by Janice Sims
Memories flooded her mind. Glancing around the dining room, she remembered the times she’d come to the restaurant early to help organize the kitchen, how she’d patiently trained new hires, the hours she’d spent creating seasonal menus and the fun she’d had working with the head chef and junior staff. They’d been a family, supportive and respectful of each other, and not a day went by that Elise didn’t miss her former colleagues at By the Bay.
Emotionally distraught after her sexual attack, she’d struggled to function at work and her colleagues had rallied around her. Her girlfriends, too. Sariah and Paige had attended group therapy sessions with her, and her colleagues had dropped off meals when she was too depressed to cook. The love and support of her friends and coworkers had not only helped her heal, but also proved to her that she wasn’t alone, that people cared deeply about her.
“Jonas! Welcome, how wonderful to see you again! How have you been, Handsome?”
Stepping past Elise as if she were invisible, the perky blue-eyed hostess approached Jonas with her hands outstretched. Elise tried not to take offense, but her rejection stung—just like the others. Since quitting, she’d texted her former coworkers several times, but none of them had responded to her messages, and she noticed they were dodging her gaze now. Mr. Verbeck was a control freak with an explosive temper. Elise wouldn’t be surprised if he’d warned the employees not to speak to her—or else.
“I was hoping you’d be here tonight.” Jonas kissed the hostess on each cheek and she giggled like a three-year-old on a swing. “As usual, you look sensational.”
Toying with her bracelet-style watch, Elise considered her future. Her savings account was dwindling faster than the president’s approval rating, and she was starting to lose hope of finding a new job. She’d applied at dozens of restaurants, for every kitchen position available, but four months after leaving By the Bay, she was still unemployed. That’s why Elise had to prove to Giovanni that she was the best person for the job.
Someone cleared his throat and Elise surfaced from her thoughts. Mr. Verbeck was standing in front of the wooden podium, glaring at her. She didn’t shrink under his darkened gaze; she stared back at him, projecting confidence rather than fear.
“What are you doing here?” he snapped, baring his coffee-stained teeth.
“My friends and I would like a table in the dining room, but first you need to tell Giovanni Castillo, the CEO of the Hamptons Polo Club, the truth about my departure.”
Boisterous conversation filled the air, drawing Elise’s gaze into the dining room. She wore a fond smile—couldn’t help it. She used to love meeting customers and sharing a secret about her recipes. Even though she knew quitting her job had been the right decision, Elise missed the regulars, creating new dishes and goofing around with her coworkers after closing.
Am I ever going to get another job? Have I been shunned from the Hamptons? Is that why I’ve only been called for one interview? Is my culinary career over? Elise tried not to think the worst, tried to stay positive, but her fears persisted, tormenting her. It didn’t matter that she had the knowledge and experience for the executive chef position at the polo club; Giovanni didn’t like her and his opinion carried the most weight.
Mr. Verbeck glanced around the waiting area with a fake smile. “As you can see, the restaurant is packed and I don’t have time to shoot the breeze.”
“Why did you tell Mr. Castillo I was fired for poor performance and insubordination?”
A hush fell over the waiting area, and Elise knew they had the attention of everyone nearby. “Why did you lie to Mr. Castillo about my performance? Are you trying to ruin my reputation because I quit? Is that what this is about?”
“Get out,” he snarled, pointing at the door with his chin, his wide, fleshy face quivering with rage. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Excuse me?” Jonas abruptly ended his conversation with the hostess and stepped forward, his arms folded across his chest. “Did you just ask Elise to leave? I hope not, because if she goes, I go, and I won’t come back. Neither will my friends and family.”
“I...I m-misspoke,” he stammered, fiddling with his checkered tie. “Everyone is welcome at By the Bay, and it would be my honor to serve you and your friends, Mr. Crawford.”
“Was I fired or did I quit?” Elise demanded, refusing to let him off the hook.
“You quit. Now please lower your voice. You’re making a scene.”
“Why did I quit?” She pressed on. “Why did I leave By the Bay in July?”
“Because you’re an ungrateful, insubordinate vaca who doesn’t know her place—”
Did this jerk just call me a cow in Spanish? Elise wanted to snatch Mr. Verbeck up by the collar of his gray dress shirt and shake the truth out of his mouth, but she exercised self-control. Didn’t want to embarrass herself or her companions. She was a nobody, but Jonas and Giovanni came from esteemed families, and she didn’t want to tarnish their reputations.
Her anger must have showed on her face because his voice faded and he tugged on his tie. Mr. Verbeck gave Jonas and Giovanni a pleading look, but they glared at him, too, as if he was their mortal enemy.
They stood on either side of her, shoulder-to-shoulder, and Elise felt supported, protected. On the drive to the restaurant in Giovanni’s SUV, Jonas had surprised her by asking why she no longer worked at By the Bay. She’d vacillated over whether or not to tell the truth. She’d only been around Jonas a couple of times, but he’d made her feel comfortable, so she’d confided in him.
Elise told them everything—about how she’d worked tirelessly at the restaurant for five years, how she’d been passed up for three promotions, and the argument she’d had with her manager in July during her annual performance review. Jonas had listened to her with a sympathetic expression on his face, but Giovanni had frowned as if she were telling a tall tale. But Elise had told them the truth and she wanted Mr. Verbeck to do the same. Staring at him, she tried to remember the good times they’d had, but drew a blank. There weren’t any.
“I’d hate to think that you called me under false pretense and lied about Ms. Jennings.” Giovanni cocked an eyebrow. “Because if you did, I’ll revoke your membership to the Hamptons Polo Club, and you and your sons will never step foot on the grounds again.”
Mr. Verbeck mopped his forehead with the back of his hand. “You quit abruptly, leaving me in a bind, and the restaurant took a huge financial hit during the summer...”
Elise cringed. She could smell whiskey on his breath, and wondered if he was still sneaking drinks in the back office when he was supposed to be doing paperwork.
“If anyone should apologize,” he said, “it should be you. You screwed me over, but have the nerve to play the victim. How rich!”
Elise widened her eyes. She couldn’t have been more shocked if Mr. Verbeck had snatched the toupee off his head and slapped her with it. For a moment, she couldn’t think straight and didn’t know what to say in response to his blistering insult.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have customers to tend to.” Mr. Verbeck marched out of the waiting area, through the dining room and into the bright, open kitchen.
The next ten minutes were a blur. Jonas led Elise out of the restaurant and hustled her across the street to the sports pub with the signed football jerseys hanging in the front window. They sat at the bar and, within seconds of arriving at Ale & Billiards, Elise was sipping a raspberry cosmopolitan. The lounge had cozy couches, pool tables and arcade games, and the flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls showed various sporting events. All around the pub, fans whistled and cheered, but Elise didn’t have the energy to join in the fun.
“By the Bay is nothing without you,” Jonas said, squeezing her hand. “It’s their loss.”
His tone was sincere and his smile warm, but Elise didn’t believe him. Giovanni sat to her right and his piercing gaze mad
e her mouth dry. Confronting Mr. Verbeck had been a mistake, and Elise wished she’d never gone to the restaurant.
For the second time in minutes, water filled her eyes. She’d given her all to By the Bay, thinking management would reward her for being a dedicated, hardworking employee. But over the years, she’d been passed over for numerous promotions and hadn’t understood why—until the day of her yearly performance review.
She’d asked for a raise and Mr. Verbeck had lost it on her. He’d called her an emotional, hormonal vaca, and she’d realized that he was a sexist jerk who thought women were inferior to men. He’d hired an outsider—a male prep cook with a chip on his shoulder—for the head chef position instead of promoting her. When Elise found out, she’d quit on the spot. It was an impulsive decision, made in the heat of the moment, but it was the right choice.
“I’ve been to a lot of restaurants, and eaten a lot of spectacular meals in my life, but your grilled rib eye is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.” Closing his eyes, Jonas slowly licked his lips. “It’s been months, but I’m still thinking about it!”
Elise laughed and the dark cloud hanging over her head lifted as she listened to Jonas praise her cooking. It’s too bad he’s a player. He’s great for my ego, she thought, swirling her straw around her cocktail glass.
Giovanni hadn’t said a word since they’d left By the Bay and Elise wondered what he was thinking. Not that it mattered. He had someone else in mind for the executive chef position, and she didn’t stand a chance of working at his family’s polo club.
“It was perfection,” Jonas said, kissing his fingertips. “Like heaven in my mouth.”
“Thanks, Jonas. You’re right. It was!”
Giggling, Elise saw Giovanni crack a smile and wondered if he was warming up to her. Maybe all wasn’t lost. She’d find another position, wow her new boss with her skill and professionalism, and fulfill her dream of being an executive chef. Last night, she’d applied for three more job postings, and Elise was hopeful one of them would result in a full-time position. She’d even apply for positions all across the state. Elise didn’t want to leave the Hamptons, but she was tired of sitting at home fretting about her future, and was anxious to return to the kitchen. If that meant relocating to another city, so be it.
“I see someone in the lounge I need to get better acquainted with.” Jonas stood, and downed the rest of his rum and coke. “Be back in a minute.”
Curious who’d caught his eye, Elise peered over Jonas’s shoulder and searched the lounge. A leggy brunette in a fitted New York Knicks jersey and skinny jeans was standing in front of a TV yelling in Spanish, and it was obvious Jonas was intrigued by the fiery beauty. “Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“I most certainly will,” he said with a wink and a grin, swaggering into the lounge.
A bartender arrived, cleared their empty glasses and wiped down the counter. Perusing the laminated menu, Elise decided on the bacon club burger with sweet potato fries and a strawberry milkshake. Giovanni ordered, then chatted with the bartender about the upcoming Spring Polo Cup tournament in Argentina. “So you’re a polo player,” Elise said. “Are you any good?”
“Is he any good?” the bartender repeated, his eyes bugging out of his head. “Giovanni’s won every championship imaginable, was ranked number one longer than anyone else in the history of the sport and is arguably the greatest player of all time.”
Elise smirked. “Someone’s got a crush.”
Blushing, the bartender moved down the bar, checking on his other customers.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s start over,” she proposed, facing him. “I’m Elise. It’s nice to meet you, Giovanni. Do you come here often?”
A grin crept across his lips. “You’re funny.”
And you’re dreamy, she thought, admiring him.
“How did you learn to cook?” he asked, tossing a handful of peanuts into his open mouth.
“My parents taught me. They met while working at a hotel restaurant, and a year later I was born.” Elise smiled. “My dad said it was love at first sight.”
“So you were literally born to cook.”
“I guess I was. We cooked together almost every night, and they taught me about Southern cuisine and decadent pastries,” she explained as fond memories warmed her heart. “I grew up in a tough, working-class neighborhood, and watching my parents struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table made me resilient. I’m proud of who I am and where I come from, and I’m not going to apologize for being me.”
“I’d never ask you to.”
“Good, because I won’t.”
“And for the record, I believe you.”
Relief flowed through her body. “You do?”
“It’s obvious Mr. Verbeck hates you and wants to see you fail.”
Sadness pierced her heart, making her feel low. Elise wished she’d left By the Bay on better terms, with the friendships with her coworkers intact, but Mr. Verbeck had poisoned their minds against her, and there was nothing she could do about it now. That chapter of her life was over and she was ready for bigger and better things.
“I want to apologize for the things I said earlier.” Giovanni rested his elbows on the counter and clasped his hands in front of him. “I was out of line and I’m sorry. Mr. Verbeck lied to me, and I shouldn’t have believed his version of events.”
Hope surged through her veins. “Does that mean I’m still in the running for the executive chef position at your family’s polo club?”
Giovanni coughed into his fist, then picked up his tumbler and gulped down his Scotch. His silence spoke volumes and the longer Elise stared at him, the harder it was to maintain her composure. Questions raced through her mind, angering her afresh. What’s Giovanni’s issue with me? Does he know I’m attracted to him? Is that why he won’t hire me?
“I still think you were way out of line during your interview.”
“Is that what this is about? You’re mad at me because I came into the interview with ideas on how to increase business at the restaurant during the holiday season?” Elise rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Just because you hate Christmas doesn’t mean everyone else should.”
“And just because you think your ideas are golden doesn’t mean they are.”
“Mr. Verbeck made me believe I wasn’t good enough to be the head chef at By the Bay because I was opinionated and outspoken, but I did everything in my power to help the restaurant succeed. If you hire me to be the executive chef at your family’s polo club, I’ll do the same.”
“I’ll take your comments into consideration, but I won’t make any promises.”
“Are you considering any other female candidates for the position?”
Giovanni scratched his cheek then rubbed his neck. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Translation,” she said, inclining her head to the right. “No, I’m not considering any female candidates for the executive chef position.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to. The truth was written all over your face.”
“I’m not sexiest. I have a strong, opinionated mother, and four younger sisters, as well.”
“I never said you were, but I hope you hire the most qualified person for the job and not just the guy who looks the part. I’ve seen it happen countless times before, and it’s wrong.”
“Just because I don’t want to hire you doesn’t mean I have issues with women—”
“I know, just me, right?”
A chagrined expression covered his face. “You’re putting words in my mouth. That’s not fair.”
Realization dawned and Elise slowly shook her head. Giovanni didn’t like her because she was a proud, confident woman, but that was his problem, not hers. Life had been hard on her in recent years, and it was a mira
cle she’d survived her setbacks. She’d lost her parents, had overcome a frightening sexual attack and been forced to quit a job she’d loved. Four months later, she was still having nightmares about it. If not for therapy and the support of her girlfriends, Elise probably wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.
“Be careful. Your food is hot, and I’d hate for you guys to burn yourselves.” The bartender put their entrées on the counter and refilled their glasses with ice water.
“This was a bad idea.” Standing, Elise slung her purse over her shoulder and retrieved her car keys from the side pocket. “Tell Jonas I said good-night.”
“Wait! Where are you going?”
Anywhere but here! Elise backed away from the bar. She’d had enough of Giovanni’s insults for one day and was anxious to go home. She had nothing more to say to him and would rather eat the leftover pasta in her fridge than spend another second in his presence.
Giovanni was ridiculously handsome and smelled divine, but he disliked her, and that was reason enough to stay away from him. She’d take a cab back to the movie theater to retrieve her car, and forget they’d ever met. “It’s been a long day and I want to go home.”
“Now?” He gestured to her entrée with a nod of his chin. “But your food just arrived.”
Elise hit him with a look. “I lost my appetite.”
Flinging her shawl over her shoulder, Elise marched out of the pub with her head high, wishing she’d never laid eyes on Giovanni Castillo.
Elise only hoped that when she went to sleep at night, the sinfully sexy polo player wouldn’t be the star of her dreams again.
Chapter 6
The polo pony tugged on the brown, leather reins, as if to protest leaving the comfort of his heated stall, but he was no match for Giovanni. Determined to complete his final chore of the morning, he pulled the horse out of the wooden box, latched the door behind him and led him into the open ring. “Come on, Trojan,” he urged, rubbing his coat. “I know it’s cold, but you’re filthy and I need to give you a thorough washing.”