Page 45 of Desirous

“I’m busy. Later,” she says without even turning around to acknowledge I’m there.

At this point, I’d usually just skulk away like some child who’s just been chastised, but not today. Kat Truesdale is not going to wait until it’s more convenient for the person who’s made her life a living hell. That’s the old me. New me demands a little more respect.

“No. Now,” I say even more loudly.

Everything in the kitchen seems to stop. No chefs move, although a couple glance over at me and give me tiny smiles. They know what it feels like with her. I bet they wish they could do what I’m doing right now. I hope they can someday because it feels great.

Deidre spins around and marches over to me, stopping just before she runs me over. Her hands on her hips, she says, “I’m busy, Katerina. You should be too since your shift starts in five minutes, so go get dressed and get back here to start working.”

“I need to speak to you about something. Can we go into the office?”

“No. Whatever you have to say, you can say right here.”

Fine. We’ll have this talk right in the middle of the kitchen. Seems only right that everyone will see me give my notice since they’ve watched her give me every reason in the book to leave for months on end.

“I’m giving you my two weeks’ notice. I’ve gotten another job. I’m leaving.”

No words have ever made me feel freer than those. I’ve dreamed of saying them for so long I sometimes wondered if they’d ever become reality, but now that I’m standing in front of the woman who’s made me hate my job on so many days and the words are actually out now, it’s the best feeling in the world.

“What do you mean? What other restaurant would hire you? You’re a salad prep,” she says with an edge in her voice that shows just how little she thinks of me.

But I’m not going to let her bring me down. Not today. Not ever again.

“I am a chef and a damn good one at that. I’ve been a chef here for over two years, and I did a good job despite having no support from my head chef. It’s none of your concern what restaurant would want me because they do, so this is your two weeks’ notice.”

She seethes at my confidence, shaking her head in disgust. “Don’t bother. I can replace you at salad in less than a day. You can turn in everything that belongs to the restaurant right now.”

For a moment, I’m stunned by her words, but that doesn’t last for long. Being given my freedom two weeks early has made this day even better.

Spinning on my heels, I yell back as I walk out through the kitchen door, “Good luck everyone! Except you, Deidre. I hope you get what you deserve.”

My hands are shaking, and I feel like I might burst into tears as I march out of the restaurant into the midday sun. I’m free. No waiting fourteen days to start my new job. No dealing with her insults and haranguing.

I’m free!

I see Heidi as I’m walking to my car and tell her the great news. She throws her arms around me and says, “You deserve so much better than she ever gave you. Good luck, Kat! I know you’re going to be great.”

“Thanks. Come see me sometime at my new restaurant. I’ll make you something incredible, okay?”

As she heads into the building, she calls back, “I’m going to hold you to that. Don’t be surprised when I show up at CK one night looking great and wanting to see you.”

I hope she does.

Alex is waitingfor me outside of CK when I arrive. After I tell him all the wonderful details about how I told Deidre I was giving her my notice and stood my ground, even when she insulted me and said I was so easily replaced that I could leave today, I take a deep breath and look at the front of my new workplace.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be a chef here. I think it’s finally sunk in, and now I’m a little nervous. Who do I have to meet today?”

“My father and my uncle. You’ve already met my father. Remember that night we were in his office?”

I cringe at that memory. “Oh, God. He must think I’m a crazy person. I was so mean to you that night.”

Alex takes hold of my hand and brings it to his mouth to kiss my knuckles. “All water under the bridge, and don’t worry about what he thinks. He was the one who called me that night to tell me you and your parents were here.”

“And he’s okay with us being together while we’re both working here? Most places don’t allow fraternization.”

A sexy smile lifts the corners of his beautiful mouth. “Sometimes there are benefits to being the owner’s son. Now as for Kane, he looks just like my father, but he usually has a serious look on his face. He’s sort of the grumpy owner.”

“Okay. Got it.”

---