My life was more about worrying when the next meal was going to arrive, or if my mom could hold down a job for longer than a couple of months. It had all changed with Emily’s dad.
Pushing those thoughts to one side, I tried not to worry about the client who wanted to talk about my first course. I’d been offered the chance to do the first courses at the restaurant, which was a big deal for me. Now someone had a complaint. That was why they called out the chefs, right?
I felt sick to my stomach.
I didn’t want to lose this job. It wasn’t my dream, but it was the next best thing. Cooking food was my life. It was what brought me so much joy and how I tried to make Emily happy.
The client had decided to sit in the VIP section of the restaurant. It was rather dark, and I noticed not many people were around.
Approaching the table number I’d been given, I saw a man in the shadows.
“Hi, I’m Ash— I mean, Harper Coast. You wanted to see me?”
All of a sudden, something covered my mouth. I couldn’t shout or scream. Everything was muffled and going dark quickly. The man in the corner came into sight and I knew who he was.
Earl Valentine.
What the fuck did he want with me?
Everything went black.