Page 104 of Cruel Promise

“It’s what husbands do.” Even though I’m the worst kind of husband. I leave the room before I do something I’ll regret.

AVA

“You have a glow about you this morning,” Mrs. Brown says after I come into the kitchen. Nikolai already left for work, and I’m so grateful for that. After what we shared in my bedroom, I don’t think I could look him in the eye right away again.

I flush. “Do I?”

She gives me a knowing look. “Starting to get more comfortable here? I knew you would.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be fully comfortable here. But I’m trying.”

“Good. Keep on trying.”

“And keep eating,” Claude says, handing me a plate full of bacon. “It’s disgusting, but you need fat on your bones.”

“I’m not going to eat a plate full of bacon, but thank you.” I set the plate down.

Claude huffs and turns back to the stove, where he’s making soup.

Mrs. Brown and I exchange looks before she heads to do the laundry, leaving Claude and me alone.

“Claude, I’ve spoken to Edmund and Mrs. Brown about this, but how did you start working for Nik?” I’ve been calling him that more and more, and it’s starting to sound more natural.

“Why do you care about my life? You don’t care about my food.”

I sigh and lean against the counter so I can look him in the eye. “I don’t hate you, Claude. I want to get to know you. I’ll be staying here, and I might as well make friends with everyone.”

“Edmund and Lottie are easy to make friends with, I’m sure. They don’t have an attitude like me.”

“I never said you had an attitude.”

He gives me a pointed look, silently telling me I didn’t need to say it—it was already obvious. “Fine. You want to know about my life? I’ll tell you. I used to work at a three-star Michelin restaurant. I was so proud. My entire family was proud.” He chops up some carrots and adds them to the soup.

“And then?”

“Then the head chef got in some trouble with some of the waitresses, if you know what I mean.”

“That’s terrible.”

“Well, yes,” he says like it’s obvious. “But that wasn’t the worst part. Because of that scandal, the restaurant lost business, and I lost my job.”

“Yes, because that’s worse than the women getting sexually harassed by their coworker.”

Claude makes a face. “Yes, it was worse because my life was affected. I had to find a new job. And that’s when Mr. Petrov showed up. He offered me a job to work for him, and I took it. No questions asked. And I still haven’t asked questions to this day so that might be something for you to learn.”

“You don’t like my questions?”

“I hate your questions,” he groans, throwing his head back. “You’re like a little bird, flittering around my ear. I hate it. Now, let me work.” He nudges me out of the way to grab a knife from the drawer. “I have to finely cut the onion for this soup. It’s the only way it tastes so good.”

“Sure, Claude. But one more question.”

He groans again. “Always with the questions.”

“Why are you so loyal to Nik? Why didn’t you help me when I first came here?”

“That’s two questions.”

“Just answer.”

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