Chapter 10: Leon

*LEON*

The next morning…

After today's earlier encounter, I thought she might leave, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Truth be told, it kind of caught me off guard how fast it did occur. Less than 5 hours. I knew that she liked Kingsland Hotel and was bursting with excitement to have a full-time position doing what she loved.

So when my phone dinged after dinner and I read her email…well, I was angry. Not at her, but at Osip. She had cost me another employee with her antics. If it wasn't for my reputation on the line, I would've left a long time ago. But my name as a Knightly meant nothing otherwise; not without this place. And without it, my mother's wish for me—for my financial mobility—would cease to exist.

I sighed as I mulled over the email for a third time. What was I going to do? The busy season was creeping up, and I was now out another staff member. That, and if I was being honest with myself again, Vicky's cooking was by far the best I had tasted in a long time. She would've brought so much business to the Kingsland.

Just then, someone knocked on my office door.

It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was to show up at this time of morning. Always in time for the first rush of the day.

"Send her in, Mason!" I called out, not removing my eyes from the laptop screen in front of me.

Vicky's thoughts still haunted me all throughout dinner, and into the morning. I didn't know the woman apart from her professional experiences; but there was something pulling at me that was telling me not to let her go just yet. I needed to fix this—and the only way to do so was to talk to her in person.

When the door opened and Osip entered, I flicked my gaze up to her from behind the screen.

Today, she was dressed slightly differently than usual—instead of her usual luxury leisurewear, she donned a pair of leather leggings, a colorful buttondown, and matching heels. Her hair was in nice ringlets, and she somewhat resembled herself from when I first met her.

I almost felt a sense of familiarity and longing…until she spoke.

"Leon, we need to talk yesterday."

And there it was.

"Osip, how many times—"

"I've decided to let it go."

Wait—what? I knew Osip and this wasn't like her at all. I focused in on her thoughts; maybe they'd provide some clarity. But instead, they just confirmed it. She was elated with herself. Only something in the muddled noise grabbed my attention and I cut off whatever she was about to say.

"Hold on. You made a deal? With Vicky?"

I held her gaze. Osip tilted her head.

"How do you—you know what, nevermind. Yes, I did. I went to her house last night—"

I grabbed at my forehead and rubbed it. "You went to her house?!"

"Oh stop being so dramatic, Leon. Yes, I went there and yes, we talked. I offered her a position, as the personal chef for Amrietta's birthday."

"You…offered her a position? After making a show out of her being here yesterday?"

Osip sighed and smiled. She moved herself closer, trailing a finger along the top of my desk as she made her way around it. "You know I was only doing that for you, right baby?"

The tone in her voice made me shudder. She knew I hated petnames, and more importantly, she knew how much I despised her using this voice on me. It wouldn't work, it never did.

"No," I began. "You were doing it for you."

She huffed. "I got her a fricken job. That's more than someone like her deserves."

"Is that all you came here for, Osip? Do you want me to make you a trophy or can I get on with my work?"

"Oh, shut the fuck up, Leon."

Her eyes then moved downward toward my laptop screen, where the email from Vicky sat.

"What's this?"

"A resignation letter. Vicky quit. All thanks to you."

I watched as a smile formed on her face. I focused in on her thoughts: she was even more elated than before, if that was at all possible. I grimaced. Her plan was working—offering Vicky that job would put her into Osip's debt, especially if her career took off as a cause. Bonus points that it pushed her away from me.

A pang settled in my heart. It wasn't a longing, but more like my soul already going through grievance at the thought of Vicky not being here anymore. What was happening to me? I was Leon Knightly, world-renowned chef. Not some love-sick puppy.

I was more than furious with Osip. If it weren't for my mother…

I didn't want to argue with her anymore. I stood from my seat and headed for the door.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Look, Osip." I began as I tossed on my chef's jacket and headed for the door. "I have a meeting in an hour, and then lunch rush, so if you don't mind…"

"But, I still need to talk to you about—"

But that was all I heard before I shut the office door behind me as I left. I walked down the hall into the kitchens, and the noise of the morning preparations filled my senses. When I rounded the corner, Mason was already waiting for me.

"Good morning, chef."

"Mason," I greeted. "How are the preparations this morning? Anything needed?"

"No sir, everything is running smoothly."

Wonderful, just what I needed to hear.

"Great," I stated, watching as Frank worked alongside the others in perfect unison. "I have a meeting in an hour and need to run a quick errand. Frank is in charge until I return, understood?"

"Yes, chef," Mason replied.

I gave a nod of approval and made my way through the hotel to the front entrance. The morning breeze hit my face, instantly cooling me off. I took in a deep breath and centered myself. I didn't have an errand to run, I just really needed some time alone before I started the day.

I started my descent down the streets of Newtons City, listening to the sounds of the morning traffic as busses and citizen began their day. I moved through the crowds of people, each of them lost within their own thoughts, which trailed back to me.

"I hope Trey makes the team this week."

"I'm going to fail. Their going to fire me."

"Fucking Whitney. With my best friend…I can't believe it."

Jesus. This city was more broken then I imagined…and packed. I turned a corner and decided to take a less known way to avoid any interruptions. I kept my head down, when suddenly, my own thoughts were inturrupted by my body colliding with another.

My eyes looked up and I was face-to-face with two men in ripped clothes. They were covered in dirt and their hair was knotted. Their smell alone was enough to knock me over. It was clear they were homeless.

"Hey, pretty boy," the first one said, showcasing a yellow-stained smile. "Got any change?"

I sighed and reached into my pant pocket, pulling out a handful of change. "Here, that's all I've got on me."

Another man approached us, and stared me down. "Wearing a nice chef jacket like that—I think that's a lie. You definitely have more."

I pulled out the lining of my pockets to show them, but it didn't satisfy them.

"You work at the Kingsland Hotel?" the first man questioned. "That fancy building down the street?"

I nodded.

"Why don't you go there and get us some cash? I know you have it."

"Look—" I started. "I really need to get back. I just came out for some fresh air."

"Alright," the man continued. "But make sure to come back with that money."

I pushed past them and moved through the crowded streets again. Anywhere was better than there. Only, as I made my way back to the hotel, someone's thoughts entered my mind, louder than any other.

"It smells so good…it's unbelievably pure. I need to kill…"

What the fuck? I stopped dead in the center of the crowd, and looked around. It echoed in my head: "kill…kill…kill…"

My eyes scanned the area, but couldn't find where the sound came from. Everyone looked so…normal.

"Let me kill him! Fuck Kindred law; there's nothing more I'd love than a nice…juicy…bite…kill…kill…KILL!"

I jumped. His voice was so loud; it drained everything else out. It was like it was he was screaming in my ear. And then just as fast as it came, it was gone and the sounds of the cityscape rushed back into my brain.