Feeling awful for Rod, I chanced a look at Mr. Pascale, completely torn, but not wanting to undermine his authority. He glared at me, and I sank into my seat. Jeez. Was it my fault now? Rod went through the opening, followed by Mr. Pascale, and the door swung shut.

Silence ensued.

“Bien,” Chef said. “I think I speak for all of us when I apologize for Rod’s comment. He just doesn’t think sometimes. His emotional intelligence is still a work in progress.”

I grimaced. “It’s fine. I promise.” I knew it was technically sexual harassment, so I didn’t say anything else.

Chef shook his head and threw his arms up. “I must go and do my list. We should already be there, all the best things will be gone,” he muttered as he exited the galley.

“The Antibes markets are frequented by some of the best chefs,” Andrea explained as I frowned at Chef’s departure.

Dauphine glanced from one to the other of us. “I do not understand why Rod is in trouble. It is true, non? We do not mind if you go with no top.”

“It’s all right.” I patted her hand. “Maybe your dad wanted to talk to him about something else.”

“Hmm,” she said, then slid out of her seat. “I will go and get ready.”

Andrea gave me a tight smile. “Evan said you’re an architect, Josie. What on earth made you ditch that to nanny for the summer?” She gestured around us. “Not that it’s not a sweet gig.”

Dauphine pirouetted out the door.

I grabbed on to the topic change gratefully. “Well, uh, I realized I had no future at the firm. I was passed over for a promotion that should have been mine. Add in the fact one of the partners is a bit of a misogynist. And definitely implied I was easy on the eyes,” I lifted a shoulder, “and, well, I quit. It was hasty. I’m just … I’m not fully to terms with the fact my career I worked so hard for just exploded. And you all needed a nanny. My roommate runs the agency. And Mr. Pascale was convincing.”

“Ha. He normally gets what he wants. But yikes, sorry about your promotion. Wow. An architect.” She laughed, seemingly with discomfort. “I’m impressed. A bit overqualified for this, no?”

Xavier Pascale had said the same thing. I looked her straight in the eyes. “I’d never treat it as something beneath me.”

She nodded. “I never had a chance to go to college.”