Served with a Side of Trouble

Served with a Side of Trouble- Part Two

Luca's shoulders relaxed the moment he stepped into the kitchen. The rest of the Deveraux estate had been intimidating—all polished marble and priceless artwork that made him hyperaware of his worn jeans and secondhand car in the circular driveway. But kitchens, no matter how fancy, spoke a language he understood.

And this kitchen was extraordinary. Morning light streamed through windows that overlooked immaculate gardens, illuminating commercial-grade appliances that must have cost more than a year's rent on his apartment. Luca ran his fingertips along the edge of a marble countertop, cool and smooth beneath his touch. La Cornue range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, a knife collection that would make his former chef instructor weep with envy—this place was a culinary playground disguised as a workspace.

"Focus, Reyes," he muttered to himself, setting his worn backpack on the counter. He had forty minutes before his official start time, just enough to unpack and organize before meeting the infamous Julian Deveraux.

Julian Deveraux. Even the name sounded pretentious. Carlos from security hadn't minced words when Luca had called him last night.

"The kid's a nightmare," Carlos had said, voice low as if the walls themselves might be listening. "Spoiled, entitled, thinks the world revolves around him. Bernard wasn't the first chef to leave suddenly, and you won't be the last."

"But what actually happened with Bernard?" Luca had pressed, knowing he needed all the information possible before walking into this situation.

The hesitation on the other end of the line had told him something was off. "Look, man, I can't really say much. But... check the security footage from the kitchen, three nights ago, around 11 PM. Central security archives. Password is still DevereauxEstate2020. Should tell you what you need to know."

Luca had stayed up late watching that footage, stomach tightening as the scene unfolded. The young man—Julian—entering the kitchen. The conversation with Chef Bernard that turned into something else. The kiss. The rejection. The ugly accusations that followed. By the time Julian had stormed out, leaving Bernard pale-faced and shaking, Luca had known exactly what kind of situation he was walking into.

Now, unzipping his knife roll on the pristine counter, Luca weighed his options. He could pretend ignorance, try to stay under the radar. But that approach had never suited him. Better to establish boundaries immediately, make it clear he wasn't someone who could be manipulated or threatened.

Elena would tell him to walk away. His sister had practically begged him not to take this job, especially after he'd told her about the footage. "You always do this," she'd said, exasperation clear even through the phone. "You always think you can handle these rich people and their drama."

Maybe she was right. But the Deveraux position paid triple his last salary. Enough to cover Rafa's college application fees and Sophia's dance camp this summer. Enough to finally fix the leaking roof in their grandmother's house.

Luca arranged his knives in precise order, each one a testament to years of saving, working, sacrificing. The 8-inch chef's knife he'd bought with his first paycheck. The santoku Elena had given him for his eighteenth birthday, wrapping paper hiding the fact that she'd purchased it secondhand. The paring knife with the handle worn smooth from years of use.

Family. That's what this was all about. Not some spoiled kid with boundary issues and too much money. Luca had dealt with difficult people before; he could handle one more if it meant security for his siblings.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. Luca straightened his shoulders, arranging his face into an expression of calm confidence that had served him well in high-pressure kitchens across the city. First impressions mattered. He would be professional, competent, and absolutely clear about where the lines were drawn.