entered the room, she froze in shock at the sight before her: Lyle was sitting on one of the couches with his arms wrapped around one of the waitresses. Ruby felt her sense of humor mingling with her desire to get a little payback from Lyle. He’d been flirting with her while already having someone elseon his radar?Let’s see how he handles this,she thought as she strode over to them.

“You’re such a jackass, Lyle.” The waitress scrambled out of Lyle’s lap and Ruby had to wonder if the girl had actually wanted to be there. Ruby shook her head. “I knew you were a snake, but this confirms it. You are not going to be able to keep good staff if you get the reputation of being handsy with anything with a pair of tits.”

Ruby walked away before Lyle had a chance to say anything. But as she left the room, she caught the eye of the waitress who mouthed the word,‘thanks.’

The next few days passed by in a blur for Ruby as she continued to work tirelessly at the diner. The incidents with Lyle had become a constant refrain she had trouble dismissing. She didn’t allow it to affect her work, but she couldn’t say the same for her peace of mind. One afternoon, the bustle of customers slowed down, and Ruby found a moment to wipe down her personal workspace. As she worked, Lyle entered the kitchen and sidled up to her.

Ruby straightened up, meeting his gaze. She could feel the tension crackling between them like electricity. But she had come too far and worked too hard to let anyone push her around now. Recent news of her inheritance had given Ruby a small glimmer of hope, a chance to escape from this suffocating atmosphere and start fresh somewhere new.

That night, as she locked up the diner and headed home, Ruby couldn't shake off the feeling of restlessness that had settled in her chest. She knew she needed to make a decision soon about what to do with her life. The thought of spending any more time working for Lyle was suffocating.

As she reached her small apartment, Ruby's mind drifted back to the meeting she’d had earlier that week with a lawyer. Maybe it was time to take a risk and start over somewhere new.All she could think of was what the lawyer had told her; that her Aunt Lorraine—an aunt she hadn’t seen since she was a child—had left her a rustic lodge in Silver Falls.

He’d shown her pictures of a large but dilapidated lodge, located in a gorgeous setting. The lodge was supposed to have five or six bedrooms on the second floor. The first floor consisted of a large foyer, sitting area, dining room, kitchen, bath, primary suite and an additional small bedroom suite and bath off the kitchen. Suddenly she could see it as it could be, an upscale bed and breakfast that could afford her with a way to make a living doing the things she loved. A lodge with no strings attached, no one standing too close in a small kitchen, no Lyle.

It was a tempting idea.

The next day at work, Ruby could barely focus on her tasks as she kept mulling over the idea of leaving everything behind. But before she could make any decisions, Lyle called her into his office.

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