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Mr. Dudley sat there and nodded through it all, without judging me or my mom over the date or the way it turned out. And then I gave him the big bombshell.
How I allowed myself to be seduced by a man in a suit, gave myself to him and then found out that he is a complete player. That I was just the latest in a long line of conquests.
And do you know the worst thing?
Even as I was talking about Dimitri, I started to think about him, about the way he looks, about the way he acts, about the way he feels. And I had to force myself back to the present so that I could talk to Mr. Dudley rather than fantasizing over a man I barely know.
But what I haven’t yet told him, is about the rent subsidy being cut off. I know Dr. Stumps is behind it. He’s arranged it as revenge for what happened. The thought alone makes me start to cry again.
“Oh, my dear. Please. I’m going to do all I can, but even at the very worst there are other courses. Or you can—”
“It’s not that.” I shake my head. “My mom is so angry with me. Our rent subsidy has been cut off and we don’t have the money. If we can’t find it by the end of the week, we’ll be facing eviction. I don’t want to be homeless, but even more I don’t want my mom and brothers to be homeless.” A thought suddenly occurs to me and I blurt it out. “I should go to see Dr. Stumps and ask for a second chance. I’ll do whatever he asks for. He’s liked me since forever, if I just wear something a bit sexier and make sure he knows that he’s the one for me…”
The thought turns my stomach as I see Dimitri’s face, his words echoing in my ears, the throbbing between my legs reminding me…
“No!” Mr. Dudley’s eyes are wide. “No, my dear. I don’t want that for you. You need money, you say? Well, I was about to say that there’s another possible avenue for you.”
“What? Please, tell me, I’m desperate. I’ll do anything.”
A small smile creases his lips. “Just promise me you won’t do anything like going back to that…” He pauses for a moment, as if thinking of the right word, then continues, “That creep.” His eyes darken as he looks out across the park, then back to me. Creep is honestly the most vicious insult I’ve ever heard him use, and it looks like it took a lot out of him. “Victoria, you know that I still have contacts within the catering world, from when I was a restaurateur myself?”
I nod. He’s modest, but I know he started out as a chef, cooking for some of the world’s most famous chains. No doubt he and Dimitri Dolce Cossack crossed paths at some point, though if he remembers him he said nothing when I recounted my situation. Before he came to teach at our little college, he owned a chain of restaurants, but gave it all up for the quiet life of a teacher. He said the stress was more than he could handle any longer in his life, and he just wanted to give something back to people who hadn’t had the life he had.
“Well, I happen to have heard about a new restaurant opening up in town. One that is likely to make waves. You may not have finished your schooling, but you could learn more on the job there than you’ll ever learn in a stuffy classroom. And they just happen to be looking for a new sous chef.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “It’s a nice idea, but a sous chef? There will be hundreds of applicants and I have no experience.” I shake my head. “They’ll never give me a chance.”
“They will. Believe me. For one thing, they’re desperate. The grand opening is tomorrow evening and the chef they had lined up had to pull out at the last minute. And for two?” He pauses, and there’s a twinkle in his eye as the corners of his lips draw up. “You are a fantastic, natural cook. If I was running their restaurant, I would give you the job.”
“You really think so?”
“My dear, I know so. If you want me to, I will make arrangements for you to interview with them. Just impress the head chef and I’m sure the job will be yours.”
“Oh my, that would be amazing…I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say that you’ll do your best. And that you won’t let Dr. Stumps intimidate you into doing anything rash.”
I nod. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“SO, THIS IS WHERE THE magic happens.” The chef, Cornelius, gives me a wicked grin. It’s Valentine’s morning, and I know the restaurant opens tonight. He seems confident, but without a sous chef his opening night will have to be postponed. “You ever worked in a place like this before? Dud told me you’re quite the talent.”
