Written in Stone Read Online Free PDF Page B

Camille Limoges were swept aside the moment Olivia walked into the kitchen
     of her five-star restaurant. Michel, her head chef, rushed to meet her, grasping a
     cleaver in one hand and piece of raw chicken in the other.
    “Whoa!” Olivia made a sign of surrender. “If you want a raise, you could just ask.”
    Michel glanced at the cleaver as though wondering how he came to be holding it, tossed
     it and the chicken in the nearest sink, and said, “You’ll never believe who called!”
    Knowing Michel’s flair for the dramatic, Olivia replied, “Must be someone special
     to have you in such a state.”
    It wasn’t Michel’s appearance that indicated something significant had happened. The
     kitchen, which Michel ruled over with an iron hand, was a mess. The worktables were
     covered with fruit and raw vegetables, flour was strewn across the butcher block,
     there was a tower of dirty mixing bowls and frying pans in the deep sink, and the
     sous-chefs were unusually edgy. They shot nervous glances at Michel and plaintive
     ones at Olivia. Her chef wanted something and he wanted it badly. If she didn’t give
     in, he’d pout, rage at his underlings, or unwittingly add too much salt to the entrées.
    “Someone special?” Michel scoffed. “How about an executive producer of the Foodie
     Network? He wants us to act as the celebrity judges at the Coastal Carolina Food Festival.”
    Olivia made it clear that she wasn’t impressed.
    “That’s just the beginning!” Michel added breathlessly. “If we agree, they’re going
     to tape an entire segment here at The Boot Top. Do you know what kind of name recognition
     that will bring us?” He was so excited that he was speaking in a high whisper.
    “It would be good for business,” Olivia agreed, and her head chef performed a little
     jig of triumph. Olivia watched him in amusement. “But they’re asking us at the last
     minute. Is there more to this story?”
    “There
is
. They want us to step in because the original celebrity judge had a massive heart
     attack and isn’t well enough to travel. I’ve shed many tears for him since I heard
     the news.” The last phrase was delivered with biting sarcasm.
    “Ah, the ailing judge must be the rich and famous Pierce Dumas, your nemesis,” Olivia
     guessed.
    Michel’s face darkened. He and Dumas had attended culinary school in Paris together.
     They’d been in competition for top chef positions in the finest American restaurants
     until Michel had fallen for a married woman. Despite the cost to his career, he’d
     moved to Raleigh to be near her, and while he was mooning after someone who had no
     intention of leaving her husband, Dumas went on to garner national acclaim for his
     epicurean skills. He worked in Manhattan, Vegas, and Los Angeles and constantly appeared
     in culinary magazines and on food-related television shows.
    Dumas had fame, wealth, and a gorgeous A-list actress wife. Michel, on the other hand,
     had been unceremoniously dumped by his married girlfriend and, battling a serious
     depression, decided to relocate. During his interview for the chef’s position at The
     Boot Top, he’d prepared several dishes for Olivia and she knew right away that Michel
     was the man for the job. Within months of hiring him, she came to realize that he
     had two destructive obsessions: married women and a deep-seated envy of Pierce Dumas.
    “You haven’t mentioned Dumas in over a year,” Olivia reminded Michel. “You’re happy
     where you are. Look at the result of his high-stress lifestyle. A heart attack at
     his age?”
    Michel smiled with delight.
    “You live in paradise and have complete control of this kitchen. You’re the master
     of your realm, the money is good, and you’re healthy. You’re not famous, but fame
     is a curse, believe me.”
    “Well, I’d like my fifteen minutes and I’m going to get it. My mind is stuffed with
     menu ideas that will dazzle the producer.” Michel rubbed his