2024-12-10 17:14:41Laxus left Henry’s office with a relieved smile. He convinced Henry to let him keep the job a little longer, giving him more time to find something else. The day had been long, and he returned to the kitchen, focusing on the last meal orders. As he stirred a pot, his mind drifted to the past few days. He tried to forget about Linnie, but it wasn’t easy.
Suddenly, he heard someone grumbling nearby. He looked over and saw the new girl, Nessy, clumsily chopping onions with blood dripping from her finger. She kept cutting, unaware of the injury. Laxus realized she wasn’t as experienced as she had claimed. He sighed and turned back to his work, adding the final touches to the meal.
Cooking had always been an escape for him. Back home, he had secretly taken cooking classes behind his father’s back. His father had always looked down on his love for the kitchen, insisting Laxus follow in the family business. Now, here he was, far from home, trying to prove he could make something of himself without using his father's name. But time was running out. Drake was watching him closely, threatening to expose his true identity. If that happened, his father would find him, and the media would swarm him. He needed a way out.
A waiter interrupted his thoughts, complimenting the food. ""Your burgers are getting better, Laxus. Customers are talking about them."" Laxus smiled. Praise like that was rare back at the Kinkaid mansion, where he had been constantly reminded of his shortcomings. But here, even with minimal effort, people appreciated his work. It warmed his heart.
A sudden yelp of pain pulled him from his thoughts. He turned and saw Nessy holding her hand in pain. Blood oozed from a burn she had gotten while frying chicken. Without hesitation, Laxus rushed over, taking her hand and running it under cold water. Henry walked in just as Laxus was helping Nessy, frowning at the scene.
“How did this happen?” Henry asked, his tone sharp with concern.
“She burned herself on the fryer,” Laxus explained, still tending to Nessy’s hand.
“Drake, come take over for Laxus while he helps Nessy,” Henry called across the kitchen.
Drake stormed over, glaring at Laxus. “What did you do to her?”
Laxus met his glare. ""I didn’t do anything. She burned herself.""
Drake’s anger flared. “You always cause trouble wherever you go, don’t you?”
“That’s enough, Drake,” Henry cut in. “Take over for Laxus.”
Grumbling, Drake took Laxus’s place, muttering under his breath, “Let’s see how long you last here.”
Laxus led Nessy to the back of the kitchen and grabbed the first aid kit. Her injury wasn’t as bad as it had looked, and he quickly treated it.
“So, how long have you been working here?” Nessy asked, trying to make conversation.
Laxus stayed silent, focusing on wrapping her hand.
""You must know Henry well. He treats you like family. Is there something between you two?"" she pressed.
Laxus gave her a brief glance but said nothing.
""And what’s the deal with you and Drake? You two fight like old friends.""
Finally, Laxus spoke. ""Just be careful next time. I might not be around to help.""
Nessy smiled gratefully. “Thanks, I’ll be more careful.”
As Laxus turned to leave, Drake’s voice stopped him. ""You think you can ignore me, Laxus? You won’t be able to hide forever.""
Laxus sighed. ""I told you, I'd leave soon. Just give me time.""
Drake’s eyes narrowed. ""I don’t care how long it takes. The world will find out where the Kinkaid heir has been hiding. And when they do, you’ll regret ever coming here.""
""I’m not a threat to you, Drake. Please, just let me be.""
Drake smirked. ""Watch your back, Laxus. One slip, and it’s over.""
As Drake walked away, Laxus noticed Nessy watching from a distance. Her eyes were wide with curiosity.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“It’s nothing,” Laxus said, brushing her off.
“It didn’t look like anything,” she insisted. “You can tell me.”
Laxus shot her a cold look, his eyes sharp with irritation. ""I suggest you focus on your work. Burn yourself again, and next time, I might not be around to help."" His voice was harsh, each word cutting through the kitchen’s quiet atmosphere. Nessy flinched, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she nodded stiffly, turning back to the stove without a word.
As Laxus walked away, he felt frustration building inside him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He knew he had been too hard on her, but he couldn’t let her dig any deeper into his life. Nessy had a habit of asking questions, and Laxus couldn’t risk her getting too curious. He had too many secrets he wasn’t willing to share with anyone, especially not with her.
The next morning, Laxus woke up before his alarm, the dull glow of early morning light filtering through the curtains of his small, cramped apartment. His body ached from the long hours the day before, but his mind was already racing. He knew he had to be early today. Henry wouldn’t tolerate him being late, not with the important lunch scheduled. There was too much riding on this day, and Laxus couldn’t afford another mistake.
""Don’t be late tomorrow, Laxus. We’ve got a meeting, and I need everyone there on time,"" Henry had said the night before as Laxus had clocked out. The warning had been clear, and Laxus knew better than to test his boss’s patience. He had pushed his luck too many times already.
Laxus dressed quickly, his movements sluggish from lack of sleep. He grabbed his keys and headed out the door, skipping breakfast as the knot of anxiety twisted tighter in his stomach. By the time he arrived at the restaurant, it was just before seven. The street outside was still quiet, the city not yet fully awake. He breathed a small sigh of relief, glad to be early for once.
Inside the restaurant, the familiar sounds of early morning activity greeted him. A few staff members were gathered near the kitchen, chatting casually as they prepared for the day. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of cleaning products. Laxus stifled a yawn as he made his way to the back to drop off his bag, trying to shake off the exhaustion that still clung to him.
As he reached his locker, he heard a voice behind him. “Morning, Laxus.”
He turned to see Nessy standing there, her expression neutral. She didn’t seem to be holding a grudge about his outburst the day before. Her eyes met his briefly before she looked away.
“Morning,” he replied, his tone curt. He didn’t want to engage in conversation. Not now, not when his mind was already filled with everything that could go wrong today. He turned back to his locker, focusing on hanging up his jacket.
Nessy hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something else, but then she walked away, leaving Laxus alone. He exhaled slowly, relieved that she hadn’t pushed for more. Today wasn’t the day for personal interactions. He had too much to worry about, and the pressure of the day’s event weighed heavily on him. The company lunch was a big deal, and Henry expected perfection.
Laxus took a deep breath, trying to push the tension from his shoulders as he headed toward the kitchen.
“How was your night?” Nessy asked, her voice light and friendly.
Laxus sighed, not in the mood for conversation. “It was fine.”
He didn’t understand why she was acting so familiar with him. She’d only been here a couple of weeks. He wasn’t looking to make friends, not after everything that had happened in his past. Trusting people only led to betrayal.
Before Nessy could continue, Drake’s voice echoed from the front of the restaurant. “The meeting’s about to start!”
Nessy leaned in slightly. “Looks like it’s time,” she whispered.
Laxus didn’t bother responding. He knew what time it was. He tossed his bag in the back and headed to the front to join the others.
Henry stood in the front of the restaurant, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. ""Alright, everyone, listen up. Today’s a big day. We’ve got a major company coming in for lunch, and I need you all on your best behavior.""
Laxus slipped into a seat beside Nessy. He noticed Drake glaring at him from across the room but chose to ignore it. He wasn’t going to let Drake’s attitude ruin his focus today.
Henry continued, ""These customers are important. Word about our restaurant is spreading, and this could be a great opportunity for us. If we do this right, it’ll be huge for business.""
Laxus nodded along with the others. He’d seen the restaurant grow since he started working there, and he was proud to be part of it. He knew how much a successful day like today could mean for everyone.
“We all know what’s at stake here,” Henry said, his voice firm. “Let’s show these people what we can do.”
Drake, looking impatient, muttered under his breath, clearly tired of his father’s speech. Laxus could see that Drake didn’t take the lunch as seriously as the rest of them did. He didn’t understand the importance of making connections and keeping customers coming back.
Henry began assigning tasks. ""Nessy, you’ll be in charge of taking orders and making sure the customers are happy. Just keep smiling and make them feel welcome.""
Nessy nodded enthusiastically. ""Got it, Mr. Henry.”
Henry turned to Drake and Laxus. ""You two will be in charge of the kitchen. We need everything to be perfect today.""
Drake scowled, clearly unhappy with the arrangement. Laxus wasn’t surprised. Drake always hated working with him, probably because Henry trusted Laxus with important tasks. He could feel Drake’s resentment growing, but he didn’t have time to worry about that now.
Henry continued, ""Laxus, I want you to try out that new recipe you were telling me about. I’m sure they’ll love it.""
Laxus smiled. ""Absolutely, Mr. Henry. I’ll get started right away.""
Henry glanced at Drake. ""You’ll help Laxus in the kitchen. Work together and make it great.""
Drake clenched his fists, clearly frustrated. He hated that his father gave Laxus so much responsibility, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he stormed off toward the kitchen, leaving Laxus behind.
Laxus followed a moment later, shaking his head. He knew Drake didn’t like him, but he didn’t have time to deal with that right then. Today was so important, and he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone distract him from doing his best.
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