Esmee repeatedly took deep breaths while wiping the sweat that dripped down her forehead. She also kept looking at the clock on the wall in the kitchen. Esmee wanted to close the restaurant quickly because she seemed tired.
"Hey, are you okay?" asked William, who passed behind Esmee and caught Esmee's slightly wobbly body.
Esmee straightened herself and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
But William didn't believe it. He bent his body slightly and watched Esmee's blushing face. William frowned and then put the back of his hand on Esmee's forehead.
"You have a little fever," William said.
"I'm fine," said Esmee.
William straightened up again. "I will tell Marie to close the restaurant early."
Esmee held William's arm, who was about to go to see Marie. "I am alright. Okay?"
William approached Esmee and glared at her. "You want them to know that you work part-time?"
Esmee was silent.
"Then let go of your hand and let me tell Marie to close the restaurant early," William said firmly.
Esmee slowly let go of William's hand and let him go to meet Marie, who was in the restaurant. Esmee couldn't help but take a deep breath when she saw William coming out of the kitchen. She then returned to preparing food for the restaurant diners.
----
William approached Marie, who was opening the door for diners. "I need to talk to you for a moment."
Marie glanced at William. "What's wrong? You don't usually come out of the kitchen like this."
"Don't open the door to visitors again. The restaurant closed early today," William replied.
"Esmee asked for it?" asked Marie.
"Of course, Esmee asked for it. She told me to pass it on to you," William said.
"Why so suddenly?" said Marie.
William shrugged. "Just do as Esmee asks."
William then left Marie and returned to the kitchen. William's eyes suddenly caught a familiar figure as he stepped into the kitchen. An older man whose hair had almost turned white was sitting on one of the benches in the restaurant. The older man then nodded slowly at William.
"Why is Dimitri eating here?" William muttered in his heart. He looked away as Dimitri nodded at him and hurried into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Dimitri softly laughed as William returned to the kitchen. In all his life serving Hunter's family, he had never seen William look so relaxed. Even William's face, which always looked sullen, now looked more friendly than usual.
----
Marie rushed to the kitchen after serving the last guest at D'Amelie's restaurant. As soon as she entered the kitchen, Marie was surprised to see Esmee, who looked pale at the dining table.
"What's going on with you, Esmee?" asked Marie as she approached Esmee.
Esmee smiled crookedly at Marie. "I just feel a little tired."
"It's impossible just to be tired when you're this pale," said Marie. She then put the back of her hand on Esmee's forehead.
"Good grief! You have a fever, sweetheart," cried Marie.
"It's okay, Marie. I need a little sleep, and I'll be fine after that," Esmee said.
Marie took a deep breath. "I find it hard to go home when you are like this."
"I'll be fine. Go home. There's no one to take care of your sister when you're here with me," Esmee said.
Marie then called Sven. "Sven! Are you busy tonight?"
Sven, cleaning the kitchen with William, turned to Marie. "Why? My son is alone at home. My mother went to see her family in Lyon."
Marie took a deep breath after hearing the answer given by Sven. She then looked at Esmee.
Esmee nodded slowly at Marie. "You don't seem to know me. The fever is nothing. I just need to rest."
Marie worriedly looked at the pale Esmee. But she also has a younger sister she must take care of at home. Marie's eyes accidentally looked at the clock on the wall in the kitchen, and she cursed softly. "Damn it."
"Hurry home, Marie. Your sister must be waiting for you," Esmee asked Marie.
"Promise me you'll call me if things get worse. I will bring my sister here, and we will take care of you," said Marie.
Esmee laughed while nodding her head. Marie took a deep breath while rubbing Esmee's head. "Then I'll go home first. Don't forget to let me know."
Once again, Esmee nodded while smiling at Marie. "Careful."
"Sven, William, ensure all the doors are locked before you go home!" Marie said before leaving the kitchen.
William and Sven looked at Marie for a while, then nodded. After that, Marie walked away from the kitchen. Not long after Marie left the kitchen, Sven, who had finished cleaning it, checked the restaurant's front door and immediately locked it. Afterward, he said goodbye to Esmee and left through the back door.
"You're not coming home?" Esmee asked William, who was still in the kitchen.
"I want to ensure you're resting in your room," William replied.
Esmee chuckled when she heard William's answer. She then answered William's words. "Very well, Monsieur. I'll be right back in my room."
William chuckled when he saw Esmee standing up from her seat and walking out of the kitchen.
"Don't forget to lock the back door," Esmee said as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Rest in your room. I'll recheck everything before I go home," William said.
Esmee walked out of the kitchen, holding onto the wall. She suddenly felt dizzy as soon as she got up from her seat. Esmee paused as soon as she reached the kitchen door and took a deep breath.
Seeing Esmee stop at the kitchen door, William quickly walked over to her. William grabbed Esmee's hand and opened the kitchen door. He then led Esmee out of the kitchen.
"How about I take you to the Doctor? There must be a clinic around here," said William.
Esmee shook her head slowly. "I just need to sleep."
William took a deep breath.
"Hey, what are you doing?" cried Esmee when William suddenly lifted her.
"I want to take you to your room," William said. He then walked up the stairs to Esmee's room above the restaurant while carrying Esmee.
Esmee sighed. She no longer fought William and let him carry her upstairs. Once upstairs, William put Esmee down on her bed.
"Thank you very much, Will," Esmee said.
William raised the blanket to cover Esmee's body. "Tell Pierre you are not coming to the club tonight. I'll get you some medicine."
"Thank you again," said Esmee.
William nodded slowly. He then left Esmee's room to buy medicine for her.
****