I resisted the urge to turn my back and end the conversation. Ezra barely knew my name, let alone anything about my relationship with Killian. His warning didn’t endear me to him at all. But all of Killian’s comments about Ezra finally made sense.
Reminding myself that this was Killian’s friend and the owner of three highly successful restaurants, I bit my tongue and waited.
He held my gaze, unflinching. “I’d like you to apply for a job.”
I blinked at him, trying to decide if this was real or if I had started hallucinating. “What?” When I’d first handed Ezra his order of food, I’d hoped to impress him. In reality, I’d basically just said “What?” for fifteen minutes straight.
Because that always made a lasting impression. Good job, Vera.
“Are you familiar with Bianca?”
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
This isn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. HOW WAS THIS HAPPENING???
“I am,” I croaked.
“I recently let the head chef go, and I’m having trouble replacing him. I’m wondering if you would like to audition for the position? Killian only has good things to say about you. His opinion is important to me. And he knows food. That said, I’d still need to see what you’re capable of myself. I’d like to see how you are with meal progression, so a five-course would be appropriate. Although, we do have a pastry chef at Bianca, so you wouldn’t need to worry about dessert long term. I’d just like to see your range, what you’re capable of. I’d also like to see a few variants of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, sides, etc. You could use Bianca’s kitchen and pantry. I’m sure you’ll find that it has whatever you need. If not, just let me know what you’re missing, and I’ll make sure it’s available. I can email you the details, and we can go from there.”
He stopped talking, and I just stared at him. I didn’t know how to respond. He was offering me… everything. Honestly, everything I had ever wanted.
Bianca? Was he kidding?
Bianca was a dream kitchen. No, not a dream kitchen, the dream kitchen. With a reputation as good as Lilou’s, my reputation would be catapulted to the next level. Or the next five levels. People would know my name, associate it with one of the best kitchens in the region. I would be somebody. My budget would be nearly unlimited. I would have an entire staff working for me. I would have a reservation list that was impossible to get on.
Executive chef.
I would be the executive chef.
His hand reached out between us. “Vera?”
Clearly, he thought I was having a stroke. To be fair, I might have been. I couldn’t even mentally wrap my head around his offer. “I’m sorry, I’m just trying to process everything.”
His mouth twitched in an almost smile. “I understand. This is really out of the blue.”
Out of the fucking blue! But I didn’t say that part out loud. “Can I have some time to think about it?” My voice shook as words I hardly expected ever to say escaped. “I, I… I just opened my food truck. I’m still getting my legs under me.”
His almost smile disappeared, a frown turning down his mouth instead. “Of course,” he clipped out politely. “I wish I could give you all the time you need, but this is a position I need to fill soon. Can you let me know what you decide by Monday?”
It was Friday. “Yes. I can do that. I can let you know by Monday.”
He nodded and began to walk away.
Realizing I had just made the biggest mistake of my career to date—which was saying something—I panicked. “Wait, I’m sorry. I hope you don’t think I’m comparing my food truck to Bianca. I’m not. I just opened it, and I have quite a bit of financial responsibility tied up in it. I need to figure a few things out is what I’m saying. I apologize if it came out differently.”
This time he allowed a full smile, and I nearly had heart palpitations. Good grief. No wonder he had so many ex-girlfriends. “It’s fine, Vera. Really. Just because I’m used to getting my way all the time, doesn’t mean I should. You deserve time to mull this over. Executive chef in any one of my kitchens is not for the faint of heart.” I gulped audibly. His expression softened, taking pity on me. “But if Killian thinks so highly of you, I can’t help but believe you’re cut out for it.”
My insides became all melty chocolate for this man that had so completely captured my heart.
Killian. Not Ezra. I barely knew Ezra.
And like I said, I was fully gone for Killian.
“Thank you, Ezra. I really appreciate this opportunity.” I smiled, settling into confidence I had never felt before. Partly because I’d just been offered a dream position. Partly because Killian thought so highly of me, he’d convinced his friend I was worthy of the position, but mostly because I did feel worthy of it.
I could run Bianca. It wouldn’t be easy. It would take an insane amount of work and practice and hours. But I could do it.
I’d made Foodie a success in only a few months. I could tackle Bianca, too.
The question was, did I want to?
“I’ll look forward to your answer.” Ezra tapped the top of the cardboard box he held. “This was delicious, Vera. Killian has impeccable taste.”
My smile stretched and my chest squeezed. He’d complimented my food, but I could see in his warm expression that he meant it twofold.
I walked back to my kitchen on cloud nine, grinning from ear to ear.
“I take it you don’t hate him quite as much as I do,” Molly grumped. A line of people had formed, and she had a handful of order tickets.
“He offered me a job,” I told her gleefully. “But even better, he approves.”
“Approves of what?” Her eyes were as big as possible.
“Of Killian and me.”
At that, her eyes softened, and her expression turned adoring. “Of course he does. You’re perfect for each other. Now cook these before you run yourself out of business.”
I took the order tickets from her unable to break my smile. The differences between Derrek and Killian went on forever. But this was one of my favorites—the best friend support. Molly’s seal of approval felt amazing.
There was nothing to hide from Molly or Vann or my dad. There was nothing to keep secret or manipulate into sounding better than reality.
More of the pieces of my lost self clicked into place. I found more of me. I became more of me.
And it felt good.
For the first time in so long, I felt like me. Completely, wholly me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“We need to talk about something.” Killian showed up later that night, all black t-shirt, tattooed skin and sexy beard.
I cut my eyes to Molly, wondering if I needed a rescue. Talk about what? I suddenly felt like I was in trouble for something. “Why?”
He crossed his arms, resting them on the window and leaning in the truck. “When are you out of here?”
Uh, oh.
“Things have died down. I can be done soon.” I cleared my throat and focused on the bread crumbs clinging to my chef’s coat. “Unless it picks up again. Then, it could be hours before I close.” I looked up. “Days even.”
His lips twitched. He rubbed a hand over his mouth, hiding his reaction. “That busy, huh?”
I held my poker face. “Yep.”