Chapter Twenty-One

Pepper

When I fly back to Vegas, I’m almost as nervous as I was flying out to Los Angeles. The prospect of facing Dante terrifies me. It’s funny – he’s always been nice, sweet even. But knowing that he’s behind some of the most devious shit I’ve ever heard is enough to make my stomach flip over. There’s no way I’m going to let him sabotage me and ruin my newfound success. And oddly enough, Carter’s support makes me feel bulletproof.

When I get home, I take a long shower and drive to Sakana. According to Basil, there’s been no trouble in paradise. After parking in the Mona Lisa employee garage, I pull on my black jacket for what I hope is one of my last nights in the kitchen of Sakana. Sadness overcomes me, making emotion swirl through every cell. This is the only restaurant I’ve worked at in Vegas…and while it’s been hugely successful, it’s not worth sacrificing my values. Is Dante powerful enough to stop my career from moving forward? Would he?

But maybe this knowledge arrived at the opportune time, proving the Universe has my back. Maybe, with the Food Network show, I need a break from being a professional chef on a daily basis. After all, if I win the competition, I should get my own show…and then who needs Dante?

I should’ve asked Carter more about Dante, I think as I walk into the restaurant. When Basil sees me, he cheers.

“Girlfriend, we all saw that show. It was dynamite!”

I wince at the memory of throwing the knife at Carter. “Um, yeah. It sure was entertaining, to say the least.”

“How did you plan that?” Basil comes closer and raises an eyebrow at me. “Because it was crazy! The producers are risky.”

“Uh, you know, the producers have a lot of tricks up their sleeve.” I agree, not wanting to tell the truth. I’m a temper tantrum throwing, unprofessional, pain in the ass. “But I wouldn’t expect anything too nuts in the future…we’re going to tone it down a lot.”

Basil frowns. “Damn! I love the drama.”

“I know you do.” I pat his hand. “I know you do.”

We get to work for the coming dinner service, and every time Basil or Kristin asks me for advice, my heart feels like I’ve put it through a juicer. I can’t believe the tears that linger behind my eyes. After all, I’m leaving a restaurant…not moving to Siberia. But Sakana has been my home over the past few years, and it’s going to be really tough to move on. Especially because of Basil. I couldn’t have done any of this without his support and friendship.

“Honey, you okay?” Basil nudges me in the side. “You’ve been staring at that plate of crab tempura for like, a million years.”

I force a smile. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” I glance over my shoulder. Kristin and the others are busy working away on various dishes, and they’re not paying attention to me. “Can I borrow you for a minute?”

“Honey, you can borrow me all night long, but you might have a few angry men chasing you down the strip,” Basil says, batting his lashes.

“It won’t take that long.” I crook my finger at him. “Come over here.”

I lead Basil out of the kitchen and into the narrow corridor by the offices. Ducking inside, I pull him behind me and close the door.

“This is all so clandestine.” He looks around with wide eyes. “Should I be wearing a deerstalker?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head and laughing at the mental image of Basil in one of those Sherlock Holmes hats. “This will just take a minute.”

Basil narrows his eyes. He’s so intuitive that I can tell he knows something is wrong. But before he has the chance to speak again, I blurt it out. “I’m leaving Sakana.”

Basil’s jaw drops, and his eyes get big. He stares at me for a long time before bursting into laughter.

“Oh my god, girlfriend, that was a good one,” Basil crows, throwing his head back and laughing even louder. “You’ve got my attention. What is it really?”

“I’m leaving Sakana,” I repeat. Without revealing too much personal information about Carter’s family, I tell Basil all about Dante. By the time I’m done, Basil looks ashen and ten years older.

“Oh, my god.” His fingers tap at his lips. “I can’t believe it. I think I need to leave with you.”

“Believe it, but you can’t leave with me. You might get promoted to head chef. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for you.”

“Goody for me, working for a cartoon villain,” Basil replies sarcastically. “What happens when the bubble of maniacal dialogue appears over his greasy head? Wait…don’t even answer that. So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to concentrate on that Food Network show – I’ve got to win.”

“And if you don’t?”

“Then I start shopping around for high-end restaurants,” I say with a shrug. “I mean, there’s not much to do, is there? I have no doubt my career will go on. And so will I.”

Basil pulls me into a hug, and I welcome his warmth and support. “You bet you will.”

At the end of my shift, I’m feeling more confident. After throwing my black jacket into the laundry, I check my hair and walk on to the casino floor. Dante’s offices are located on the executive level, and my heart thuds as I punch the up button to call for the elevator. After a short, but tense ride, his secretary buzzes him to announce me and waves me in the direction of his office.

“Dante?” I call, knocking a few times.

“Come on in.”

Pushing open the door, I plaster a smile on my face. Dante’s bulky frame sits behind his desk. There’s a snifter of cognac in one hand and a fat cigar in the other. The smoke hangs thick in the tense air. When he sees me, an expression of surprise lights his features. I can’t believe I once thought he was handsome.

Never again.

“Guess that show didn’t work out for you, after all,” Dante says. “What with the knife throwing and all that. Well, you know I’m happy to have you back here. Welcome home.”

I smile before sitting down in a chair opposite his desk. “Actually,” I say with false brightness. “The show is going really well. That’s why I’m here.”

“Oh yeah?” He sips his cognac, looking over the rim with narrowed eyes. “Well, good for you, Pepper. Now, is this important? I have a lot of work to do tonight.”

“This won’t take long,” I say, steeling myself for the explosion. “Don’t worry about that at all.”

Dante sets down his glass and shoves his paperwork to the side of his massive desk. “What is it, then?”

“I’m leaving Sakana.”

“What?” The cigar in Dante’s hand trembles, but he doesn’t drop it.

“I said, I’m leaving.” I get to my feet and wipe my hands on my thighs. As nervous as I am, my excitement and tremendous relief over my decision wins out in the end. “My contract has a Michelin star provision. If I receive a better offer, I can leave without penalty. I’m exercising my option.”

“Is it the money? How much do you make? Wait, don’t answer that – whatever it is, I’ll pay you double. How about that?” Dante grins at me. “I know a girl like you would have to love that kind of money.”

Girl like me?

“It’s not about the money,” I say, seeing him for what and who he is.

“Sweetheart, let me give you a piece of advice – it’s always about the money.” Dante smirks, delighting in his wisdom.

“This time it’s not,” I argue. “And anyway, even if that were true, I can’t keep taking money from you.”

Dante’s smirk fades, and he narrows his eyes, taking a long puff on his cigar. A ring of smoke flitters into the already stale air. His disgusting habit makes me hate him even more. Sending carcinogens into the air I breathe.

“I know what you did to Carter Caldwell,” I say. “And I know what you’ve done to his entire family…and trust me, I don’t approve.”

Dante glares daggers at me. “Pepper, they’re our rivals. Of course, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure my casino – and my restaurant – make the most money, the biggest splash. To stay alive in Vegas, you’ve gotta be huge. Huge!”

He throws his arms into a wide arc along with the force of his words. I watch the live ash at the end of his cigar sail through the air and land on the plush carpet, sizzling to a dramatic end.

“Well, that’s too bad,” I say. “I’m sure you’ll be able to find a replacement in no time. If I may suggest, Basil would make an excellent head chef.”

Dante sniffs. “You’re making a really big mistake.” In direct contrast to his words, he smiles again. It’s not like the smile before – it’s cold and malicious. His teeth gleam in the dim light of his office. “Say, what are you going to do when you can’t find a job? Are you going to come crawling back to me? Because I won’t allow that – this is your last chance. Either you change your mind right now, or I’ll make sure you never find work in this town again.”

Dante’s words chill the marrow in my bones since I now know what he’s capable of, but I’m determined not to let them knock me off my path.

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take,” I say before turning around and leaving his office. At the door, I face him again. “Oh, and say hello to your nephew Angelo for me.”