“Monsieur, your dinner is ready.”
Cédric, the French cook, announced quietly from the doorway of the private study. Cole Edgewood turned slowly from the window he had been gazing out of.
His cook was another reminder of his beautiful late wife, Victoria. She had insisted they interview foreign chefs so she could stand out among her wealthy friends. He never understood why employing a foreign cook made her seem 'chic' in their social circle. Cédric proved the best of them all.
Cole nodded. The cook placed a polished silver tray on his mahogany desk, the aroma of butter and herbs rising from it. His mouth watered. He gazed at the luxurious meal and realised how much he missed dining with Victoria and their son. Now he ate alone—a dinner for one.
“Bon appétit, sir,” Cédric said softly and turned to leave the study when a cloaked figure appeared in the doorway.
Both men were stunned for a second before the figure raised a gun fitted with a silencer and shot Cédric.
Eyes wide in shock, Cole watched his French cook grunt and fall backwards, the side of his head striking a chair with a dull crack. The bullet was lodged right in the centre of his forehead.
“Who are you?” he yelled at the intruder. He rushed toward the drawer attached to his desk but the figure tutted in warning and raised the gun again. Cole froze, his eyes darting between the pointed gun and his Glock resting inside the drawer.
His town was old and quiet. There were hardly any reports of crime until Victoria's murder. The residents had lived without fear. He had never seen the need to have security. At that moment, he regretted it.
The intruder slowly pulled back his hood and Cole couldn't believe his eyes. “How—”
The man's eyes were bloodshot and wild. His malicious grin stretched across his face like the Cheshire cat as he waved the gun between Cole's head and chest.
“You didn't see me coming, Cole, and this arouses me more than the night Victoria and I made love.”
“You bastard!” Cole rushed towards Wolfe Hartmann.
The gun went off again. Cole stumbled, dropping to his knees before falling face down onto the marble floor.
Outside, the siren of approaching patrol cars broke the silence just as the flashing red and blue lights swept past the windows.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece which is a chapter in a thriller series. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "dinner for one". You can follow the attached links to keep up with the story.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Image credit: lElisal