Page 50 of Blue Gold

“So stop spitting out nonsense, and tell me what you are doing here.”

With the cigarette still in his hand, he shrugged. “Claudia had practice this morning.”

I checked my watch.

“And yet, it’s past noon, and you’re still here?” I raised my eyes to meet his.

“Well, yeah, I hung out for a bit⁠—”

“To smoke on my property and harass my employees.”

He jerked back. “Harass? I only spoke to Elliot. That’s all, I swear.”

And even though I knew they only spoke, the fact that he knew Elliot’s name was more than enough of a reason to push me to my limits and challenge my patience.

“You’re fired.”

Lucas’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I’ll make sure to pay what you’re owed for the rest of the summer, but don’t bother coming back.”

“B-but⁠—”

“If you do return, I’ll make sure to press charges against you for trespassing,” I said, fully aware of how wrong I was and how petty I was acting. And if all of that wasn’t enough proof, my father’s satisfied smile once I turned to face him said it all. Lucas did nothing wrong, while I… I couldn’t say the same about myself.

16

DANIEL

I’d never realized how suffocating our dining room was until I had to share it with my parents, wife, daughter, and the man I secretly admired, who was busy serving us lunch. Feeling like I’d snap any minute now, I reached a shaking hand to my wineglass, which I emptied in three long gulps. Thankfully, the others were too busy engaging in a conversation to even notice my unhealthy drinking habits, as this was my third glass already.

“So?” Claudia turned to my mother, a big smile on her face as she watched Mom take a bite from the salmon meunière Elliot had cooked. “Isn’t it just the best, Evelyn?”

Putting her fork down and cleaning the corner of her mouth with a napkin, my mom cleared her throat. “I’ve had better,” she said, pretentious as ever.

Snob.

“Oh, come on. You have to admit it’s delicious. Elliot is so talented,” Claudia went on, and somehow, the fact that she was complimenting Elliot’s talent made me slightly calmer.

“Elliot?” Mother raised one brow. “Is that this boy’s name?”

Claudia hummed a yes while taking a bite. “Isn’t it a pretty name? Oh, and he’s French, too.”

“Interesting…” That was Mother’s word whenever she found something to be incredibly boring. “But speaking of, on Saturday, you’ll taste what good food is,” she said proudly while sipping from her wine. “We hired the best of the best for our party. Didn’t we, dear?” She turned to face Father, who was busy picking his teeth with his little finger.

Charming.

“Would you like a toothpick, dear?” Mother offered.

“Nah,” he said, but she’d already asked Elliot, who’d come back to the table with some extra sauce, to bring one.

“That isn’t his job⁠—”

“Nonsense,” Mother cut me off after she dismissed Elliot. “He’s here to answer all your needs, isn’t he?”

That’s an interesting way of putting it…

“He’s here to work as a chef, Mother, and nothing more,” I clarified, voice firm. This lunch was getting worse by the minute, and irritated, I clenched my fist under the table while reminding myself to keep it cool.