CHAPTER NINETEEN - LUKE
Two Weeks Later
A couple of weeks had gone by since dinner with Colton, and things in the kitchen had never run more smoothly. Amber, Danny, and the line cooks pumped out food like a well-oiled machine. All of the parts were working in perfect harmony.
Things were busier than ever at Emery. The reviews had come out, and we’d been swarmed by eager foodies, looking to try us out. I’d added a few tables to the dining room to try and accommodate the demand during peak hours, but those tables got reserved immediately.
Even with the increased workload, our food had never been better.
The lunch service was just ending, and things were quieting down in the kitchen. Amber and Danny were arguing which was better, Pink Himalayan Salt or French Grey Sea Salt.
“Himalayan salt is better for you,” Amber insisted.
“Maybe, but French Grey tastes better,” Danny replied.
“Don’t you nerds have anything better to talk about?” I asked, butting in to their debate.
“Maybe you could settle the subject for us,” Amber said.
“Yeah, you can be the judge,” Danny said.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t suppress a grin. “The diners don’t give a damn what kind of salt we use. All that fancy stuff is just for people with too much money and too much time on their hands.” They both looked disappointed that I wouldn’t engage in their discussion. I couldn’t leave them like that. “You two need to grow up and get it together. And realize that the best salt is Mediterranean Sea Salt.”
Danny’s eyes bulged out of his head. “What?” he exclaimed.
Amber looked straight up offended. “Are you serious, right now? ”
I walked away, smiling. That ought to keep them busy.
I poked my head out into the dining room, taking count of the customers still sitting at tables. Someone by the front door caught my eye.
A well-dressed man was speaking to the hostess. She was pointing back toward the kitchen. I assumed he wasn’t a customer and that he wanted to see me.
I walked over to him. “Hi, can I help you?”
“Luke Harrison?” he asked.
“At your service.”
He extended his hand to me. “I’m Martin Franklin.”
He looked to be in his mid-fifties with an expensive haircut and an even more expensive suit, although, he didn’t wear a tie. This was probably his version of casual.
“Nice to meet you, Sir,” I said, shaking his hand.
“I assure you. The pleasure is all mine.” He flashed a smile that seemed genuine. “I represent the people at Halcyon.”
“Halcyon, the restaurant?”
“Yes, that’s the one. I was hoping I could speak to you and Amber Foster, if she’s here today.”
At the mention of Amber, my defenses went up. “What’s this all about?”
“I promise you, it’s nothing bad. But I was hoping to talk to you both at once. Would that be possible?”
“Sure thing. Let me show you to my office.” I left Martin in my office and grabbed Amber.
His face lit up when he saw her. “Oh, good. You’re here. Martin Franklin.”
He thrust out his hand and Amber shook it.
“I guess you know who I am,” she said.
“I do. You’re the reason I’m here. I represent the restaurant Halcyon.”
Amber’s face fell, although I had no idea why. Her body stiffened, along with her tone of voice. “What do you want?”
Her behavior was odd. She was never rude to anyone, and this man had been nothing but friendly since the moment he walked in. Something else was going on here.
“Please,” I said. “Let’s have a seat, Amber, and listen to what Mr. Franklin has to say.”
“Yes, thank you,” the man said. “The people I work with and I have been following the success of your restaurant. We’re not the only ones, I’m sure. Ever since Emery received such glowing reviews recently, everyone I know in the industry is talking about you.”
I nodded. “That’s nice of you to say, but I’ve been keeping my head down and focusing on the food for years now.”
“That’s no doubt the reason for your exceptionally high ratings. In fact, these newest ratings are the highest Emery has ever received. In all three reviews, each critic noted that a major contribution to your recent success was your newest chef.” He nodded in Amber’s direction. “In light of that, I’m here to make you two an offer.”
I shook my head. “I’m not selling the restaurant, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. There’s no delicate way to say this, I suppose. I’m here to offer Amber a job.”
“Not interested,” Amber said flatly.
I leaned forward in my chair. “Are you seriously trying to steal my chef right in front of me?”
“I understand what I’m asking is somewhat inappropriate, but I wanted to include you in the discussion specifically because we’re not trying to steal your star chef. If Amber decides to come work with us, we want everything to be above board and friendly.”
“I told you. I’m not interested,” Amber said.
Martin reached into his briefcase and withdrew some papers. “Well, you say that, but you applied to work at Halcyon quite recently.”
“That was before she started working here,” I said.
“Actually, the date of her application is after she began working at Emery.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I glanced over at her. “Is that true?”
Amber looked at me. “Yes, but it was my first week here. Before, well, you know.” She turned back to the older man. “I’m no longer interested.”
Martin nodded. “I respect your decision. All I ask is that you let me relay the offer. That way I can go back to my partners and say I tried.”
“Fine,” Amber said, waving her hand dismissively as her cheeks burned pink.
“So, we are opening up a new restaurant in Portland. The sister site to Halcyon. We’d like Amber to be our new executive chef.”
“What?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes, she would design the menu from top to bottom, choose her own staff, and make a name for herself. She would, of course, be compensated extremely well.” He handed her a slip of paper.
She looked at it in surprise. To her credit, she passed the paper over to me so I could see it, too. It was an insane amount of money. More money than I’d ever be able to pay her here.
“And for you, Chef Harrison, we realize that we’re asking a lot from you, yo agree to let us take your chef. We understand you still have a considerable amount of debt for this restaurant. My partners and I would be willing to pay off that debt, in exchange for your cooperation.”
I shook my head in disgust. “My cooperation? I don’t own Amber. She can make her own choices. It sounds like you’re trying to bribe me to convince her to leave. Well, I’m not going to do that. And frankly—”
Amber cut in. “And frankly, we’re done listening to this. You’ve said your piece. Now I’ll say mine. This place is my home. I don’t care how much you offer me. I’m staying right here.”
“Your loyalty is admirable.” He stood up, preparing to leave. “However, if you’d like to think it over, you have a week to decide. Then we will be forced to interview other candidates. Thank you for your time. I’ll show myself out.”
Martin Franklin left the office, but the ghost of his offer still hung in the air.
“You know, Amber. If you want to take the job—”
She interrupted my words with a kiss, her hands so soft on my face. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t you worry.”
Amber moved to leave, but then she turned back with an odd expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
She shook her head in disgust. “Mediterranean Salt?” she asked. “Really?”
I laughed despite the heaviness in my heart.
She turned and left my office, still muttering under her breath.
I was left alone, thinking about the offer Amber had just received.
It really was a great opportunity for her, the kind of job offer some chefs waited for their whole lives. Amber was still so young, she would have a long and amazing career ahead of her if she took the job.
Of course, I didn’t want her to leave, but some things are too good to pass up. But Amber had rejected the offer without hesitation. She hadn’t turned him down because it was a bad offer. She’d turned it down because she didn’t want to leave me and Emery behind.
I loved her for that, but it made me feel guilty as hell. I had no right to hold her back. She might never get another opportunity like that one. I didn’t want her to ruin her life over me. My baby girl was worth it, but I wasn’t.
I sat in my office for a long time, wrestling with my feelings. But no matter how hard I tried to figure things out, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.