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chapter 22
Last Updated:
2025-03-18 06:55:04
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The chef and The charmer chapter 23
Damien povthe morning sun, a pale sliver in the eastern sky, struggled to pierce through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse. I stood on the balcony, the chill of the early morning air biting through my skin. The distant hum of traffic drifted upward, a soft undercurrent beneath the city’s awakening pulse — a stark contrast to the silence within these walls.I sipped my coffee, the bitter taste a welcome counterpoint to the unsettling calm that had settled over me. Sleep had evaded me, and a sense of unease, vague and undefined, gnawed at the edges of my thoughts as I entered and stood in the living room, still nursing my black coffee that matched my mood. I’d been up since dawn, restless and preoccupied, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.Perhaps it was her. EvelynThe thought lingered in my mind, uninvited yet insistent. I’d hired her for her culinary skills—and those were undeniable. Her food was exquisite, and each dish was crafted with precision and a touch of artistry th
Last Updated : 2025-03-19The chef and The charmer chapter 24
The morning light crept in through the windows, painting the kitchen in soft gold. I stood at the stove, the hiss of eggs meeting the pan breaking the quiet. The rhythmic scrape of the spatula against the non-stick surface felt almost meditative, a small moment of peace before the inevitable storm that was Damian.Right on cue, I heard the shuffle of bare feet against the tiled floor. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The air practically shifted with his presence, heavy with the smell of last night’s whiskey and cigarettes.“Ugh… kill me now,” Damian’s voice rasped behind me.I grabbed the glass of green juice from the counter and slid it toward him without looking. “Drink.”There was a pause before I heard him pick it up. The sound of him taking a cautious sip was followed by a low groan.“What would I do without you, chef?”“Starve,” I replied, as usual cracking another egg into the pan.Damian chuckled softly, the sound low and rough. The kind of laugh that had once
Last Updated : 2025-03-20The chef and The charmer chapter 25
IT was in the middle of October the rain started like a whisper against the windows, soft at first, barely noticeable. Then it grew louder, a steady drumbeat that filled the silence between us. Damian sprawled on the couch, cigarette dangling from his fingers, the ember glowing faintly in the dim light. The storm outside cast shadows across the kitchen, flickering against the walls. I wiped down the counters, trying to ignore the weight of his gaze.“You ever feel like you’re playing a part you didn’t ask for?” His voice was quiet, almost lost beneath the rain. this isn’t the first time he asked me this question.I paused, cloth in hand. For a moment, I thought he was baiting me again. Damian liked to provoke, to prod at the soft spot he suspected I had. But something in the way he said it made me hesitate.it got me thinking what really going with Damien who is really this man behind all this charming smirk.“Every day,” I answered quietly.I didn’t look at him, but I felt his eyes o
Last Updated : 2025-03-20The chef and The charmer chapter 26
Damien povI paced back and forth in my room, the floorboards creaking beneath my frantic steps. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. From the kitchen, I overheard Chris greeting Evelyn, their voices distant but clear. It felt like a punch to the gut. I had called Chris, begging him to meet me urgently, and now he was down there, chatting like nothing was wrong.The disastrous call with my mother still echoed in my mind. She’d been in France for over a year now, ever since the accident. She didn’t even care to check if I was okay; she just left. Discarded me like an afterthought. And now, out of the blue, she was threatening to take over the CEO position. The audacity.I’ll be honest — I haven’t exactly put my best foot forward this past year. Grief has a way of consuming you whole, leaving behind only fragments of who you used to be. But I’ll be damned if I let that position go to my incompetent, scheming uncle Anthony. The very thought made my skin crawl. He
Last Updated : 2025-03-21The chef and The charmer chapter 27
Evelyn povI crossed my arms and stared at Damian like he’d grown a second head.“No. Absolutely not.”Damian sighed, leaning back against the sleek leather chair in his office. The city skyline stretched out behind him through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a glittering reminder of just how far removed his world was from mine.“Evelyn, be reasonable,” he said, voice smooth and measured, like he was trying to close a business deal.“Reasonable?” I scoffed. “You just asked me to pretend to be your girlfriend How is that reasonable?”The door behind me clicked open, and Chris strolled in, holding two cups of coffee. He paused mid-step, eyes darting between us.“Uh, did I miss something?” Chris asked, handing me a cup.“Damian just proposed,” I said flatly.Chris choked on his coffee. “What?”“A fake proposal,” I clarified. “He wants me to pretend to be his girlfriend. For money.”Chris leaned against the bookshelf, arms folded, his gaze steady on me. “Look, I know Damian can come off a li
Last Updated : 2025-03-22The chef and The charmer chapter 28
I folded my arms and stared at Damian across the polished surface of his mahogany desk. “I changed my mind. I can’t do this.”Damian sighed, rubbing his temple like I was giving him the worst headache of his life. “Evelyn, we already agreed.”“No, you assumed. I panicked and said yes, but I’ve had time to think. It’s insane. Lying to your entire family? Pretending to be your girlfriend? There have to be other ways to get your mother off your back.”Chris, perched on the windowsill with his arms crossed, chimed in. “ trust me Eve we tried to come up with a different idea this is the only way.Damian’s gaze was steady. “It’s a business arrangement. We lay out clear terms, follow them, and part ways when the time comes. It’s simple.”I scoffed. “Simple? Right.”Damian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Let me be clear. My mother is relentless. If she believes I’m in a serious relationship, she’ll stop trying to arrange dinners with every socialite in the city. You help me,
Last Updated : 2025-03-22The chef and The charmer chapter 29
I stared at the half-packed suitcase on my bed, arms crossed and heart heavy. Clothes lay in uneven piles, half-folded, half-forgotten. The apartment felt eerily quiet, the usual hum of the city outside barely penetrating the walls. My sanctuary, my tiny corner of the world, was about to become a memory.I sighed and grabbed another blouse from the drawer, stuffing it into the suitcase with less care than it deserved. “I still think this is a terrible idea.”“Noted,” Damian said from the doorway, his arms folded neatly across his chest. He leaned against the frame, the picture of casual elegance in his dark suit. “But if we’re going to convince people we’re madly in love, we can’t exactly live separate lives.”I shot him a look. “I meant the part where I uproot everything and move into your penthouse.”“Details,” Damian replied smoothly. “It’s only temporary.”I zipped the suitcase shut and sat on the edge of the bed, glancing around the room. It wasn’t much — mismatched furniture, bo
Last Updated : 2025-03-23The chef and The charmer chapter 30
“Damian.” The voice was smooth, calculated.I turned to see a woman gliding toward us, her sleek black dress hugging every curve. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves over one shoulder, and her red lips curled into a sharp smile.“Lillian,” Damian greeted, his tone neutral.Her eyes slid to me, assessing. “And who is this?”“Evelyn,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “His girlfriend.”Lillian’s brow lifted ever so slightly. Girlfriend? How surprising. Damian usually prefers his relationships… less permanent.”The implication wasn’t lost on me.“We can’t all stay in the past, Lillian,” Damian said smoothly.She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course. Well, it was lovely to meet you, Evelyn. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”With that, she drifted away, leaving a trail of expensive perfume in her wake.I turned to Damian. “Ex?”“no more like a fling.”“She hates me.”“She hates everyone. Don’t take it personally.”Easy for him to say.The rest of the night passed in a blur.
Last Updated : 2025-03-24
Latest chapter
The chef and The charmer chapter 77
Evelyn povThe morning sun spilled into the penthouse, casting golden streaks across the hardwood floors as I zipped up my weekend bag. Damian’s shirt hung loosely off my shoulder, paired with biker shorts I’d found at the back of my drawer—comfort and borrowed masculinity. The faint hum of the city below was a distant murmur, like background music to the chaos in my head about what to pack.“Are you planning to move in somewhere I don’t know about?” Damian’s voice floated in from the doorway, a hint of amusement curling around the words.I turned to see him leaning casually against the frame, coffee in one hand, his eyes already undressing my over packed duffel.“Just being prepared,” I said, tossing in one more pair of shoes. “You said weekend getaway, not survival challenge. I don’t know if we’re hiking, wine tasting, or trespassing.”He smirked, stepping into the room to set the mug beside me. “Little bit of all three, maybe. You’ll love it.”“Define ‘love it,’” I muttered, alread
The chef and The charmer chapter 76
Evelyn povAfter pancakes and stolen kisses, I thought the day would melt into lounging in silk robes and playfully arguing over which movie to stream.But Damian had other plans.“Get dressed,” he said, standing in the doorway of the bathroom, towel slung low on his hips, hair still wet from the shower.I blinked up at him from the bed. “Why? This robe and I have a solid relationship.”He smirked. “Not as solid as ours. Now come on. I’m stealing you for the day.”I tilted my head. “Where are we going?”“It’s a surprise.”“Will I need heels or sneakers?”“Neither. Just bring your smile,” he said, before disappearing again.I threw a pillow at the door. “That is not helpful, Blackstone!”But I got up anyway, heart fluttering with the same giddy excitement I hadn’t felt since… maybe ever.—By the time we were in the car, I was in a sundress, soft pink and flowy, and he was in a crisp white linen shirt with the top buttons undone. Casual but devastating.The drive was scenic—Damian kept
The chef and The charmer chapter 75
evelyn povThe moment the elevator doors slid open, Damian didn’t wait. His hand found mine as he pulled me into the penthouse, the quiet click of the doors sealing us away from the world behind.The gala was hours behind us, but the emotions were still raw. The confrontation, the tension, the way I had stood my ground—and the way he had protected me and, All of it lingered between us like a spark begging to be lit.As soon as the door shut, he turned and kissed me.There was no pretense. No slow buildup.Just lips on lips, deep and consuming. His hands found my waist, guiding me backward until my back met the wall. He kissed like he needed to feel alive again—like I was the only thing anchoring him to the ground.I gasped softly as his mouth moved along my jawline, and my fingers tangled in his dark hair. Damian’s breath was warm and uneven, his words muttered against my skin.“You have no idea what tonight did to me.”His hands slid down to my hips, pulling me closer, and I smiled a
The chef and The charmer chapter 74
evelyn povDamian and I eventually reached the center of the room, where a small gathering of powerful figures stood, engaging in animated conversation. But I felt the heat of Eric’s gaze on me before I saw him move.And then, it happened.Eric’s eyes locked onto mine, and everything around me seemed to blur into a hazy, distant noise. My heart stopped for a beat, my breath caught in my throat.“You’re here,” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he approached us, completely disregarding the woman on his arm.Damian stepped in front of me, his posture protective but calm, a silent warning in his stance. “She doesn’t owe you anything, Eric,” he said, his tone even but firm.Eric shot Damian a look of disdain but didn’t say anything to him. Instead, his gaze stayed locked on me. “I thought I might get a word with you. You know, for old time’s sake.”I resisted the urge to recoil at the way he said it. His smile was still that charming one, the one that had once made my heart race,
The chef and The charmer chapter 73
evelyn povThe city lights shimmered through the tinted glass as the Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through Manhattan’s evening traffic. Rain had left the roads slick, reflecting bursts of gold, red, and sapphire from traffic signals and store signs. Inside the car, the world outside barely touched them. There was only the hush of leather seats, the faint hum of tires, and the palpable energy between us.Damian’s hand rested on my thigh, warm and grounding. He hadn’t spoken in a few minutes, just looked at me like he was memorizing everything—my curls cascading over my shoulders, the sheen on my collarbone, the curve of my lips still stained with his kiss from earlier.Then, as if unable to hold it in any longer, he turned slightly in his seat.“I have something for you.”I blinked, my heart hiccupping. “What is it?”He reached into the inner pocket of his tailored jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.My breath caught.He opened it slowly, revealing a ring so intricate it almost didn
The chef and The charmer chapter 72
(Evelyn’s POV)If someone had told me a few months ago that I would be wrapped up in a whirlwind with Damian Blackwell—the Damian Blackwell—I would’ve laughed them out of the room. Yet here we were. Caught in a strange kind of bubble, floating somewhere between reality and something that felt too good to be real.After that night with Eric, after the investigation plans and the rush of tension, something shifted between us. It was subtle, but it was there, threading through our days like silk ribbons. A look that lasted too long. A brush of fingers that lingered. A softness in Damian’s voice when he said my name.The next morning, I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.Then I walked into the kitchen and found Damian standing there—shirtless, wearing only a pair of soft gray sweatpants, his hair deliciously messy, stirring something in a pan like he’d done it a hundred times.He turned when he heard me, a boyish grin stretching acro
The chef and The charmer chapter 71
Damian stepped forward, his presence imposing as always. “I’m warning you, Eric. You don’t want to go down this path.”after I stood up then and walk toward Damien and now am face to face with Eric, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t going to let Eric—my ex, the man who had betrayed me with my best friend—control the narrative of my life anymore. He didn’t get to decide what people knew about me, what I owed anyone. And certainly not after everything I had fought through to get here.“Damian, stop,” I said, my voice steady despite the rising tension. “I’ll handle this.”Damian looked at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I could see the conflict in his eyes—he wanted to protect me, but I knew this was something I had to face on my own. After everything I had been through, after all the ways I had been silenced, this was my fight now. And I was done being passive.“Eric,” I called out, stepping toward the door, my voice firm. “You’re not going to tell my story. I’m going
The chef and The charmer chapter 70
Evelyn povThe penthouse felt quieter tonight, the dim light from the chandelier casting soft shadows on the sleek walls. The city buzzed below, but up here, it felt like a world apart—one that was just mine and Damian’s. The kind of space where, for once, everything else could fade away. The soft clinking of glasses, the hum of the stove, and the sizzle of food in the pan were the only sounds filling the room, and even they felt like they were part of a private rhythm we’d only just begun to understand.I moved in a fluid motion as I sautéed the vegetables in olive oil, a simple but comforting dish that had come to be my way of showing Damian I cared. After everything that had happened, after the tension and misunderstandings, there was something about cooking for him that made me feel like I could finally breathe again. It was the first time in so long that I didn’t feel like I was just pretending to be something I wasn’t. Cooking for Damian was different. It was honest, like the fo
The chef and The charmer chapter 69
Evelyn povThe restaurant was one of those places you don’t find unless someone wants you to. Tucked between rows of elite boutiques and imported wine bars, it was all low lighting, pressed linens, and whispering waiters. I should’ve felt proud. Accomplished, even. Instead, my skin buzzed with an unease I couldn’t quite name.Damian had surprised me at the mentorship kitchen that evening, walking in like he belonged in every room—even the ones meant for me. I didn’t mind, not really. At first, I thought he came to support me. But over dinner, I started to wonder if he came to stake a claim.He’d been quiet since we sat down. Not in the way people are when they’re tired or content. It was the kind of silence that hangs off every movement. His eyes darted between me and my phone, lingered too long on my wrist where Chef Marcellus had also my complimented bracelet and of my dishes. Pride lingered in his gaze, but so did something sharper.I tried to laugh it off. “You’re quiet tonight. D
