Chapter 3

Whenever Julian stayed out drinking late, I used to stay awake all night worrying sick about his safety, clutching my phone by the bed.

I was done degrading myself like that.

I lay down and, for the first time in years without the crushing pressure of the kitchen, slept like a baby.

Half an hour later, the bedroom door was violently kicked open with a deafening bang.

I woke up with a jolt.

Julian stood over the bed, his face twisted in pure rage. "Scarlett, have you lost your damn mind?! You hung up on me and refused to pick me up?!"

Groggy and annoyed, I pushed the covers aside and sat up.

"Didn't you just go public with Chloe? Have your precious girlfriend drive you home."

I was merely stating a fact, but Julian suddenly scoffed.

"Are you seriously throwing a jealous fit over that? God, Scarlett, I have never met a woman as petty as you! But..."

He paused, his chest puffing up with arrogance. "Since you clearly care so much, I'll throw you a bone. There's nothing going on between Chloe and me. That post was just a PR stunt to boost the restaurant's engagement."

He leaned closer, the pungent stench of cigarette smoke burning my nostrils.

Julian didn't smoke. That was Chloe’s favorite brand of clove cigarettes.

He kept droning on, completely pleased with himself. "Tomorrow morning, go apologize to Chloe. Once she forgives you, I'll let you have your job back in the kitchen."

The smug smirk on his face showed he was dead certain I would jump at the chance.

Instead, I scowled and shoved him away.

"Not happening. Get out."

I stood up and headed straight for the guest bedroom.

Behind me, Julian shouted hysterically, "Scarlett! Keep playing these stupid games and see where it gets you! Just you wait!"

Without looking back, I locked the guest room door and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I stretched and stepped out into the living room.

Julian was sitting at the kitchen island, looking unnervingly calm and gentle, like a doting husband waiting for his bride.

In front of him sat two takeout bowls of gourmet wonton soup.

One of them had already been opened.

Catching sight of me, Julian flashed a tender smile toward the hallway behind me:

"Chloe, hurry up! The soup is getting cold!"

I turned around. Chloe stepped out wearing nothing but a bath towel, drying her wet hair. Seeing me, she smiled sweetly.

"Good morning, Chef Scarlett! Julian and I worked up quite a sweat exercising last night, so I borrowed your shower. You don't mind, right?"

She paused, glancing at the island. "Wait, Julian, why did you only get two bowls? Didn't you buy any for Scarlett?"

Julian scoffed coldly. "She doesn't deserve it. Come here, Chloe. Let me feed you."

He scooped up a wonton and fed it to her, shooting me a triumphant, mocking smirk.

Looking at his pathetic smugness, I saw right through him. He was trying to provoke me, desperate to watch me break down in a jealous rage so he could sit on his high horse and bask in my obsession with him.

He used to pull this trick all the time. But it wouldn't work anymore.

Without a word, I walked right past them and left the apartment.

Even though I was done with The Grand Mirage, I had to make one final trip.

Months ago, to help the restaurant gain the prestige it needed for an upcoming buyout, I practically begged the legendary culinary master, Chef Harrison, to visit and give us his endorsement.

No matter what, I had to settle that before cutting ties completely.

When I arrived at the restaurant, a massive crowd had already gathered outside.

Word had leaked that Chef Harrison was coming, and food critics from all over the city were waiting eagerly.

The restaurant had been hyping up this visit on social media for weeks, but none of them knew that I was the one who pulled the strings.

Naturally, everyone credited Chloe.

To my surprise, Chloe had arrived before me.

The moment I stepped through the doors, I heard staff members fawning over her.

"Chloe is seriously amazing! She got our name out there so well that even the legendary Chef Harrison is coming!"

Others immediately chimed in:

"Seriously! And that line cook Scarlett actually thought she could compete with Chloe. Talk about completely delusional."

Basking in the flattery, Chloe preened like a peacock.

"Oh, don't be too harsh on her. If Scarlett hadn't pushed me out of the kitchen because she felt threatened, I wouldn't have focused on social media and made us blow up like this."

A chorus of sneers followed.

"She was just jealous! Who the hell does Scarlett think she is, trying to measure up to you, Chloe?"

While they were busy kissing her ass, I walked right into the dining room.

"Well, well. Isn't that Scarlett? I thought you quit. What are you doing creeping back here?"

"She probably heard Chef Harrison is visiting and wants to ride Chloe’s coattails!" They stared at me with pure contempt.

I fixed my cold gaze on Chloe. "Ride her coattails? Chloe knows better than anyone whose coattails she's been riding."

"You've got some nerve!"

A line cook stepped forward, eager to defend Chloe. "Are you implying Chloe is riding *your* coattails? Take a look in the mirror! What are you compared to her?"

"Exactly! Chloe made this restaurant famous and brought Chef Harrison here. Can you do that?"

They looked at me like I was a joke. "Don't tell us you're going to claim *you* invited Chef Harrison!"

I tilted my head. "What if I told you I did?"