No Longer the Clown novel · Chapter 7 of 16

Chapter 7: A Dead Man's Signature

"Chef, I didn't touch her."

"I believe you."

"Then why?"

"Because the general manager has sixty emails about you, and three of them are from people who say they'll cancel weddings." He breathed out. "Come in tomorrow at nine. Not to the kitchen. To his office."

I went in at eight.

I went to the kitchen anyway.

Everyone looked up when I walked through the swing doors.

The grill cook at his station. A line cook on garde manger. My two pastry commis, frozen over a bowl of meringue.

Nobody said good morning.

The general manager, the general manager, was already standing by my station.

He had a printed sheet in one hand.

"Ms. Tan. Thank you for coming."

"You could have done this in your office."

"You came here."

"Then do it here."

He glanced at the line cooks.

Then he read it out loud.

"Effective immediately, you are suspended without pay pending review of conduct that has brought public harm to the Harrow brand."

"I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me."

"In a way that was filmed," he said. "At a venue our guests visit."

"She took my grandmother's bracelet."

"I'm sure it was very upsetting." He held out a pen. "Please sign here."

The line cook put her knife down.

"This is garbage," she said.

"Easy," Chef said quietly from the pass.

"It is, Chef. She's been here six years. She worked every Christmas for six years."

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