Chapter 9 - The Kitchen Accident
|
The rest of the day passed in a blur of anxiety. Emma tried to stick to the crowded areas of the manor, avoiding the dark, empty corridors where she usually worked. She knew Julian was watching her.
By dinnertime, the kitchen was a chaotic symphony of clanking pots and shouting chefs. Emma was assigned to help the prep cooks carry heavy vats of boiling water for the pasta stations.
“Emma, grab that handle!” Chef Louis barked, pointing to a massive stainless-steel pot on the industrial stove.
“Yes, Chef,” Emma said, grabbing two thick silicone hot pads.
She moved to the stove, gripping the heavy handles of the pot. As she began to lift it off the burner, she felt a sudden, sharp shove between her shoulder blades.
Emma stumbled forward, crying out in shock.
The pot tipped violently. Gallons of boiling water cascaded over the edge, splashing down just inches from her legs. Emma threw her weight backward, dropping the pot entirely to avoid being scalded.
The heavy metal crashed onto the tile floor with a deafening clang, sending a wave of searing hot water across the kitchen.
“Watch out!” someone screamed.
Emma fell backward, hitting the hard tile, gasping for breath. The silicone pads had slipped from her hands.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Emma?!” Chef Louis roared, rushing over. “You could have burned half the staff!”
“I... I was pushed,” Emma stammered, scrambling away from the steaming puddle.
“Pushed? There’s no one behind you!” Louis yelled.
Emma looked frantically around the kitchen. It was true. The cooks had all backed away from the spill. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw the swinging door leading to the servant’s corridor slowly swinging shut.
Someone had walked by, shoved her into the boiling water, and vanished into the chaos.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her arm and hauled her to her feet.
It was Marco.
May you like
He didn't yell. He didn't ask what happened. He just looked at the puddle of boiling water, then looked at Emma’s terrified face.
“Come with me,” Marco ordered, his voice cold and hard. “Now.”
