Chapter 4

The old brand was off the table, so Joseph had someone cover the signage that same day.

The next day, reservations opened as usual. Twelve seats, gone in under three minutes.

Jade posted a screenshot of the booking dashboard.

"Thank you, everyone."

Someone commented:

"People will pay for the best chef anywhere he goes."

She replied:

"So in the end, what keeps guests coming back is the food."

Steve called me that same day. He told me the other two investors were pulling out of the new place.

"You're gone, the brand's gone. They think the risk is too high."

I asked, "And you?"

"I'll hold off for now."

He gave a short laugh.

"But credit where it's due, Joseph really isn't short on customers right now."

"First month's already almost fully booked."

I said, "Good for him."

Steve went quiet instead.

"You're not angry?"

"Why would I be?"

Whether the new place made it had never been the thing I wanted to prove.

That afternoon, I went to meet with a restaurant group.

They'd approached me two years ago. Back then I hadn't even asked about terms.

Because Joseph had said:

"You've got your own restaurant and you'd rather go work for someone else?"

This time, the man across from me slid a file over.

"We've got a location that's lost money three months running."

"If you come on board, it's the first project we hand you."

I'd just opened to the first page when my phone rang.

The wedding planner.

"Ms. Pruitt, Mr. James says the banquet menu gets its final sign-off today."

"When will you be here?"

I froze for a second.

These past days I'd moved out, quit, killed the brand license.

Joseph hadn't brought up the wedding once. I'd assumed he at least knew something was wrong between us.

Turned out he didn't.

By the time I reached the wedding company, Joseph was already there.

So was Jade.

Seven or eight tasting plates sat on the table, and she had her chopsticks in a piece of fish.

"This sauce is too heavy."

"With this many tables at a banquet, you want to let the ingredients speak for themselves."

Joseph nodded.

"Change it."

I stood in the doorway and watched for a few seconds.

Jade noticed me first.

"You're here."

She set her chopsticks down fast.

"Joseph said you don't usually deal with the kitchen, so I came to help you two taste the menu."

She pointed at one of the dishes.

"I already tried this one for you. It's not right for a banquet."

Joseph handed me the guest list.

"Go through the dietary restrictions and special requests again."

I didn't take it.

"Why is she here?"

Joseph frowned.

"I told you, didn't I? She's helping with the tasting."

Like I was being unreasonable again.

"Vivien, given everything going on, can you not drag Jade into every single thing?"

Jade stood up at once.

"Joseph, maybe I should just go."

That's what she said, but her hand was still pressed on that menu.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I won't be involved from now on."

Joseph's face only darkened.

"She doesn't know any of this. If you go, who's going to taste it?"

I laughed, all at once.

The wedding planner stood off to the side, looking at me, then at them.

Nobody said anything.

I took off my ring.

Joseph froze.

"What are you doing?"

"The wedding's off."

His face dropped.

"Vivien."

"Restaurant business stays with the restaurant. You have to bring it to the wedding?"

I looked at him. So even now, he still thought I was just making a scene.

The restaurant could be discussed with Jade.

The new place could be run by Jade.

Even our own banquet, she could sit here and taste for me, while all I had to do was tidy up the guests' dietary restrictions at the end.

Still operations.

Still an employee.

I pushed the banquet list back at him.

"I'm not making a scene."

"We're not getting married."