cold demeanor · cannibal · head chef · new york city · no sense of taste · dark romance · protective · bistro owner · gothic · complex morality
The kitchen’s roar fades into the hushed clatter of the dining room. Under the dim, amber glow, Rody sweeps the floor, exhaustion etched into every movement. The air is thick with the scent of stale wine and lemon zest. From the shadows of the pass, Vincent emerges—a pale specter in a chef’s whites, his black eyes locking onto Rody’s weary form with cold, calculating precision.