Broken Glass
900 Words
Ember’s POV
Suddenly, everything went silent in Ember & Thyme.
Then—
Crash.
The sound of shattered glass echoed across the kitchen.
I stared at the broken cup at my feet, my fingers still trembling from the force I had used.
Heads turned.
But in that moment… it didn’t matter.
Because it felt like something deeper had cracked inside me.
The kitchen went quiet.
Too quiet.
“Ember…”
Marcus’s voice came out serious this time. No teasing. No jokes.
I didn’t look at him.
My eyes dropped back to my phone.
The headline hadn’t changed.
If anything… it had gotten worse.
“OFFICIAL VENUE CHANGED: LUXORIA DINING TO HOST TONIGHT’S CONTEST FOLLOWING HYGIENE CONCERNS AT EMBER & THYME.”
A laugh escaped me.
Sharp. Disbelieving.
“You’re kidding me… right?”
“This is sabotage,” Marcus said, stepping closer. His usual relaxed posture was gone. “Straight-up sabotage.”
Daniel moved beside me, calm against my storm.
“Look at me,” he said softly.
I hesitated.
Because I knew what he would see.
Rage.
Humiliation.
Something I wasn’t used to showing.
“Ember.”
I exhaled and turned.
His eyes searched mine.
Steady. Firm.
“We don’t react emotionally,” he said. “Not now.”
I let out a dry chuckle.
“Oh really? Because I’d love to meet the person who just dragged my restaurant through the mud and not react.”
Marcus smirked darkly.
“Say the word. I’ll bring him here.”
Daniel shot him a look.
“Not helping.”
“I’m offering solutions.”
“Violent ones.”
Marcus raised his hands. “Fine. Peaceful chef mode activated.”
I shook my head slightly, but the pressure in my chest didn’t ease.
Because I already knew.
There was only one person who could pull this off this cleanly.
This fast.
“Alex Dane…” I whispered.
The name tasted like poison.
My phone rang.
For a second, I thought it was him.
But it wasn’t.
Gareth Heath.
Relief flickered.
“Ember,” his voice came calm and controlled. “I saw the news. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
I exhaled.
“They moved the competition. Luxoria is hosting now.”
Silence.
Then—
“I expected something like this.”
My eyes darkened.
“You did?”
“Ambitious men play dirty,” he said quietly. “Especially when they feel threatened.”
Threatened.
That word settled deep.
“Do you think he’s threatened by me?”
“I think,” he replied, “you’re exactly the kind of competition men like Alex Dane don’t underestimate.”
Something in my chest steadied.
“Listen to me,” he continued. “Don’t lose focus tonight. Let them play their games.”
A pause.
“The winner is who plays better.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
“I will.”
“Good. Now go remind them who you are.”
The call ended.
I looked up.
Marcus. Daniel.
Both watching me.
Waiting.
“Well?” Marcus asked.
I reached for my chef coat.
My fingers were steady now.
“Let’s face it,” I said.
Later…
We arrived at Luxoria Dining.
And for a moment—
I understood why people feared them.
Luxury.
Power.
Control.
Crystal chandeliers shimmered above us. Marble floors reflected golden light. Every detail screamed money.
Serious money.
Marcus let out a low whistle.
“Okay… I hate them,” he muttered. “But this place? I respect it.”
“Don’t get comfortable,” I said, tapping his back.
Daniel leaned closer.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I wasn’t.
But I didn’t show weakness.
Not here.
Not in his territory.
We were escorted into the competition kitchen.
And that’s when I saw them.
Two women.
Dressed in sleek black uniforms. Precise movements. Controlled.
They didn’t look like chefs.
They looked like weapons.
“Luxoria’s team,” Marcus murmured.
One of them glanced at me.
A small smile curved her lips.
I ignored it.
“Focus,” I said.
The competition began.
Flames rose.
Knives moved.
Time blurred.
But something felt…
Wrong.
Eyes were on us.
Too many.
Whispers. Phones. Cameras.
The tension was suffocating.
Marcus moved faster than I’d ever seen.
“Sauce.”
“Plate.”
“Garnish.”
Done.
Daniel stood beyond the line, watching me like a silent anchor.
Every time our eyes met—
He nodded.
You’ve got this.
I held onto that.
Until—
My phone buzzed.
I ignored it.
Then again.
And again.
“Ember,” Daniel said quietly. “Check it.”
I picked it up.
Opened the screen.
And froze.
More articles.
More accusations.
Fake images.
“INSIDE EMBER & THYME: SHOCKING HYGIENE FOOTAGE SURFACES.”
My hands trembled.
“No… no…”
Marcus cursed under his breath.
“This guy isn’t even hiding it anymore.”
But I wasn’t listening.
Because I felt it.
That presence.
That stare.
Slowly…
I lifted my head.
And there
On the upper balcony…
He stood.
Watching.
Alex Dane.
One hand in his pocket.
The other holding a glass.
Still. Calm.
Like this was entertainment.
Like I was the show.
Then
He lifted the glass slightly.
A silent toast.
And smiled.
My fingers tightened.
My chest burned.
Because in that moment.
I understood something clearly.
This wasn’t just sabotage.
This was war.
- Writer
