Chapter 5 - The Midnight Summons
Ivy gripped the plastic receiver so tightly her knuckles turned chalk-white. The kitchen around her seemed to shrink, the hum of the old refrigerator sounding like a roaring engine.
“How did you get this number?” she asked, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper so Eli wouldn't overhear from the hallway.
“An employer who takes an interest in his staff’s welfare tends to keep thorough records,” Matteo replied calmly on the other end of the line. “Though, in truth, finding the home address and private contact information of an employee at a restaurant I partially fund took my associates approximately four minutes.”
Ivy’s breath caught in her throat. Partially fund? Le Chevalier wasn't just an upscale eatery where wealthy Chicagoans ate expensive steaks; it was anchored in a commercial real estate portfolio tied directly to the city’s most powerful private syndicates.
“Mr. Rinaldi,” Ivy said, struggling to keep her voice level. “If this is about the restaurant, I can handle Colin. I don't need—I don’t want—anyone intervening on my behalf. I've survived four years of working double shifts there without special favors, and I can finish out my week.”
“You misunderstand, Ms. Sharpe,” Matteo’s deep voice cut through her protest with absolute, unshakable authority. “I am not calling to offer you a favor. I am calling to report an audit.”
“An audit?”
“Your shift manager, Mr. Draper, has spent the last three years skimming cash from the private dining room receipts, padding his weekly payroll logs with ghost dishwashers, and creating a hostile work environment designed to drive out competent staff who refuse to participate in his little schemes,” Matteo stated matter-of-factly, as if reading off a grocery list. “My financial controllers uncovered the discrepancies this afternoon. Your manager’s termination was scheduled for the end of the month. However, after witnessing his behavior toward you tonight, I have decided to accelerate the timetable.”
Ivy stood in silence, her mind spinning. Colin was a thief? Colin, who lorded over the host stand like a petty king, was skimming the registers?
“Why are you telling me this?” she whispered.
“Because,” Matteo replied, pausing for a fraction of a second, “tomorrow morning at nine sharp, the general manager of Le Chevalier will receive a revised operational directive. Effective immediately, the position of shift manager will be vacant. And the restaurant requires someone who knows the floor, understands the books, and possesses the rare quality of integrity.”
Ivy’s eyes widened. “Wait. Are you offering me—”
“I am offering you an interview, Ms. Sharpe,” Matteo corrected smoothly. “Nothing more. Bring your resume, your common sense, and your fluency in American Sign Language. I expect punctuality.”
Before Ivy could utter a single syllable of protest, the line clicked dead.
She stood holding the dead receiver for several seconds, the dial tone buzzing in her ear like an angry insect.
Eli walked into the kitchen, signing with a curious frown. Who was on the phone? You look like you just saw a ghost.
May you like
Ivy slowly placed the phone back on the cradle, her hands shaking slightly. She looked at her younger brother—at the bright, resilient spirit that had kept her going through every grueling double shift, every skipped meal, and every condescending smirk from people like Colin Draper.
“Not a ghost, El,” Ivy murmured, a slow, disbelieving smile breaking across her face. “Just a very unusual customer.”
