Storm In A Teacup by Fabian Black

Author:Fabian Black [Black, Fabian]
Language: nld
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

Stirring from a sex-sated sleep David reached out a hand to

touch Lin's body, finding nothing but rumpled sheet. He

opened his eyes, blinking a little in the bright light. Lin was

standing in front of the mirrored wardrobe, smoothing down

the front of a white chef's tunic. “What are you doing, love?”

“Getting ready for work.” Lin kept his eyes on his

reflection in the mirror.

David came to full wakefulness, propping himself up on

an elbow. “There is no work. The Venus is closed. I put a notice

up.”

“I know, but it wasn't set in stone.”

“Meaning?”

Lin swallowed. What had seemed reasonable now seemed

foolish, not to mention dangerous. He licked his lips, trying to

affect an air of casual ease. “I changed it.”

“You did what?”

"I changed it, don't be cross, David. I'm fine now."

42

David was on his feet in seconds. Scrabbling among the clothing

on the bedroom floor he located his boxerbriefs, pulling them

on. “How dare you go behind my back like that?”

“You were asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you. I didn’t

think you’d mind, not after…” Lin broke off, his skin colouring

as he realised how bad the words were sounding.

David finished for him, saying coldly, “you thought sex

would have sweetened me up enough to allow you to have your

own way. You thought wrong.”

“I’m perfectly capable of cooking, just a simple menu

tonight in view of the time. DAVID!” Lin let out a cry as his

hand was grabbed and he was jerked out of the room at a speed

that almost had him stumbling.

Keeping a tight grip of Lin’s hand David whisked him

down the stairs.

“I have to open tonight, please, David, please, I have to.”

Lin’s voice rose towards tearful hysteria as they reached the

bottom of the stairs. His hand was let go off and he rubbed it.

“Why won’t you listen to me? I can’t afford to close, not with

competition looming.”

“As yet there is no competition.” David flung open the

heavy front door and unhooked the menu board, uncaring as to

whether any passers by saw him in his underwear. Slamming

the door closed he again grasped Lin by the hand. Marching

him into the kitchen he sat him down at the table and placed the

43

board in front of him, along with a wad of kitchen paper.

“Clean it.”

Lin stared at his neatly worded menu. It was simple in the

extreme, but given the time he’d had to think it up he was

proud of it. Seth, the traitor, had delivered a fine array of

shellfish early that morning. The menu revolved around them.

Shellfish was the fast food of the ocean. It could be turned into

something special in a matter of minutes.

He drew a few deep breaths, trying hard to maintain an air

of cool poise when really he could have hit David over the head

with the board. “People will be expecting me to open now.

Several of them saw me hanging the menu up. I promise not to

get stressed or shout and throw things.”

“You’re already stressed and hysterical about competition

from a nonexistent restaurant. Clean the board.”

Lin leapt to his feet. “You want me to lose my edge, that’s

it isn’t it? You want this other restaurant to be more successful

than mine.

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