Liam's First Mistake

The night at Hell's Kitchen came to a close with the usual bustle of cleanup and closing procedures. The staff worked with practiced efficiency, their movements a dance of familiarity around the kitchen and dining area. Victor, Lucien, Lyra, Nyssa, and Elise gathered in the staff room, their faces reflecting the fatigue of a long day.

Victor leaned against the counter, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room. "Alright, good work tonight, everyone. Before we call it a night, there's something we need to discuss.

Lucien, still in his Lucienne persona, was the first to speak up. "It's about Evelyn, isn't it?"

Victor nodded. "Partly. But also about the customer who talked to her tonight. Lucien, what did you observe?"

Lucien dropped the Lucienne act, his expression turning serious. "His behavior was definitely suspicious. He claimed to be a friend of Liam's and then canceled his order abruptly when Evelyn mentioned her memory loss. It was like he was probing for information." he said, stifling a yawn.

Nyssa frowned. "Do you think he was sent by Liam Ashford to check on Evelyn?"

"Most likely," Victor replied. "Which means Ashford is still keeping tabs on us and trying to gather information."

Elise leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming on the table. "So, what's the plan? We can't have loose ends."

Victor sighed. "Evelyn's reintroduction to the restaurant has been smooth so far, but we need to keep a close watch. As for Harold and Liam, we need to be proactive. Lucien, I want you to follow Harold and find out what he's up to."

Lucien nodded, his expression grim. "Understood."

Nyssa looked concerned. "And what about Evelyn? She's bound to encounter more people who might recognize her. We can't keep her in the dark forever."

Victor ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn. "We'll handle it gradually. For now, we focus on keeping her safe and ensuring she doesn't stumble upon anything that could trigger her memories."

Elise smirked. "Or we could fabricate some new memories for her. Make her think she's been with us longer than she has. It's not like we haven't done it before."

Lucien shot her a glare. "We're not messing with her mind any more than we already have. She's been through enough."

Victor held up a hand to quell the rising tension. "Let's keep our options open. We need to be strategic about this. In the meantime, we need to ensure that the restaurant runs smoothly without drawing any more unwanted attention."

As they wrapped up the meeting, the atmosphere was tense but resolved. Victor gave Lucien a nod, signaling the end of the discussion.

Just as they were about to disperse, a knock on the back door interrupted them. The room fell silent, and Victor's eyes narrowed. "Who could that be at this hour?"

Lucien moved cautiously to the door, peering through the peephole. He turned back to the group, his expression one of surprise mixed with suspicion. "It's Evelyn."

Victor straightened up, exchanging a quick glance with Nyssa and Elise. "Let her in."

Evelyn entered, looking disoriented and a bit pale. She seemed to have been wandering, and her eyes held a mixture of confusion and determination. "I… I needed to talk to you all."

Victor gestured for her to sit. "Of course, Evelyn. What's on your mind?"

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "I've been having these… flashes. Not memories, exactly, but feelings. And tonight, when that man mentioned this Liam person, something clicked. I need to know what's going on."

Lucien and Victor exchanged a look, realizing they couldn't keep her in the dark much longer. They needed to be careful, but honest enough to keep her from digging too deep on her own.

Victor sighed, sitting across from her. "Evelyn, you've been through a lot. More than you can remember right now. But we're here to help you. We'll explain everything, piece by piece. Just trust us, alright?"

Evelyn nodded slowly, the uncertainty still clouding her eyes but tempered by a hint of relief. "Okay. I trust you."

"Liam Ashford is a noble who's been a frequent customer as of late. Despite his youth, or perhaps because of it, he's been...enamored with you." Elise said, holding Evelyn's hand with a look of sympathy that anyone - except for Lucien - would believe.

"He is?" Evelyn replied, surprised.

"Yes, sweetie," Elise continued. "The man who showed up here earlier works for him...we didn't want to mention it so soon, but we suspect he had something to do with your accident." she concluded.

Evelyn looked around, mortified. "Am I in danger?" she asked.

"Of course not!" Victor retorted. "We've been through so much together, you're like family to us. Liam Ashford and anyone related to him will be permanently banned from the restauren - Lucien, please see to this."

"Yes, chef!" Lucien replied with a mock military salute.

Meanwhile:

Liam strode through the bustling marketplace, his disguise impeccable as always. He wore a simple cloak that shrouded his features, and his gait was deliberately unremarkable. To the casual observer, he was just another young boy navigating the crowded streets. But his mind was racing with thoughts and strategies.

He had sent Harold to gather information, and the news he received had been both enlightening and troubling. Evelyn's amnesia was an unexpected twist, but it also presented a unique opportunity.

As he approached the hidden entrance to the black market, he couldn't help but mutter to himself. "If I can't leverage Evelyn's memories, I'll need another way in. Victor and Lucien are cautious, but everyone has a weakness."

Liam moved through the black market with practiced ease, greeting familiar faces with curt nods and sharp glances. He made his way to a secluded corner where a particularly well-connected informant operated.

"Ah, Master Liam," the informant greeted him with a sly smile. "What brings you to these dark alleys tonight?"

Liam pulled back his hood, revealing his youthful face. "Information, as always. I need to know more about the operations of Hell's Kitchen. Especially any dirt on Victor Delacroix and Lucien Duval."

The informant's eyes gleamed with interest. "You're playing a dangerous game, young master. But I might have something that could help. It'll cost you, though."

Liam handed over a small pouch of gold without hesitation. "Consider it an investment."

The informant weighed the pouch in his hand before tucking it away. "Word on the street is that Victor has been sourcing some 'special' ingredients from some rather unsavory contacts. Exotic creatures, rare herbs, you name it. The transactions are conducted by a woman named Elise Dubois. She seems to be some kind of demon." he concluded.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Elise… interesting. Anything else?"

"Just a piece of advice. Don't get involved with these people, young master. You might have good intentions but this won't end well for you."

Liam nodded, processing the information. "I appreciate the advice, but I can handle myself. Just keep your ears open, and I'll make it worth your while."

As he exited the black market, Liam's mind was already formulating his next steps. Elise's presence was a complication, but also a potential asset. He needed to understand her role and leverage it to his advantage - it had already deviated from the novel, where they rejected her at first and she joined them much later. Evelyn being out of commission had forced their hand.

Returning to his residence, Liam found Harold waiting for him. "Master Liam," Harold began, "I have more news. Evelyn interacted with several regulars tonight. They seem to believe her memory loss is genuine."

"Good," Liam replied, a smile playing on his lips. "That means she's still in the dark. I'd rather not involve her further in this."

Harold nodded, looking slightly apprehensive. "What's the next move, sir?"

Liam sat down at his desk, pulling out a map of the city and marking key locations. "We'll continue to gather intel on the rest of Hell's Kitchen's staff, and particularly Elise Dubois. I want to know her routines, her weaknesses. And we need to find a way to isolate her. She's the key to all of this."

As the night wore on, Liam meticulously outlined his plans. The stakes were high, and the game had become more dangerous than ever. But he was determined to see it through, to bring down Victor and expose Hell's Kitchen for what it truly was.

His eyes flicked to the small, locked drawer in his desk. Inside were letters, maps, and a journal detailing every twisted aspect of Hell's Kitchen. His favorite character's death was still fresh in his mind, a driving force behind his every move.

"Victor Delacroix," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Your time is running out."