Page 43 of Best Laid Plans
Trying to be here for my mom. No breaking down and sobbing on anyone’s shoulders this time…
Cam
These shoulders are free for the day on an as-needed basis.
Elle
I’ll let you know.
Cam
Would you mind keeping me updated? On your dad I mean. Just want tomake sure he’s okay.
Elle
Absolutely.
You can let me know if you need a shoulder, too.
Cam
Thanks, Elle.
He put down his phone. Since finding out about Mr. Pierce’s surgery, he hadn’t let himself consider the possibility that it wouldn’t go well. He knew that the world was an unfair place, but Jim Pierce not being in it would tip the scales into something that Cam refused to consider.
His phone buzzed, and he picked it up without checking to see who was calling. It could be Elle.
“It’s about time. Are you done with all this nonsense, Cam?” Michael’s voice came through the receiver, surprisingly calm given that Cam had been dodging his calls for over a week.
A month ago, Cam’s life had been on a very different trajectory. Michael had wanted to open a second restaurant with Cam at the helm, where Cam was promised the ability to ideate on his vision from end-to-end. And appearing onUltimate Chefwould elevate his profile, according to Michael, to give Cam the opportunity.
Which is why Cam had found himself on that insufferable excuse for a cooking show at all.
So, when Michael had wanted him to go on the show, he’d done it. And when Michael had started having investors and high profile people coming through Gossamer most nights of the week after filming had wrapped, Cam schmoozed with them just like he’d been asked.
Cam put the phone on speaker so that he could scoop his eggs onto a plate. “You fired me last week.” He’d looked up to Michael, which was the worst part of everything that had happened. His dad had always been an asshole. With Michael, he hadn’t seen it coming.
“I want to open a line of communication, Cam. It’s stupid for both of us to throw away a business relationship because of a little disagreement.”
They had very different interpretations of what alittle disagreementactually was.
Cam had walked into the back room at the restaurant to see a terrified twenty-something waitress who was working her way through college. Michael had her pinned against one of the shelves, his hand underneath her shirt. Cam had snapped. He could still remember how the disgust had coursed through him, that someone who had everything just wanted to keep taking because they could. His lip curled, thinking about it now.
Ten days ago, his life had blindingly come into focus. He, and the people around him at the restaurant, were nothing more than pawns to someone like Michael Vittori. And that had been spelled out for him like a neon flashing sign when Michael had slurred, “Get out, Devers. This is my restaurant and you didn’t see shit. I made you, and I can end you just as easily.”
Then, Cam had started swinging.
“Cam?” Michael asked, and Cam could picture him looking stupidly down at his cell phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.
Cam kept his voice neutral. “I accepted your termination, Michael. I don’t think that there’s anything else left for us to talk about.”
“Except that I heard you’re considering opening your own spot.”
Cam blinked and stared down at his phone.Wow, news sure did travel fast. He’d woefully underestimated the gossip grapevine ensnarling the Rock Harbor Country Club. And regardless of whether it was true or not, it was none of Michael’s fucking business. “Good for you, having your ear pressed to the ground. It keeps your face away from any unsuspecting waitresses.”
“Look, Cam,” Michael warned, “whatever you think you saw, you’re wrong. You’ve known me for half-a-decade. I’m not that guy.”
“Except youwerethat guy. And even if I believe you and you’d never been that guy before, it doesn’t change shit.”
