Chapter 10
He did not wait for agreement. He pushed open the heavy door and walked down the corridor. Behind him came the faint squeak of Tessa’s damaged sneaker. She followed because she did not believe she had a choice. The staff dining hall was empty. The guards had finished eating and returned to their posts. Carmine was in the back pantry taking inventory. The enormous stainless-steel counters shone beneath harsh fluorescent lights. Zo pointed toward a heavy wooden stool beside the center island. “Sit.” Tessa sat. She looked impossibly small inside the enormous industrial kitchen. Her gray uniform was damp with sweat. Zo walked to the warming ovens. He took out a fresh plate of veal piccata resting in lemon-caper butter. Then he filled a clean bowl with roasted potatoes and garlic green beans. He placed the steaming food in front of her. Beside it, he set a heavy silver fork. “Eat.”
Tessa stared at the plate. The smell alone seemed to make her dizzy. Her stomach released a loud, hollow growl. She flushed with embarrassment. But she did not pick up the fork. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I have to get home. Mia is waiting for me. I promised I’d bring dinner.” Mia. The child had a name. “Carmine.” Zo’s voice carried across the kitchen. The chef appeared from the pantry, wiping his hands on a towel. He saw Zo and immediately straightened. Then he noticed the maid sitting at the counter and frowned in confusion. “Boss?” “Pack a hot box.” Zo did not look away from Tessa. “I want a full tray of veal. A tray of potatoes. Fresh bread. The good cheese. Whatever fruit you have in the walk-in.” He paused. “Pack it to go. Now.” Carmine did not ask questions. He nodded and disappeared into the cooler.
Zo rested both hands on the stainless-steel counter, bringing himself closer to Tessa’s eye level. “He is packing food for your daughter. Enough for the rest of the week.” Tessa stared at him. “You are going to sit here and eat that plate. You are not leaving this kitchen until it is gone.” Her lower lip trembled. She looked at Zo. Then at the food. “Why are you doing this?” “Because you work in my house.” His answer was simple. “And nobody in my house starves.”
