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Chef Antoine carefully placed his tall white hat on his head the next morning and paused when the phone on his desk shrilled.
"Good morning, Mr. Stuart." Kirsty heard him say. "Yes, of course. I'll be with you in about fifteen minutes. I must set my staff to work first."
Antoine replaced the receiver and called Kirsty over to report. He detailed her orders for the morning and left the kitchen, once she'd given him a brief account of the previous day.
Kirsty hadn't mentioned her error or Reeve's outrageous suggestion and the argument which had followed. He could tell Chef himself if he wasn't satisfied with her work. No doubt, the intended changes were why Reeve had asked Antoine to come to his office. However, when he returned, Antoine didn't mention any changes. He did speak to her about her mistake.
"Lawrence, please come here." He beckoned her toward his desk. "Mr. Stuart informs me you were behind with your work yesterday. Why did you not mention this to me?"
"I didn't think it to be important, Chef." Confusion flooded through Kirsty. Why had Reeve complained about her small error, but not mentioned her alleged insubordination? It didn't sound like he'd spoken to Chef Antoine about him being in charge on Monday either. "I forgot to start the soup early enough, but when Mr. Stuart pointed it out to me, I rectified the matter immediately. No harm was done."
"I'll be the judge of any harm done, Lawrence. How do you think I felt when Mr. Stuart complained about a member of my staff, and I couldn't respond because I had no idea what he was talking about?" Chef Antoine glared at her. "In future you'll tell me everything that happens when I'm not here. No matter how trivial you think it might be. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Chef."
He turned away to carry on with his own duties, and an embarrassed Kirsty returned to her work. Everything had gone wrong for her, and Chef and Reeve were making her life a misery. Her intention had been to ask Antoine why he'd insisted she had no experience in kitchen management. Kirsty thought it best to leave things for the time being, after the last few minutes. She would have to seriously start looking for a new job if things didn't get any better. An atmosphere devoid of trust would be impossible to work in long-term. Antoine hadn't mentioned Reeve would be in charge on Mondays, nor had he referred to her day off, so Kirsty broached the latter subject herself.
"Chef, did you want me to work tomorrow, or shall I take my day off as usual?"
"Really, Lawrence, your memory is atrocious. I've already told you I want you to work. You can see we're extremely busy."
Kirsty knew he hadn't told her anything of the sort, but she felt too tired to argue. Lack of time for herself had dragged her energy levels way down.
"Chef." Her voice stopped Antoine as he started to move away. "When am I likely to get all this time off in lieu? I'm not in any great hurry, but I am getting a bit run down. I'd like some idea when I can expect to be off work so I can make plans."
"Time off in lieu." Spittle erupted from Chef's mouth as he spluttered. "You're dreaming, Lawrence. Nobody said anything to me about time off in lieu. You'll be paid for working your rest days as you have been in the past."
"Mr. Stuart said I should take the time off instead, Chef. Remember I mentioned it to you the day after he started?"
"Well, I wouldn't hold your breath, Lawrence. There's no question of you taking time off, as far as I'm concerned. I'll speak to Mr. Stuart about paying your overtime money as soon as possible."
Kirsty smiled as she wearily crossed the car park to her car. Maybe things weren't as bad as they appeared. Kirsty had always thought Chef Antoine a fair boss. His one failing was he had to be in charge of every aspect of his kitchen. Perhaps she wasn't the only one unhappy with things. Could Antoine have vented his frustration on her because he couldn't get angry with the real cause, Reeve Stuart! Of course, this didn't explain why he'd played down her capabilities to the new manager. Kirsty shook her head. Tiredness reduced her ability to sort out anything at the moment.
Until now Reeve had managed to work with the temperamental head chef, but Kirsty didn't think they could go on for much longer. Chef Antoine would take only so much interference before his famous temper blew, and once this happened, things might improve. They could hardly get any worse.
The next morning Kirsty threw back the curtains in her bedroom and groaned. The rain poured down, and her spirits plummeted with the mood of the weather. Chef Antoine always managed to be in a foul mood in bad weather.
Kirsty splashed her way across the car park to the kitchen entrance sheltering under a huge golf umbrella and wearing a bright red raincoat with matching gumboots. Antoine's bellowing voice reached her before she even got in the door. Apparently one of the kitchen maids had dropped a tray of bread rolls, then made matters worse by picking them up and replacing them on the tray. Kirsty entered the kitchen to see Chef reading the riot act to the woman about the level of hygiene required in a hotel kitchen, Chef Antoine's kitchen in particular.
Kirsty could have taken her day off. The rain meant the restaurant stayed half empty at lunchtime, and only a few people braved the elements for dinner. The bad weather continued all week, and the restaurant had almost no customers. Chef Antoine kept his staff busy, taking the opportunity to check the dry goods and freezer, and replenish any stores below normal levels. Temptation nudged Kirsty to ask for a few days off to make up for the extra days worked. It would have been entertaining to see Antoine's reaction, but it might be best not to upset things when she didn't feel able to deal with further controversy.
Wet day followed wet day, and Antoine's temper got worse. His anger erupted over the slightest thing, and any mistake made in the kitchen, regardless of where the fault lay, he blamed on Kirsty. Most of her time during the week she spent staying out of his way. Very little preparation needed to be done for the evening meal after the Sunday lunch dishes had been cleared away. Chef Antoine conveniently ignored the fact Kirsty hadn't had an afternoon off in weeks and disappeared immediately after the restaurant closed. At first irritated by his thoughtlessness, Kirsty then sagged with reaction. The kitchen maids had gone home, and nothing much needed to be done during the next few hours. What a relief to sit down and relax without Antoine accusing her of laziness and ordering her to find something to do.
The percolator bubbled, and she poured a cup of coffee when her friend cautiously stuck her head round the door.
"Got time for a coffee, Gina?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Gina smiled back. "Where's the slave driver?"
"Chef Antoine? He's taken a few hours off, thank goodness." Kirsty's brow wrinkled with a frown as she placed a fresh cup of coffee in front of her friend. "Gina, do you think Chef's acting a bit strange in recent weeks? Since Mr. Stuart arrived he's showing signs of being worried about something, and it's affecting his temper and his memory."
"Nope, I haven't noticed a thing," Gina said, taking a sip from the cup and shrugging. "Doesn't mean anything though. I don't have much to do with Chef Antoine, thank goodness. Perhaps he's worried about the new boss's opinion of him."
"No, I don't think so. Chef can stand up to Reeve Stuart any day." A small smile touched Kirsty's lips as she imagined the two men having a good argument, then her face changed to a thoughtful look. "No, whatever is upsetting him makes him more temperamental than usual. I suppose it could be something to do with his personal life. Hopefully he'll be back to normal soon."
"You mean what's normal for Chef Antoine." Gina smiled, then putting down her empty cup, she stood. "How are things with you and the boss man? Any better?"
"Not really. He thinks I'm not experienced enough to be sous-chef and treats me as unworthy of his attention. Chef Antoine agrees with him according to Mr. Stuart, although he hasn't said anything to me. Reeve told me all this last Monday, and I blew my top and demanded he apologize for the slur on my character."
"You didn't!" Gina stared at her friend in wonder. "What did he do?"
"He deliberately misunderstood me and apologized for having a heated discussion in front of the kitchen staff. He's such a cold man. No, sometimes he appears quite human and he certainly has a temper, even though he keeps it firmly under control. My problem is he never treats me like a real person with feelings like everyone else. I'm just the annoying sous-chef who keeps upsetting his well-planned day." Kirsty sighed. "It's all getting too much for me, Gina. I'm not sure whether Chef is really dissatisfied with my work, but his forgetfulness is making things worse. Do you think I'm making too much out of it? It wouldn't surprise me if I am—I feel so tired. I haven't had any time off for weeks."
"Well, it can't go on. They've got to give you a day off soon, or they'll be in trouble with the health authorities or the unions." Gina glanced at the kitchen clock. "Help! I'd better get back to the desk, or I'll be in trouble with Mr. Stuart as well. See you later."
Gina left with a wave of her hand. Kirsty lingered over her coffee for a while longer. She wished Antoine would get over whatever bugged him. His apparent loss of memory along with the way he laid the blame for every little fault on her, tired her even more. Reeve's poor opinion of her didn't help.
The next day was Monday, Chef Antoine's day off. Neither of the two men had mentioned Reeve being in charge of the kitchen, and Kirsty assumed the matter had not been discussed between them, or Antoine had disagreed with Reeve's suggestion. Could he have forgotten to tell her about such a decision? Kirsty shook her head in denial. He would remember something so important, things must be as normal.
Kirsty arrived at the hotel earlier than usual on days when Chef was absent. She walked briskly into the kitchen wearing clean trousers and a crisp white jacket and headed for Chef Antoine's desk. Halfway across the room her steps faltered and she stared with disbelief. Reeve Stuart sat in Chef's chair!
"Ah, Miss Lawrence. Here are your orders for the day." He passed her a sheet of paper, and acting automatically she reached out and took it from him. "If you have any problems, please call my office."
He rose from the chair and had nearly reached the restaurant doors when Kirsty found her voice.
"Excuse me." The paper in her hand flapped as she stared indignantly at him. "Would you mind telling me what this is?"
*****
REEVE LOOKED DIRECTLY at Kirsty for the first time in days, his eyes dark with disappointment. He'd hoped if he kept away from her the feelings which disturbed his thoughts would disappear. Maybe they could start afresh if things calmed down between them. He wondered if this would this be an unfulfilled dream.
"Really, Miss Lawrence." His disappointment made his voice sound harsher than he had intended. "Why must you continually question everything I say to you? I'll repeat what I said so even you can understand me. The piece of paper in your hand has details of your orders for this morning's work. Have I been clear enough?"
"It most certainly is not!" Kirsty eyes sparkling with anger, making his heart skip a beat. "I've had no instructions from Chef Antoine saying you are to be in charge of this kitchen in his absence. I get my orders from him and only him!"
Reeve couldn't believe it. What did she hope to gain by lying to him? He'd talked to Chef about his decision last Tuesday and offered to inform her of the change himself, but Antoine had insisted the ruling would come better from him. Chef had told him in the afternoon Kirsty had been disappointed but accepted the situation.
"Miss Lawrence, this is ridiculous. I told you last week what my intentions were. I spoke to Chef Antoine the next day, and he agreed you were not ready for sole responsibility of the kitchen. He said he would speak to you about the matter, in view of the heated exchange between the two of us. Chef Antoine assured me he had done so. Now either you improve your attitude and your memory, or I shall have to insist Antoine find a new sous-chef. This is your last warning. Please obey the instructions I've given you."
Reeve turned abruptly and left the room, aware he left an extremely angry young woman in his wake. His own heart thumped wildly, and he knew the reason could not be laid solely with his temper. When Kirsty got angry, her eyes sparked and her whole face and body came alive. Not even the drab kitchen uniform could hide the vibrancy emanating from her. Her very nearness set his heart thumping and his body throbbing with reaction.
He retreated to his office to get himself under control and then thought over his conversation with Kirsty. She couldn't be lying. Everything about her shouted loyalty and honesty. If only he could find her resume. He'd asked Antoine to see if the file had been placed with the kitchen records, but the head chef had given him a vague reply. If Reeve believed Kirsty told the truth, it meant Antoine lied when he said he'd informed her of the changes. Reeve still couldn't see why such a distinguished chef would need to lie, but decided he must do some further investigation into the man's background. He made up his mind to get both Chef Antoine and his assistant to his office the next morning for a meeting. They had to thrash out where the misunderstandings were originating. He reached for the phone
*****
KIRSTY FLOPPED INTO Antoine's chair, her head in her hands.
What on earth can I do? He doesn't believe me, Chef thinks I'm useless and I'm getting the blame for everything.
After a few minutes Kirsty came to the conclusion any more arguments at this stage would be futile. The orders Chef and the manager decided on were getting corrupted before they reached her—or they weren't reaching her at all. Her anger surged again as she imagined Chef Antoine telling Reeve Stuart she didn't have enough experience to run a kitchen! Kirsty managed to calm down by deep breathing and then decided to wait until she could see Antoine and Reeve together. Perhaps a confrontation with both of them would help her sort this mess out.
Her fingers still curled tightly around the paper and to keep the peace she decided to follow Reeve's instructions. Her gaze ran down the list as she smoothed the sheet out, and to her surprise, found his orders corresponded with her intentions for the day, almost to the letter. Reeve popped in at intervals to oversee things during the day, and Kirsty maintained a scrupulous politeness with him.
Gina dropped in for a coffee during her afternoon break, and Kirsty asked her friend for her advice.
"It's getting really bad, Gina. Mr. Stuart thinks I'm deliberately setting out to provoke him—or he thinks I'm so stupid I can't remember a single thing. Chef Antoine is always so sure he's told me the orders from on high. I've decided to ask to see them both together to sort it out. Do you know I'm starting to believe it may be my fault? Perhaps I am losing my memory."
"Don't be daft, Kirsty. The whole situation sounds a bit odd to me. Those two talk to one another and make decisions, which neither of them bothers to tell you. You know you're not lying, so it's one of them. Personally, I think it's Chef Antoine. If Mr. Stuart's telling the truth, then Chef's not passing on the orders, and you're caught in the middle," Gina said. "If you want my opinion, I think you're doing the right thing. Get the two of them together and thrash it out. If you don't, it's you who's going to be given the push, not Chef Antoine or Mr. Stuart."
"Exactly what I thought." Kirsty fell silent for a few moments. "Mr. Stuart's right about one thing. We can't carry on like this. I agree with you about Chef Antoine, too. Forgetting to tell me things is the main problem. Something's bugging him, but he shouldn't allow it to interfere with work, and what's more important, he shouldn't lie to cover up for himself. Well, they'll soon realize I've had enough. I found Mr. Stuart's little speech this morning downright insulting, and I'm not standing for it any longer."
"Good for you. I take it Antoine's still behaving like a weirdo." Gina grimaced. "I don't know how you put up with him and his tantrums. I'd have chucked the job in long ago."
"He's not too bad normally. His artistic temperament makes him go off the deep end, but until recently he's been very good to me. He's shown me ways of handling suppliers and shortcuts with recipes. I won't have to put up with this for much longer. Another six months and I'll feel confident enough to apply for a head chef's position somewhere else. If I last another six months!"
"You going to stay in hotels, or try for a restaurant?" Gina wanted to know.
"I'm not sure yet." Kirsty felt glad for the change of subject. "I thought I might have a bash at the restaurant they're opening in the new theatre in the city, but they probably want somebody with a bit more experience than I have."
"Hey, don't sell yourself short. You never know till you try. You might surprise yourself and get the job." Gina grinned at her friend. "Maybe they're looking for someone young with a lot of innovative ideas. You know you're always complaining you don't make full use of your training in Antoine's kitchen."
"Fool!" Kirsty punched her friend's shoulder affectionately. "Well, I don't have to make up my mind yet. Applications don't close until the end of the month. Mind you, the way things are going here, I think I'll send off for the form. I can always wait until I see how things are going before I fill it in."
*****
NEITHER OF THE WOMEN noticed Reeve standing behind the slightly opened doorway to the restaurant, and he moved away fast before Gina left the kitchen. He thought about what he'd overheard once he was back in his office. Kirsty intended to apply for a post at the new theatre restaurant. He wondered exactly what position.
He hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation. When the opportunity presented itself, he thought it might give him a deeper understanding of Kirsty. If either girl had seen him, they would probably have assumed he had taken his usual afternoon stroll, checking everything ran smoothly in the hotel.
A frown creased his forehead. It occurred to him every time he'd entered the kitchen, he saw Kirsty Lawrence, including the afternoons when kitchen workers usually took a few hours off. Senior staff normally took it in turns to remain on standby, but since Reeve had arrived at the hotel, Chef Antoine had always been absent. He must check and see the hours Kirsty had been working recently. He needed to avoid trouble with the authorities about staff working over the legal hours.
*****
CHEF ANTOINE APPEARED next morning, and Kirsty approached him with trepidation. He nodded and waved her away after her report on the kitchen events of the previous day. Kirsty stood her ground, even though her voice shook with nervousness.
"Chef, I'd like to arrange a meeting with Mr. Stuart and yourself, please."
"I beg your pardon?" He frowned at Kirsty. "May I ask the reason for this request, Lawrence?"
"I'd rather wait until we meet with Mr. Stuart," Kirsty stated, her voice steadying as her confidence grew.
"Very well." Chef Antoine reached for the phone and, after speaking for a few seconds, he turned once more to Kirsty. "Mr. Stuart says he can spare us a few moments if we go to his office now. I hope you're not wasting everyone's time with some silly nonsense, Lawrence."
"I don't think what I have to say is nonsense, Chef."
Antoine led the way to the manager's office with a grunt of irritation.
*****
WHILE REEVE WAITED for Kirsty and Antoine to arrive, he checked her time sheet and saw the sous-chef hadn't had any time off since he'd arrived at the hotel. This would have to be rectified. He felt nervous about this meeting, but mentally rapped himself over the knuckles. Why should he feel nervous, for goodness sake? He'd been going to propose the meeting himself, but he couldn't work out why Kirsty had suggested it. Maybe she meant to bring up her allegation Chef Antoine hadn't informed her of yesterday's changes. He certainly would if she didn't. He wanted to get to the bottom of his problems with the sous-chef once and for all.
Chef Antoine and Kirsty came through the door, and he noticed her tired gaze roamed around the room, taking in the changes Reeve had made to the office. Dusty old files had littered the desk in his predecessor's day, sharing it with coffee-stained cups and a clutter of pens. Reeve had placed the files in a cabinet, and now the room looked neat and tidy. His uncluttered wooden desk gleamed with a warm glow reflecting the pen holder sitting neatly on the edge of the desk nearest the visitors.
"May I assume you've come to apologize for your behavior yesterday morning, Miss Lawrence?" Reeve waved them to the vacant chairs in front of his desk, then leaned back in his own chair and steepled his fingers, keeping his eyes free of emotion as he looked at her. He hoped she wouldn't apologize—this would mean Kirsty had been in the wrong, and he wanted so much for her to be telling the truth. Antoine looked from one to the other, a baffled expression on his face.
"On the contrary, Mr. Stuart." Kirsty's firm tone surprised him. "I've asked for this meeting to clear up the confusion which exists between us."
"Excellent, Miss Lawrence. Let us list the areas of confusion. You conveniently forget orders and, to make matters worse, you're rude and question every word I say. Your work is totally unprofessional, and I'd be surprised if you ever manage to gain your full qualifications as a chef."
By stressing her supposed faults Reeve hoped to provoke her into expressing her feelings, and thereby help him get to the truth. Kirsty picked up the challenge, a look of determination on her face to show him he was the person in the wrong.
"Actually, Mr. Stuart, I'm already fully qualified as a chef. I felt I needed more practical experience before I applied for a position as head chef."
Reeve blinked in surprise.
"My problem, Mr. Stuart, is the orders you talk about are a complete mystery to me. This is why I've asked Chef Antoine to be present. I hope he can clarify why I received no information you were to be in charge of the kitchen during his absence."
"Nonsense, Lawrence." Antoine's spluttered response didn't ring true to Reeve. "When I returned from discussing the matter with Mr. Stuart, I told you he'd be in charge during my absence. You've obviously forgotten. Perhaps Mr. Stuart is right when he says your professionalism leaves a lot to be desired."
"I beg your pardon, Chef. You may have thought you told me about Mr. Stuart being in charge, but I can assure you, you most certainly did not."
Reeve's expression didn't change. He hid his pleasure that Kirsty had not backed down from the confrontation. He'd been right. She had been telling the truth. Kirsty must believe the two men were ganging up on her and laying all the blame at her feet. He watched her jaw tighten as she prepared to do battle for her reputation.
"This matter should be fairly easy to resolve." Reeve reached for the phone on his desk. "We can get one of the kitchen maids in here. They are always aware of what's going on, and with their help we should be able to sort everything out quite quickly."
He glanced at Kirsty, waiting for a sign she would back down, but her arms folded defiantly. The expression in her eyes showed anger. Reeve's eyebrow lifted. He looked across at Chef Antoine and placed his hand firmly on the phone.
"Wait!" Antoine looked flustered. "It is possible Lawrence could be right. I may have forgotten to tell her you'd be in charge of the kitchen. We've been so busy the last few weeks I could've forgotten to mention the matter."
"Could we clear up the matter of my first cancelled day off, Chef?" Kirsty wanted to take the opportunity to sort out the other misunderstandings.
"I admit I thought I'd told you your day off had been cancelled, Lawrence. However, on reflection, it is possible I overlooked this item as well. I've had a lot on my mind recently."
Reeve accepted Chef Antoine had been the one who'd lied. All three of them knew the rain had caused the last seven days to be very quiet. Antoine had also assured him he'd told Kirsty of their decision.
"Well, Miss Lawrence, are you happy with the situation now?" Reeve looked at her, keeping his face totally expressionless.
"There is another matter I wish to discuss, Mr. Stuart—the extra hours I've worked. I usually get paid for these, but you mentioned time off in lieu instead. I'd like to know where I stand in regard to this. I'm getting extremely tired with no time off at all. I should also like it noted I feel insulted by the suggestion an administrator can run a kitchen better than a fully qualified chef."
"Really, Lawrence, there's no need to bother Mr. Stuart with these trivialities—"
"I'm sorry, Chef. I don't consider them trivialities." Reeve admired the way Kirsty refused to be subdued. "My professional ability and qualifications have been called into question. We need to clear up this matter."
"Oh, very well, Lawrence. We'll give you another chance to prove yourself. With regards to the overtime worked you will, of course, be paid for this as usual." Chef looked annoyed with Kirsty. She'd brought up a matter he considered closed. "I really don't see why you're making a big fuss over such a small matter."
"On the contrary, Chef Antoine." Reeve spoke quietly, yet firmly. "Miss Lawrence will be required to take time off in lieu. The hotel cannot afford to pay her for the excessive amount of extra time we've asked her to work recently."
Antoine looked at him, his expression blank, but his eyes showing the turbulent feelings surging beneath the calm exterior.
"If this is what you wish, Mr. Stuart." The man held his voice rigidly polite. "However, I must insist you consult me before confirming which days off Lawrence will be allowed. It would cause a lot of inconvenience if certain items are on the menu and she isn't there. Please accept my apology for any misunderstanding my forgetfulness has caused you. I can only state pressure of work has pushed these matters to the back of my mind. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Lawrence, come along."
Antoine rose and headed for the office door. Kirsty stood to follow him, but Reeve spoke before she had taken more than a few steps.
"One moment, Antoine. I'd appreciate a word alone with Miss Lawrence, if it's convenient."
Chef Antoine nodded briskly and, without turning round, left the room.
"Please be seated, Miss Lawrence. I owe you an apology. I can imagine how upsetting it must be to have conflicting orders given to you, or not given to you as has happened in this case. I realize I've accused you of lying on several occasions. It put you in a very awkward position, and I'm sorry for any slurs I may have inadvertently made on your character.
"The circumstances of our first meeting gave me a false impression of your abilities. I realized immediately you were laboring under very difficult conditions. Could we possibly wipe the slate clean and start afresh? I promise not to interfere in the running of the kitchen unless we both feel it's absolutely necessary. I'll also respect your competence and qualifications and discuss any details with you before I implement them. Does this sound fair?" Reeve cocked an eyebrow at Kirsty, with warmth in his eyes.
"Very fair, Mr. Stuart. I should be happy to start afresh." The expression on her face showed surprise he was big enough to apologize for his mistakes. "The last few weeks have been upsetting."
"Well, let's say no more on the subject then. Please let me know when you wish to take your time off so we have no more confusion. I will then approve it with Chef Antoine."
*****
KIRSTY ROSE AT THE same time as Reeve, bobbed her head and muttered, "Thank you."
Reeve coughed, forcing her to look up. He held out his hand, and she nervously reached across the desk to touch his outstretched fingers.
Reeve's grip felt dry and warm as his large hand enveloped her smaller one. The warmth raced up Kirsty's arm and flooded through her body, sending nervous and excited emotions surging through her. The heat reached her neck, and a flush crept rapidly from chin to the top of forehead, while her heart beat an irregular tattoo. Kirsty pulled her hand back hastily and ducked her head. Whatever had happened? Her body had reacted like a teenager with a crush, with no control whatsoever. From beneath lowered lashes she glanced up to see if Reeve had noticed her extraordinary reaction.
His grey eyes looked puzzled, and his head tilted to one side as he glanced at her. She felt he was looking at her properly for the first time. The expression on his face told her he had at last realized a person stood before him, not just an unruly employee.
"I should be getting back to the kitchen. We're very busy." She hurried from the room before Reeve could comment.