Sven suddenly nudged William's arm while they were enjoying their lunch break in the kitchen. "You look upset, Will."
William turned to Sven and glanced at him. "Nope."
"But you look like someone upset ever since that guy helped us in the kitchen," Sven teased.
William chuckled. "It's just your thoughts."
Sven glanced back at William. "Why were you playing with your lunch earlier?"
"Stop your bullshit, Sven," William said as he looked at Marie and the two waitresses watching their conversation.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear it. So are you, right?" said Marie while glancing at her fellow waitresses.
They both nodded their heads.
Marie then resumed her speech. "All the words in this kitchen will not pass through the door. Take it easy, Will."
"Why do you say that, Marie?" William asked.
Marie looked at William. "Admit it if you're annoyed by Esmee's closeness to that guy."
William chuckled. "Nonsense."
"Is that man Esmee's lover? They both look very close. That man even helped us here," exclaimed Sven.
Marie shrugged her shoulders.
Sven frowned. "You don't know that Esmee has a boyfriend? Aren't you two friends since childhood?"
Marie turned her attention to Sven with a deep sigh. "I never interfere in Esmee's personal affairs. After all, Esmee is not always open to her personal affairs. She's been very secretive lately."
Sven nodded. "Maybe because she has a boyfriend. She's forgotten about you."
Marie threw the napkin at Sven after she heard Sven's words. William suddenly stood up and walked to the sink to put down his leftover plates. He washed his plate of food and walked to the back door.
"Wash your dishes after you eat," William said to Sven and the others before William closed the back door.
Sven and Marie looked at William in unison and nodded their heads. The two of them spoke again after William came out of the kitchen.
"You saw that, Marie? William looks annoyed," said Sven.
Marie nodded her head. "Maybe he likes Esmee."
Marie and Sven, along with two other waitresses, then giggled. They continued their lunch while William went out.
----
William leaned against the wall at the back of D'Amelie's restaurant and took a sip of his cigarette. He exhaled his cigarette smoke into the air and took a deep breath. William then took out his cell phone and called Charles.
"What's up, Will?" asked Charles.
"Look up information about the Head Cook at the club where Esmee works," William replied.
"What is it? All of a sudden," said Charles.
"Look for information about the Chief Cook there. I have a bad feeling about the Head Cook in that place," William said.
"What's going on?"
"Looks like the Head Cook of that place came here. Esmee and that guy look close."
"You are jealous?" said Charles.
William took a deep breath. "I'm not jealous or anything. Think of it as a signal between fellow assholes. I don't think he's a nice guy."
Charles chuckled after hearing William's words. "Umm, fine. There are more?"
"Have people keep an eye on the club where Esmee works. Especially the Head Cook over there."
"Okay. There are more?"
"Do your job well." William hung with Charles.
William then finished the rest of his cigarette and returned to the restaurant immediately. Sven and the others were tidying up their leftover lunch when he came in. William put back on his apron, took out the groceries he had not cleaned, and started to work.
----
After the lunch break, Pierre was still helping Esmee in D'Amelie's kitchen. William keeps watching him, who is always trying to touch Esmee. William's eyes did not leave the man.
Whether it's accidentally touching Esmee's hand when he is receiving something from Esmee, smoothing Esmee's hair that hangs on her forehead, or even standing behind Esmee openly and making gestures like hugging the girl.
"Esmee!" call William.
Pierre directly turned from behind Esmee and let her turn to William. "Looks like your workers need some help."
"What's going on, William?" Esmee asked as she walked over to William.
William sighed. He didn't know what was going on. His mouth reflexively called out to Esmee when he saw Pierre as if he was hugging the girl from behind.
"Hmmm," William muttered as he looked around him. He tried to find the reason why he had summoned Esmee.
"Here. How should I cut the meat?" William used the meat he was about to cut into pieces as an excuse.
"Ooh. I think you're causing trouble," said Esmee.
Esmee then took the meat that William was holding. She then gave an example of how William had to cut meat for a beef bourguignon dish.
"First, you must cut the meat according to the meat's flow. After that, you cut it into cubes. It will be easier to cut. Use the top of your finger as a benchmark if you need clarification about the size.
William watched Esmee demonstrate how to cut meat to make beef bourguignon. Meanwhile, Pierre clucked in the distance to see William and Esmee.
"How? You can do it already, right?" Esmee asked William after she finished demonstrating how to cut meat to William.
William nodded.
"Anything else you want to ask?" Esmee asked William again.
William glanced at the kitchen table and tried to find another excuse. But he didn't see his reason and finally shook his head at Esmee. "No, Merci."
"Esmee! Your broth is almost done!" shouted Pierre.
Esmee turned to Pierre and went straight to him. Meanwhile, Pierre smiled slyly at William when Esmee came back to him.
William snorted when he saw Pierre, who was tasting Esmee's broth. Pierre's attitude towards Esmee disgusted William. It was apparent the man was trying to get close to Esmee. Pierre deliberately uses the excuse of helping Esmee in D'Amelie's kitchen to tease Esmee.
----
"Thank you very much, Pierre," Esmee said as she ushered Pierre out of the restaurant.
Pierre nodded and smiled kindly at Esmee. "Tell me if you need help. I'd be happy to help you."
Esmee smiled back at Pierre. "I can't afford an employee with your qualifications."
Pierre laughed. "You don't have to pay me."
Esmee smiled as she looked at Pierre. "Thank you again."
Pierre smiled widely at Esmee. "Then see you at the club."
Esmee nodded, and Pierre immediately walked away from D'Amelie's restaurant. After Pierre left the restaurant, Esmee finally went back into the restaurant.
Marie grabbed Esmee and pulled her hand away. "Is he your lover? Tell me."
Esmee laughed in response to Marie's question. "If he's my lover, you'll be the first to know, Marie."
"So he's not your girlfriend?" asked Marie.
Esmee shook her head.
"I am home!" exclaimed William suddenly.
Esmee was about to answer William's words, but when she turned around, William was already outside the restaurant. Marie chuckled softly at William's attitude.
"William seems annoyed to see the man here," Marie said to Esmee.
Esmee turned back towards the door of the restaurant. She then laughed softly, shaking her head. "That's on your mind, Marie."
"Esmee. I'm sure he has an interest in you. But he can't express it. You should pay attention to his attitude when you're with Pierre," explained Marie.
Esmee chuckled as she patted Marie's arm. "You read too many romance stories."
Marie watched her while shaking her head. "You should be a little more sensitive."
Esmee chuckled. Then she left Marie and headed upstairs to her restaurant to get ready.
****
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