Page 83 of The Chef

I don’t want to think of him in that way, as some kind of heartless and cruel playboy, but the arrival of Cleo has thrown everything in my head into doubt. With her angular beauty and gorgeous long blonde hair, I don’t know what Cliff thinks anymore.

Am I turning into the crazy stalker girlfriend? The creepy and needy one?

Over-attached. Overly-paranoid. Scary? Is that who I am.

I realize what it is. I’m terrified of Cleo. Of who she is and what she can do if she decides she wants Cliff back.

I will be hopeless.

She’s a supermodel. An actress in the biggest blockbuster film franchise out there.

And I am a waitress-turned-amateur chef.

What hope do I have to keep the affections of a bad boy hunk like Cliff Finn?

Why is she back?

What does she want?

And why was Cliff acting so strange when he saw her? He ran away. He didn’t want to see her. He was scared of seeing her again.

Does she still have a hold over his heart?

Whatever it is, I’m going to find out.

29

CLIFF

There’s a knock on the manager’s office door. I look up from my desk with a frown.

Who could this be?

It’s still too early in the day, a few hours before dinner service, and the restaurant is still closed. I haven’t even unlocked the front doors yet, so no customer should be inside yet.

It could be Bay. She might’ve come early.

Maybe, but she hasn’t said she would be.

I drop the papers in front of me. The financial records land on the desk with a thud. Rockpool’s in a bad shape, even despite the successful re-opening party, maybe even because of it. We’ve spent so much money this last week, with no returns yet. No profit has yet to come in.

If a miracle doesn’t happen soon then this restaurant is toast.

And by soon, I mean right now.

“Come in,” I say, and the office door swings open.

And in walks Cleo Dash.

My heart stops at the sight of her beautiful model face, high cheekbones, bright eyes, and luscious blonde hair. It’s her.

She’s here.

A lump catches in my throat and I stutter.

“Cleo,” I say, shocked that she’s standing in my office.

I haven’t seen her since last night when she walked into the re-opening party unannounced and then promptly disappeared. It was like she was a ghost.