The Billionaire’s Chef:Recipe of us

My fingers clenched around my phone as I stared at the unanswered call screen. Ken. again. This was my fifth attempt this week. The bastard really ran away with my life savings. And the worst part? I let him. I should have seen the signs, the delayed responses, the excuses, and the charm that smoothed over every red flag. But now, I was left with an empty bank account and a phone full of unanswered calls. I gritted my teeth, fighting the sting in my eyes as I stormed into the only place I could vent without judgment: Sienna’s cafe. She barely looked up from behind the counter, lazily stirring a cappuccino. “Let me guess,” she said. “Ken still hasn’t magically reappeared with your money?” I dropped into the chair across from her, pressing my forehead against the cold wooden table. “He promised. He swore he’d return it. I was so stupid.” She slid her coffee towards me. “Drink. You need it more than I do.” I took a sip from the bitter beverage and released myself from the hold of the tight bun, letting my hair fall over my shoulders. “It's not just Ken.” I continued. I lost my shot at the style meals promotion at work today.” That made her look up. “Let me guess, connections?” I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “Connections. That’s what they said. Not skill or experience; they want someone with a robust network,” I replied. Sienna sighed. “You know that’s how these things work, babes. Rich people only do business with other rich people. Unless…” She tilted her head, smirking. “Unless what?” “There’s a charity gala this weekend. The kind where people throw money around to feel good about themselves. Get in there, mingle, and play the game. I groaned. “Sienna, I am not charming enough for that.” “You don’t have to be charming, Sora, just be interesting.” She smirked, “And who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone that will make you forget about Ken.” I scoffed. “If he's willing to replace my stolen money, why not?” Before I could press further, a small white Maltese bolted into the café, barking furiously at me like I owed it money. A man in a sharp navy suit strolled in after it, completely unbothered. “Careful, Coco,” he muttered. “You can't just bark at broods like that. At least find nicer dressers.” Ouch. I shot him a glare and tried calling Ken again. Two nights later, I found myself stepping into the grand ballroom of the Randluxe hotel, trying not to feel like a fish out of water. Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in golden light. Diamonds dripped from different wrists, laughter flowed effortlessly, and the champagne never stopped flowing. The air smelled like money and exclusivity. My role as catering staff wasn’t exactly what Sienna had in mind, but a colleague called in sick, and I needed the extra cash. I stepped in wearing an ill-fitted black dress that was part of the catering staff uniform and a white formal cocktail dress borrowed from my mom’s closet underneath, just in case an opportunity presented itself. Balancing a tray, I moved through the room, catching snippets of conversations. “The upkeep of my yacht is so exhausting.” “We just closed the resort deal in Greece, finally.” “This Cartier bracelet? Oh, it's nothing special.” I tightened my grip on the tray. My rent was overdue, my father's business was barely surviving, and my boyfriend ran away with my life savings. Yet, she called her Cartier bracelet nothing special. A world like this felt impenetrable, yet so irresistible. I needed to escape this life. By the time I served my last tray, exhaustion set in. I found a quiet corner outside the ballroom to catch my breath, and then I heard raised voices. “You are jeopardizing everything we’ve built!” A deep voice growled. “Am I jeopardizing the company, or are you just highly controlling?” Another voice fired back, his tone colder and sharper. I moved closer to observe what was happening as my curiosity overpowered my caution at that moment. Two men stood outside, locked in a heated argument. One was broad-shouldered, with sharp, calculative movements. The other was leaner, more composed, but there was a sharpness to his tone that hinted at danger. “Pierre Global is not your playground, Lucas. If you think you can challenge me for control, you’re mistaken.”. The broader man snapped. Pierre Global. I wasn't into corporate gossip, but even I knew that name, one of the most powerful business empires in the country. The Pierre family practically owned half of the city. Lucas scoffed. “We'll see about that.” I knew I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but I couldn’t pull myself away. Whoever they were, this wasn't just a family argument. It was a full-blown power struggle, raw and unfiltered. I could hear it in their voices and see it in the tension between them. It wasn't just business; it was personal. My mind raced with questions: how bad was their relationship to fight so loudly and dramatically in public? Before I could process it, the broader man turned sharply, and his stormy gaze locked onto mine, as if he had known I was there all along. The leaner one, Lucas smirked, “Looks like we have an audience.” I turned, but it was too late. The burly man turned and walked straight towards me. “What did you hear?” His voice was dangerously low. I swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. “Nothing.” He was too close to me. My heart pounded, and the tray slipped from my shaking hands. Glass shattered, spilling wine onto his impeccable designer suit. Silence stretched between us. His expression darkened as he stared down at the stain seeping into his shirt. He exhaled slowly, voice still uncomfortably calm. “What the hell is wrong with you? My hands were now shaking, and before I could form another word, his fingers closed around my wrist. Not painful. Not roughly but unyielding. “Care to explain, " he murmured, “why were you eavesdropping?” My breath caught. I couldn’t say anything; I just stared at him shaking. His lips curved slightly, not a smile, something colder. “I should make an example out of you.” The blood drained from my face. Was he joking? Or had I just stepped into something far bigger than I had ever intended? What did he mean? And why did I feel like I had just made a powerful enemy?