LOGINRYANI was in the middle of a conversation with two investors when Daisy walked up to me. At first glance, nothing looked wrong, but then I noticed her face. She looked… off. Quieter than usual. Her shoulders were stiff, her smile forced, like she was carrying something she didn’t want to say out loud.“Excuse me for a moment,” I said to the men, already stepping aside.I turned to her. “What’s wrong?”She shook her head immediately. “Nothing.”I frowned. “Daisy.”“I’m fine,” she insisted, but she didn’t meet my eyes.That alone set something off in my chest. “Did something go wrong?” I asked. “Is everything going as planned?”She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. Everything’s fine.”“Okay,” I said slowly. “Have they brought the food out?”Her expression shifted slightly, and my heart skipped. “What?”“Yes,” she said quickly. “The food is out.”“And?” I pressed. “Is there a problem with it?”She shook her head again. “No. The food is good. People like it.”That didn’t make me feel better
OLIVIA“Olivia?” Daisy said, her voice sharper now. “You… you’re the chef?”My heart jumped so hard it felt like it slammed into my throat. What was Daisy doing here?A cold, sinking feeling crept into my chest. No, please. It better not be what I was thinking. It couldn’t be. I refused to let my mind go there.I straightened instinctively, lifting my chin, schooling my face into calm professionalism even as my pulse raced. “Yes,” I said evenly. “I am.”I didn’t smile. I didn’t offer anything more than that.Her eyes flicked over me again, slower this time, taking in my chef’s jacket, the confidence in my stance, the way my team moved around me like a well-trained unit. I turned away from her and clapped my hands once. “Alright, let’s start bringing the first trays out. Hot items first. Move carefully.”“Yes, Chef,” my team responded immediately.As they moved, I stayed focused on directing them, but my heart refused to calm down.My thoughts started racing despite my efforts to stay
OLIVIAIt was D-day.I stood in the middle of the kitchen long before sunrise, my hands resting on the stainless-steel counter, breathing through the tight knot in my chest. I wasn’t just nervous… I was excited, terrified, proud, all at once. This was my first time supplying food on this scale, my first time working with a name this big, and whether I liked it or not, today mattered a lot.The kitchen buzzed around me, already alive. Pots simmered, ovens hummed, knives tapped rhythmically against boards. The smell of spices, herbs, and slow-cooked sauces wrapped around me. “Alright listen everyone. This is Penthouse Barcelona.” I began, keeping my tone calm even as my heart raced. “Not just any event. This is high-profile, high-standard, no room for mistakes.” I paused, letting that sink in. “But listen to me carefully.”I looked at each of them, one by one. “You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust you. Every single one of you has earned your place in this kitchen. We’ve handled chao
RYANI had just finished freshening up when I finally felt my shoulders drop a little. I ran a towel through my hair one last time, then crossed the room and turned on the speaker. Music filled the space softly as I sat down on the cushioned chair near the desk, stretched my legs out in front of me, and pulled my laptop closer. The screen flickered to life as I opened it, the Penthouse logo appearing first, followed by the folders I’d already organized.Penthouse Barcelona – Grand Opening.I exhaled and clicked into the event plan.Timelines, guest lists, security arrangements, media coverage, and catering schedules. I scrolled through it all carefully, adjusting small details here and there, typing notes in the margins as ideas came to me. I wanted everything to flow perfectly… no delays, no confusion, no room for embarrassment. This opening mattered more than people realized.As I worked, I caught myself nodding to the music, quietly mouthing the lyrics without thinking. My fingers
LOGANThey dragged me outside like I was some kind of animal. The moment the restaurant doors slammed shut behind me, something inside me snapped.My wolf roared in my bones. It slammed against my skin, burning so hot it blurred my vision. All it wanted was the shift and tear through the humans who had dared to touch me, dared to pull me away from her.I clenched my fists so hard my nails bit into my palms. No, I can't do it in front of humans.I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing the wolf down. My chest rose and fell violently, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. “Don’t touch me,” I growled at the security guards. “I’ll leave on my own.”They halted and shared eye contact with each other.I straightened, shrugging off their grip and walked away from the entrance before they could say another word. The night air hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the fire ripping through me.I rounded the corner and slammed my fist into the brick wall. Once, again, and again.Pain exploded through
OLIVIAI stopped beside my car and, without a word, held out the keys.Logan blinked. “What?”“You’re driving,” I said simply.A slow smile spread across his face, like I’d just given him a gift. “Wow. Look at that”“Don’t read into it,” I warned. “I’m just tired.”He laughed softly. “I’ll take it.” He moved quickly, almost too eagerly, and opened the door for me before I could even reach it. “Careful,” he said, one hand hovering near the door frame. “I don’t want you hitting your head.”I paused, glanced at him. “Logan.”“I'm I doing too much?” he asked, already grinning.“Yes.”He chuckled but still waited until I was fully seated before closing the door gently. Then he walked around to the driver’s side and got in.The car filled with a brief, awkward silence as he adjusted the seat and mirrors. “So,” he said lightly as he started the engine, “where am I taking the world-famous chef?”I gave him the address. “It’s not far.”He drove carefully, one hand on the wheel, the other resti







