Page 143 of Tarek

Rhet chuckles and kisses the top of his daughter’s head. “You don’t say.”

“Rhet, please,” I plead.

“Babe, you are refusing to tell Penny means you are hurting me,” Zeeta pouts.

“This is the shit I was talking about before the wedding. Tarek’s father owns that business.” Rhet says. He stands with a sleeping Gia in his arms.

Zeeta looks at me with her eyes wide. “Tarek? Is it serious with you two?”

“No. I will see you later Zee” I reply.

Before Zeeta could ask more questions, I grab my bag, my phone, and car keys. Tarek wants my attention well now he has it.

* * *

TAREK

“Add some more shallots to this.” I throw the spoon into the sink.

“Yes, Chef.”

I move over to the next dish a pomegranate sorbet and dipped a new spoon into it. The tangy taste hits my tongue. “Perfection. This is good.”

“Thank you, Chef,” my pastry chef replies.

“This event is celebrating the anniversary of Ethan and Amelia Wulf. They are a philanthropist couple.” I look at the dishes laid out on the stainless-steel table. “I’m confident that we can do this without a hitch. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Chef,” my team says as they all disperse to their assigned areas.

Marco stands to the side of me. “Who is this new jovial chef?”

I squint my eyes. “Fuck you, Marco. I’m always jovial.”

Marco taps his finger to his lips. “No, for the last year you have been a tyrant and a dick-tator.”

“I hear the snide remark. Nothing has changed,” I reply.

Just then Janaka comes inside with a bright smile on her face. “Um, Chef?”

Both Marco and I look up.

“You have a visitor,” Janaka says, as she leans on the door making way for Penny to come into my kitchen.

“Ms. Holt.” Marco moves in front of me and steals a hug from Penny. “Welcome back.”

Penny smiles back at Marco. “How have you been?”

“Great, especially now that you are back.” Marco pulls away and squeezes her shoulders.

“Oh, I am not back. I am leaving tomorrow morning to go to Trinidad.” Penny smiles tightly, looking at me to respond.

Marco stares back at me and then at Penny. “Great. I will leave you to it.”

As Marco moves away, I can’t help but smile at Penny. I can tell that she is angry. I guess she just got fired.

“Can we talk somewhere private?” I turn and walk up to the Lookout—AKA my office.

The door slams behind me and I begin to pull my blinds down; my staff below don’t need to witness what’s about to happen.

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