CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Dirtywas her new theme word, unfortunately.
The dirty pool of Nanine’s former lover keeping her from winning a star.
The dirty secrets she was keeping from Nanine and Thea about the sabotage.
The only good dirty in her life was the Dirty Dancing Lounge Kyle had created for her in their house—but even her love of music and dancing could not keep her blues at bay.
Staying focused in the kitchen had never been harder. She’d stuffed all her anger and disappointment into a suitcase and set it aside, telling herself her plan wasTake This Star and Shove It…only she found herself thinking about her dream and that suitcase. Sometimes she wondered if her buried emotions were issuing a warning bell.
She was not going to listen to it. She could not.
Before she’d been concerned about her standard of excellence falling because of her relationship with Kyle. Now she feared the Michelin Problem—as she’d decided to call it—would have that effect. Now she cooked with a hardened shell around her heart, protecting her from more hurt as much as keeping her emotions contained.
Kyle was working until his eyes had bags under them, doing his best to implement hisWe Will Win a Star No Matter Whatcampaign. Part of her wanted to believe—in him as much as his plan.
That alone told her how mushy she’d gotten. Next up, unicorns would be walking down Parisian streets farting rainbows. Some guy like Sawyer would paint the scene in pastels, and in a hundred years, the painting would be hanging in the Louvre.
She got through Friday and Saturday night service, but when Nanine arrived as she and the staff were cleaning up, the infamous chandelier gave a loud, unapologetic clang of notes. Their eyes met across the kitchen, and Madison’s stomach gummed up like cheese in a ruined fondue sauce. In that instance, she knew.
Nanine had heard the news.
She sent Pierre to greet Nanine, hoping he would distract her long enough to give Madison a chance to find some inner calm. How was she going to bullshit Nanine that this situation was fine? Thatshewas fine.
Nanine greeted her quickly, kissing her on both cheeks, and then caught up with former staff as they finished cleaning up. She lingered until it was only the two of them left in the kitchen.
Madison crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the stainless steel counter. “So who told you?” she asked bluntly.
Nanine shrugged out of her black wool coat and hung it on a hook she’d probably installed herself. Walking to the coffee machine, she smoothed her white hair over her shoulder. “Louis Champion.”
Nanine’s former mentor and boss had won two stars at his restaurant before retiring. He’d also been the only chef to ignore Dassault’s first campaign against Nanine. “I wondered how far the news would spread.”
“Auguste is bragging widely, apparently.” Nanine’s mouth tightened as she made them two noisettes. “Who told you?”
“Rico,” she answered. “He even checked it out before telling me. The claim seems legit.”
Nanine’s brown eyes filled with rage. “It is. You have no idea how upset I am. I prayed with all my heart my past transgressions would not touch you and your dream. My dear Fifth Course, can you ever forgive me?”
Oh shit. Her throat already felt like she’d swallowed a grapefruit. “Nanine, stop that kind of talk. Dassault is the asshole here. Sorry for my language, but it’s true.”
“You are not alone in thinking that.”
When the older woman let loose a strand of the most creative and insulting swear words one could apply to another person in French, Madison could only clap in admiration. “See! I knew you had it in you.”
Nanine came over with the two small coffees and led the way to the kitchen table, Madison following. “Of course I do. I am French. But my preference is to only use such language when nothing else satisfies. I’d say we have such a situation.”
Sitting across from her at the table, Madison called Pierre to them and fed him an almond since he was nervously bobbing his head, sensing the turmoil. “Kyle has a plan. I don’t know that it will work. But it’s something.”
“I heard he’s rushed the upstairs renovation by hiring a couple of extra construction crews for a fortune and plans to open it to VIP guests starting this Wednesday,” Nanine said as she stirred in a touch of sugar. “Brooke and Axel have been creative about furnishings.”
“You’re well informed.” Madison heard the edge in her voice. “Sorry, it’s been… Well, you know.”
“I do.” Nanine crossed her arms and regarded her, her brown eyes luminescent with rage. “At first I hoped that my excellence would make the Michelin people notice me andaward Nanine’s a star. But the years passed. Then William Silver came to my restaurant. He was younger then. His review was very enthusiastic, much like the one he gave you. For the first time, I had hope. Then something happened—something I’ve never shared.”
When Nanine looked down at her clenched hands, Madison had to take a breath. “You can share it with me.”
