Page 5 of Challenged By You
“Of course,” I speak before Spencer can get a word in. “However, there’s a bit of a snag?”
“What now?” she demands.
I raise a brow. Spencer is shaking his head, pleading with me to not tell her. “Ultimately, Chef Spencer, you mean nothing to me. What matters is the food. And since my favorite course last night was dessert…”
“Don’t,” Spencer openly begs.
“Quiet,” Mia snaps. “What happened?”
“Your executive pastry chef was fired in such a way I suspect you’re going to have quite a difficult time getting her back.” I drop the news like a bomb.
“Excuse me?” Two words, but they have the power to put the fear of God into anyone within hearing distance.
Spencer begins babbling, making excuses, but Mia shouts, “Get the hell out of my kitchen! I gave you a warning about this already. Your termination paperwork will be sent to you.” Spencer glares at me, before storming off, leaving me and Mia alone on speaker.
“Was it really bad, Jonas?” Worry has slid into her voice, overtaking the anger.
“Words don’t come close to what I just witnessed. You may want to talk with your other employees,” I say in disgust. “At the end of the day, Mia, if your executive chef was doing his job, he would have known it was a mistake.”
“God, this is a damn mess.”
“It would have come out sooner or later; you’re too smart not to know that.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I transferred someone out from Portland not too long ago I’m comfortable moving into the executive role, but Jonas, Chef Paxton was magic in the dessert position. I took a chance on her based on that skill. Even though she’s new, she earned her position. She’s the reason I even allowed a dessert of the day to be put on the menu. God, what a mess.” And for Mia Palazzo to allow that much latitude in her kitchen is unprecedented.
“I know. It’s also why New York earned the highest ranking of all of your restaurants,” I tell her baldly.
“Damnit, I’ve got to talk to Sterling. It’s going to be a hell of a day, and the sun isn’t even up here yet.” Mia sighs. “What’s next, Jonas? Do we let the review stand? It’s got a pall over it that I’m not happy with.”
“Worry about getting your house in order, Mia. Then, let’s revisit it. Say, in a month’s time?” I suggest.
“That’s it? That easy?” she wonders.
“For now.”
I hear a rush of breath on the other end of the line. “Now I know why Camden actually likes you,” Mia says, naming her husband.
“He likes me because I raided my cousin’s diaper bag for the twins that time you both were filming in New York,” I retort.
“Right. Whatever. I’ve got to call Sterling and wake her up. Don’t you just love when the day starts off as a disaster?”
“Imagine how your dessert chef is feeling right about now,” I remind her.
“Goodbye, Jonas.” Mia disconnects the call.
There’s a knock on the jamb. “Umm, sir?” The hostess who escorted me back earlier is standing in the entrance. “I saw Chef Spencer storm out. I presume your meeting is over?”
Rubbing a hand over the back of my neck, I glance out the window at the curious faces of the rest of Seduction New York’s kitchen staff. “You could say that. I’m ready to leave.”
She nods.
Before I shut the office door behind me, I ask, “Does Chef Sterling have keys to this office?”
“Yes, of course. Only Chef Spencer and Chef Sterling do. Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” I imagine the staff at Seduction will find out soon enough.
Chapter 3
