Chapter Twenty-Two
Everly
I hung up, breathing a sigh of relief as I dropped my phone on the kitchen counter. I had at least a few days before seeing Maddox again, and hopefully in that time I’d be able to sort these horrible feelings out. Why was I getting so comfortable with a man who had a life that I had always been so against? A single father, with a mysterious baby mama, and a little girl who doesn’t yet realize just how broken her home is. How could I, in good faith, become close to a family like that when I’ve been so vocal about my opinions?
It wasn’t fair to anyone.
The phone rang again, and I unlocked it, thinking it was Maddox. A familiar number popped up, one that I had deleted from my contacts a little over a week ago.
“Hello?” I said.
“Everly,” Phil said on the other line. I frowned; why was my old boss calling me? “How have you been?”
“I’ve been good,” I said carefully, as if the phone were a landmine I’d just put next to my head. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. If you can find the time, I’d like to talk to you face to face. Can you swing by the restaurant today?” His voice wasn’t giving anything away, and I searched my mind for reasons he might be calling. Perhaps he regretted letting me leave.
I glanced at the clock on the microwave, debating. I didn’t have anything to do, and there was no used in pretending that I wasn’t at least curious.
“Sure, I’m just finishing up some business here, but I can make it before the lunch rush.” I shuffled my hands to make it sound like I was doing something.
“That works. I’ll see you then.” Phil hung up. I sat my phone on the counter and pressed a hand against my cheek. The only possible explanation was that he was offering my old job back, and it honestly couldn’t be better timing.
I stopped by a diner on the way to Saint Padres and grabbed some brunch, trying to decide what to do if Phil offered a job. It’s barely been a few weeks, so his desperation might help me get a bigger raise out of him. Maybe even a promotion.
I parked in the awful lot a few blocks down and entered Saint Padres through the back.
“Everly!” Catalina smiled as I crossed the kitchen. “I’ve been thinking about you. Phil’s tried to replace you twice, but neither lasted more than two days. He’s desperate, chica.”
“Good to know,” I said and knocked on Phil’s office door.
“Come in,” he said, and looked up as I entered. “Close the door behind you, Everly.”
I did as he said, and stood awkwardly in front of his desk. His eyes continued to glance between me and a sheet of paper on his desk, as if he barely had time to give more than a minute of his attention.
“You wanted to talk?” I asked, trying to keep a polite tone in my voice.
“Yes.” He finally looked at me, keeping his poker face in check. “How’s your new position? Is it everything you wanted?”
Two hours a night showing a very handsome man how to cook four to five days a week would be a tough job to give up. But Lacey’s voice spoke in my head, reminding me that my feelings were getting way too complicated and I needed to distance myself.
“It’s fine,” I said. Phil nodded his head.
“I wanted to do something nice for you,” he said. “I have to admit, you’re a star, Everly. A hard worker, a chef who one day is going to do amazing things. And it was my mistake letting you go in the first place.”
“Thanks?”
“I want you back, Everly, and so you know how much I appreciate you, I’m offering you co-head chef.” He grinned.
“Co-head chef?” It was an entirely made-up position, and I had no idea what terms came with it.
“Yes, you’ll be co-head chef, official title and everything.” His foot tapped on the wooden floor, waiting for my exit.
“Thank you, Phil. I’ll have to think about it though, but I’ll get back to you soon.” I left and closed the door behind me, nodding a goodbye to Catalina as I returned to my car. I should have clarified what it meant, but it didn’t matter. She was right; he really was desperate. Creating a position for me was one thing, but if he was worried about dissension in the ranks of his kitchen before, what would happen when the others found out just how far he’d gone to get me back? Not that I cared, really. I couldn’t afford to care about much more than getting my debts paid off.
Before going grocery shopping for my own place, I decided to check my bank account on my phone.
I logged online, and my phone fell onto my lap as the amount of money in my bank account stared at me. My mind blanked for a moment. Where did all that money come from?
Then I remembered. Maddox said he was giving me money for the week. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm.
Maybe working for Maddox wasn’t that bad after all.