Page 83 (1/2)

He’d have to wait and hope they left Of course, if they opened the door, the whole operation would be a bust

—

Natalie Taylor was arguing with the chef in the kitchen next to the ballroom He claimed that there was no record of a cake that was supposed to be delivered to the party

“I didn’t approve that iant novelty cake He’d been flown in from Paris especially for this event

“Mr Mallik himself requested it,” Taylor said in a calm voice “Here, I’ll show you”

She took a piece of paper fronature on it Even Mallik would think it was his own handwriting

The chef exa the entire time

“If you’d like to interrupt Mr Mallik while he’s entertaining guests, I’m sure he’d be happy to come in here and attend to this OrShe’d be perfectly happy for Mallik to come into the kitchen

“You can’t expect me to have his personal number,” the chef said

“No, but I do,” Taylor said, holding out her phone “He said to call him if there was any trouble”

The chef pursed his lips, then shoved the invoice back to her

“Fine When does he want it?”

“Now”

“But we are still serving the hors d’oeuvres!”