Page 36 of Slow Simmer

Chapter Seventeen

Either word had gone round somehow about the new cameras being installed, or the saboteur was just biding their time, but nothing out of the ordinary happened over the next few days.La Sirènewas busy as always, and with several big weddings to stage Carlo was kept too busy to even think about the problem, though he knew it was always on Suzannah’s mind.

There was a very awkward conversation the day before the music stars were due to arrive, when Luke barged into Suzannah’s office one afternoon and caught Carlo and Suzannah kissing, Suzannah on Carlo’s lap in her office chair with her blouse half undone. She blushed fierily, Carlo said a lot of swear words in Italian, and Luke’s eyebrows just about hit his hairline.

“I thought you two didn’t like each other? No, never mind, I don’t need the full story.” Luke held his hands up in front of him. “Just don’t let it affect your work.”

“Never!” Suzannah promised immediately, Carlo only a breath behind her, and Luke nodded.

“You’re both adults, and both professionals. I’ll trust you to manage your own personal lives.” He looked pointedly away as Suzannah rebuttoned her blouse.

“Thank you. Uh… did you want something?” Carlo asked as Luke turned to leave.

“Just Edouard out of my ear,” Luke said over his shoulder. “He’s been in my office three times in the last week whinging about Carlo sexually harassing you, Suzannah. I just wanted to make sure it was mutual.” The door closed behind him, and they were left alone staring at each other in shock.

“What the…” Carlo paled with fury, fists clenching. “Howdarehe!”

“Easy,” Suzannah patted his shoulders soothingly. “He’s just looking out for me, Carlo - Edouard’s been like an older brother to me. Though I’m not sure how he could have misconstrued anything you’ve done as sexual harassment.” She frowned, puzzled. “You’ve never been anything but totally respectful in public.”

“And yet he’s gone to Luke three times with complaints?” Carlo snapped. “He wants me gone, Suzannah. You can’t put any other spin on making complaints like that.”

Concerned, Suzannah chewed on her lower lip. “Let me talk to him,” she said quietly. “I’ll explain we’re together… it’s probably time we came out in the open anyway. Someone’s going to spot you sneaking into or out of my cabin one of these nights.”

“I’m getting tired of that too, but if you think they don’t all know already, you’re kidding yourself. Julie thanked me today, and when I asked what for, she said ‘putting the boss in such a good mood’ and winked.”

“Oh, God,” Suzannah had to laugh. “How do you think they figured it out?”

“Like you said, somebody probably saw us. Or possibly heard us in here, one time. Or maybe just saw the way you’re constantly undressing me with your eyes.” He grinned teasingly, dark eyes alight with amusement.

“I do not!” She poked him in the ribs, still laughing. “Well, notallthe time, anyway.”

“Edouard totally got things the wrong way round. If anything,I’mthe one getting harassed and objectified. I’ve seen Julie nudging you and teasing you that you should ‘get a piece of that Italian stallion’.”

“Stop it.” He was obviously teasing, and she couldn’t stop laughing. “I’ll talk to Edouard. I promise. Cut this nonsense down before it goes any further. And yes… tonight we’ll tell everyone. Together. Now cut it out, we need to head over to Jace’s with the stuff we’ve got prepared for tomorrow.”

* * *

Suzannah didn’t get an opportunity to talk to Edouard that day. It was his evening off and he’d switched off his phone. Mindful that she’d promised Carlo they would bring their relationship into the open, though, she stood with her hand in his as the last plates were cleared from the dinner tables in the restaurant and told the staff that they were in a relationship.

Wolf-whistles erupted from the largely female staff.

“Go get it, Chef!” Julie hollered from the back of the room. Suzannah flipped her the bird, making Julie laugh loudly, and then several people were offering congratulations and saying how good they looked together. Samira, Carlo’s shy cake decorator, gave Suzannah a very surprising hug and told her how happy Carlo seemed and that she was so pleased for them both.

“Take an early night, Chef.” Julie made her way through the throng. “I can handle cleanup and prep for tomorrow. Go take that gorgeous stud to bed.” She winked at Carlo, who laughed and kissed her cheek.

“You’re outrageous.” The sous-chef had grown enormously in confidence since Suzannah expressed her clear faith in Julie’s abilities and pushed her to take on more responsibility. A fun, bubbly personality was surfacing, along with a boundless store of jokes which kept her co-workers in stitches.

“Just saying what all the other girls are thinking - that they wish they were getting to sample that hot Italian salami too!” Laughing, she embraced Suzannah before trotting back off across the kitchen to her post.

“Come on.” Carlo’s arm slid around Suzannah’s waist and he tugged her towards the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

Smiling, she let him tug her outside, a chorus of well-wishes and crude suggestions following them. The staff would all have settled down by tomorrow, she knew; they were just letting off steam.

* * *

Suzannah and Carlo slept in the following morning. Knowing it was likely to be a very full couple of days, they’d done as much as they could the previous day. All ingredients and as much as could be prepared in advance were at Jace’s house, safe from potential sabotage, and Suzannah would spend the day down there, leavingLa Sirènefor Carlo and Julie to manage.

As usual, the restaurant was fully booked out, plus there was a twenty-person sixtieth birthday party for a wealthy guest in the private dining room at lunchtime and a fifty-person wedding dinner that evening. They quite simply couldn’t afford the time for anything to go wrong.

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