A Rat?

Back at Hell's Kitchen, the air was filled with a mix of savory aromas and bustling activity. Victor and Lucien were in their usual spots, overseeing the kitchen and the staff. The restaurant had just opened for dinner service, and the first wave of customers was already trickling in. Evelyn, still acclimating, was doing her best to keep up with the orders and the general flow of the evening.

Nyssa was stationed at the prep counter, chopping vegetables with swift precision. "Victor, do you think Evelyn's really going to buy into all of this?" she asked, glancing over at her with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Victor, busy stirring a pot of sauce, nodded slowly. "She's adapting faster than I expected. The amnesia works in our favor; she's less likely to question things if we manage her reintegration carefully."

Lucien entered the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. "She had a bit of a moment earlier. One of the regulars recognized her and mentioned something about her memory. I had to intervene, but it went smoothly."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "And Elise? How's she fitting in?"

Lucien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She's… well, she's Elise. Charming the patrons effortlessly. But I still don't trust her. I always keep a close eye on her."

Victor nodded. "Good. This is getting tiring. Speaking of which, any news on Liam?"

Lucien shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm working on it. That kid's smart, but he's playing a dangerous game. We need to be ready for whatever he throws our way."

Just then, Elise sauntered into the kitchen, her presence immediately commanding attention. She leaned against the doorway, a playful smirk on her lips. "Gentlemen, everything is running smoothly out there. Thought I'd see if you needed any help in here."

Victor shot her a glance but remained focused on his cooking. "We're fine, Elise. Just keep doing what you're doing."

Elise pouted mockingly. "Oh, come on, Victor. Don't be so cold. I'm here to help, after all." She turned to Lucien, her eyes glinting with mischief. "How about you, darling? Need any assistance?"

Lucien bristled slightly but forced a smile. "Just keep the patrons happy, Elise. We have everything under control here."

She winked and blew him a kiss before sauntering back out to the bar. Lucien muttered under his breath, "I swear, if she pulls any stunts…"

Victor chuckled softly. "Relax, Lucien. We'll deal with her if the time comes. For now, let's focus on the service."

Lyra entered the kitchen, balancing a tray of empty glasses. "The bar's doing great, guys. Elise is really drawing in the crowds. We might need to restock sooner than we thought."

Victor glanced at Lyra and nodded. "Good to hear. Keep an eye on her, though. We can't be too careful."

As the night wore on, the restaurant hummed with activity. Evelyn moved through her tasks with increasing confidence, her interactions with the customers becoming more natural. Lucien and Nyssa kept a close eye on her, ready to step in if needed.

Victor, meanwhile, was meticulously preparing the evening's special: minotaur boeuf bourguignon. He narrated the steps to Nyssa as he worked. "I left the meat to marinate overnight in red wine, garlic, and herbs. This not only tenderizes the meat but infuses it with a deep, rich flavor."

Nyssa nodded, jotting down notes. "Got it. What's next?"

Victor continued, expertly slicing the marinated meat. "Next, we sear the meat in a hot pan to form a beautiful crust. Then, we add in the wine marinade, along with some mushrooms, pearl onions, and bacon. It's crucial to let it simmer slowly to allow all the flavors to meld together."

Nyssa watched intently as Victor demonstrated, the aroma filling the kitchen. "And the final touch?"

Victor smiled, adding a sprig of thyme and a bay leaf to the pot. "Patience. Let it cook low and slow. The result is a dish that's both hearty and refined."

The service continued without a hitch, the staff working seamlessly together. Even Elise's charm seemed to be doing wonders for the bar, drawing in more patrons than ever before. Despite his misgivings, Lucien had to admit that she was good at what she did.

As the last customers trickled out, the staff gathered in the kitchen, the exhaustion of the night starting to set in. Evelyn, still a bit wary of Victor, kept her distance but couldn't help but feel a strange sense of belonging.

Victor cleared his throat, addressing the team. "Good work tonight, everyone. We managed to pull off another successful service."

Nyssa nodded, wiping her brow. "Yeah, but we're running low on ingredients again. We need to figure out a more sustainable way to procure them."

Lucien, leaning against the counter, sighed. "I've been thinking about that. Maybe we need to establish a more reliable network. Elise might have some contacts, but we can't rely solely on her."

Victor agreed. "You're not wrong. But we need to stay under the radar. Too much attention could bring everything crashing down...and the black market isn't exactly known for their discretion if the price is good enough." he said dryly.

"You're not thinking that -" Lucien tried to say.

"I'm thinking exactly that." Victor replied.

"Yuno ratted us out?"

"Think about it. That kid has to be getting his information somewhere and, as far as I know, the only loose ends we have outside our own staff is..."

"...the fucking dwarf." Lucien finished the sentence. "Better find a good recipe because we're seeing him for dinner if he did that."

"Actually I have a very good spaghe-" Victor tried to say, interrupted by the door opening.

At that moment, Elise walked in, her usual confident smile in place. "Well, if you boys need a hand with procurement, I might know a few people. For a small fee, of course."

"Stop eavesdropping!" Victor exclaimed.

"But you boys never loop me in." she said in a fake pouty tone that could charm the staunchest of monks.

Lucien rolled his eyes. "Of course. We'll discuss it later."

Victor nodded, calling in the rest of the team. "For now, let's get some rest. We have another busy day ahead."

As they dispersed, Victor couldn't shake the feeling that running Hell's Kitchen was turning out to be far more complicated than he'd anticipated. But with his team – however mismatched they might be – he felt cautiously optimistic.

They just had to stay one step ahead of the game.