The Art of Love Read Online Free Page A

didn’t think to say it myself.
    After allowing me to fuss over him a little, showing my gratitude, I am told that I may leave. This is fine by me. I barely have any time to primp before Elliot is meeting me at the bar. It would be quite the twist if I was to keep him waiting for once, but I somehow doubt he would take it with any grace. Most guys don’t like it when their own bad habits are thrown back in their faces.
    As I leave Escoffier’s office and hurry down the hall, I have a weird feeling, like when you know someone is watching you, and you realize it’s the creepy guy sitting across the aisle on the bus. I look over my shoulder and just catch the figure of Antoine slipping into Escoffier’s office, pulling the door closed behind him but not completely shut so that it doesn’t make a sound. I should have guessed that he was in the hallway the entire time I was talking to the chef. Thinking as well of himself as he does, I’m sure he’s convinced it’s his right to eavesdrop. Well, two can play at that game. I sneak back over to the door, my rubber clogs practically silent on the tile floor.
    I stand to the side so Escoffier won’t catch a glimpse of movement in the three-inch gap between the open door and the wall. He’s very sharp eyed when he wants to be. The saucier’s visit is obviously unexpected because Escoffier sounds annoyed when he asks, “Zhere is a problem, Antoine?” The two of them always address each other in French when they are in the kitchen, so I find it peculiar that they use English when they are alone.
    “ I hear you make Suzanne zee chef de cuisine,” Antoine begins, his voice a little choked with emotion. “I am your saucier! But you do not give me zhis honaire. You have no love for Antoine!”
    I’m sure if Antoine were offered “zhis honaire” he would be pitching a fit that it doesn’t come with an increase in pay. Then again, maybe if Escoffier put Antoine in charge, he would get a temporary increase.
    Escoffier gives a low, indulgent chuckle. “Ah, Antoine, you must see it is bettaire for me if I leave Mademoiselle Suzanne in charge.”
    Antoine does not see this. He immediately demands, “ But why? She is just some prep cook. She has no talent for zee food!”
    I hear Chef Escoffier slap his desk for emphasis. “ And zhat is why, my friend. Suzanne is like zee little dog zhat has been trained to do tricks.” I feel my face heating up. This does not sound complimentary. Escoffier continues. “She will not change my menu. She will not fight for zee job once I return. She will only make zee sad eyes and hope for zee treat.”
    I want to crawl in a hole. I seriously want to just disappear off the face of the planet never to be seen again.
    I can hear the pride in Antoine’s voice when he says, “And you know Antoine will not behave like zhis!”
    Sounding all chummy, Escoffier says, “ Zhat is true. Zee day I retire, you will be zhere to make Bouche your own. But until zhat day, I cannot trust you to return zee keys to my kingdom when I am ready.”
    So that’s why I was put in charge. Not because Escoffier thinks I’m the best person to run Bouche in his absence, but because he knows I’ll be no threat to him when he returns. I have never felt more pathetic in my entire life. I am so angry and hurt that I literally have to fight back tears, which makes me feel even more pathetic.
    I can just imagine Antoine puffing out his little chest as he says, “Ah, now I understand. Escoffier, you are zee mastaire.”
    That’s all the information I need. I hurry down the hall, not even caring if those two bastards hear me running off.
     
    ***Kiki***
    I don’t know what it is about Sue that irritates the hell out of me, but she’s just so annoying. There’s this stink of pathetic about her, always trying to please everyone, always trying to be so nice with her simpering little face. “Can I help you with that? Can I do this for you? Can I tie myself up in knots to