Susy turned her head and shot Marina a cold, cutting look
The Grand Riverview Hotel belonged to the Fraser family now. Tonight’s dinner her show to host a banquet thrown for Queen Elizabeth of Frostvale
She’d paid a small fortune for that enormous king crab from the Bering Sea hoping
to win the Queen’s favor and persuade her to increase her investment in the undersea tunnel project.
But when it came time to serve the crab, it wasn’t a professional chef who showe up to carve it, but Niamh.
Worse yet, there weren’t even any proper crab–cracking tools prepared
Susy wasn’t stupid, she could spot a setup a mile away. This had Marines fingerprints all over it.
When it came to making things difficult for Niamh, Susy and Marina were usually on the same side. After all, your enemy’s enemy is your friend.
But that didn’t mean Susy trusted Marina. If Marina didn’t have Jonathan backing her, her family’s status wouldn’t even earn her a seat at the same table.
Marina pretended not to notice Susy’s icy glare, keeping that ever–present smile plastered on her face like a mask she couldn’t take off.
Of course, Marina was the one who’d asked the restaurant manager to send Niamh in to carve the crab. She’d also slipped word to the kitchen staff to remove every crab cracker and pick.
Even if Niamh now turned and asked the kitchen for help, they’d only tell her thatt the tools had mysteriously gone missing.
Marina just wanted to make Niamh squirm, to watch her embarrass herself diff Niamh somehow ended up annoying Queen Elizabeth, it would be Susy–not Marina–who took the blame.
As Niamh hesitated at the table, Jonathan rose abruptly.
“I’ll do it,” he announced.
The words made Marina’s heart skip. Was Jonathan feeling protective of Niamh again?
“As the only gentleman here, it’s my duty to handle the crab,” Jonathan said
smoothly, all quiet confidence and poise.
Queen Elizabeth clapped her hands in delight. “Mr. Thomas, ever the gentleman! How impressive.”
Jonathan hefted the dinner knife. With his strength, even a regular knife could do the job.
“No need,” Niamh replied, turning to him with professional calm and gesturing politely. “Sir, please have a seat.”
Jonathan’s eyes chilled. He lowered his voice: “Don’t try to be a hero.”
Queen Elizabeth watched in silence, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. She was beginning to suspect that Jonathan knew this young waitress from somewhere.
But Niamh only flashed Jonathan a composed, confident smile.
With a quiet sigh, Jonathan handed her the knife. Niamh didn’t take it. He could only sit back down, though the lines of tension remained etched in his brow.
Niamh’s gaze drifted from Jonathan to Marina. She knew perfectly well this was Marina’s scheme–Susy wouldn’t risk her reputation as host for a petty joke.
Marina rested her chin in one hand, waiting to enjoy the spectacle. She was eager to see how Niamh would manage to tackle the crab bare–handed.
Turning to Queen Elizabeth, Niamh switched instantly to flawless Frostvale–the Queen’s native language–and politely requested two steak knives, one of which was strikingly sharp.
The Queen’s face lit up in surprise. “You speak Frostvale? How wonderful!”
The language was rarely heard outside their country; most Frostvale nationals used English abroad.
The three–Jonathan, Marina, and Susy–stared at Niamh in astonishment, Jonathan most of all.
Sitting beside him, Marina couldn’t help but notice the way Jonathan’s eyes glimmered with delight.
Marina quickly covered, “Ms. Fraser really is thorough–even the staff are trained in Frostvale.”
Queen Elizabeth’s expression cleared. “Oh, I see! Ms. Fraser, you’ve thought of everything.”
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Chapter4Y
Susy smiled demurely. “It’s nothing, just part of the job.”
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