Page 19 of Brighter Together

Anna has already spoken to him more than once about the way he behaves around female staff. Too familiar. Too persistent. Too fond of calling women love and darling even after they’ve asked him not to.

The problem is that nobody has ever made a formal complaint.

I’ve told staff repeatedly that they can come to me or Anna if he crosses a line, but so far they shrug it off as Ian being Ian.

I fucking hate that phrase.

It gives men permission to keep behaving like arseholes because everyone else gets tired of challenging them.

“That’s fine, Ian. I’ve got it.”

I fold my arms.

He doesn’t move.

“What if they have questions about the food?”

I give him a flat look. “Then I’ll answer them.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ella lower her head towards her computer.

Her shoulders move.

She’s laughing.

“Ian, I’ve run this hotel for more than ten years. I think I can manage a meeting about a fundraising gala.”

His mouth tightens.

He hates being called Ian.

Apparently everybody in the hotel is supposed to call him Chef as though he’s running a Michelin-starred dictatorship.

I’d rather bite my tongue off.

“Fine. It was only an offer.” He turns towards Ella. “See you later, love.”

“Her name is Ella.”

The words come out colder than I intended.

Ian looks back at me.

“She’s your colleague. Use her name.”

His face darkens.

For a second I think he might argue.

Instead, he walks past me and out of the office.

My eyes drift to Ella.

“What did he want?”

That comes out harsher than I mean it to as well.

She leans back in her chair.