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chapter 52
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-13 09:55:59
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The chef and The charmer chapter 53
Damien povThe past few days had dragged me through the mud—emotionally, politically, and now, publicly.Since Lawrence aired his grievances on national television, accusing me of manipulating my way into the CEO seat, my world had become a media circus. The name Blackstone was trending for all the wrong reasons. Not for our legacy in luxury hospitality, or our latest expansion into eco-retreats—but because of a bitter half-brother with a microphone and an agenda.The moment the interview aired, my phone didn’t stop ringing. Clients. Investors. Journalists. Even former flames who suddenly remembered my number. But the call that hit the hardest came from my mother.She never begged. That wasn’t her style. My mother was a woman who led with iron and ice, and I’d long accepted that her love came dressed in expectations. But that night, after Lawrence’s tirade, during our phone called she repeated herself again this time with her voice trembling.“Don’t step down, Damien,” she had said,al
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-14The chef and The charmer chapter 54
Evelyn povThings were finally starting to settle after a few chaotic days—the whole Lawrence drama, the unexpected leak prank—everything had thrown us off balance. But Damien, ever the calm in the storm, somehow managed to regain control of the situation and smooth things over. It felt like the first real breath of peace in days.It was just another quiet Sunday morning, sunlight spilling lazily through the curtains, when Damien turned to me with that familiar spark in his eyes and said, “Get ready—I’ve got somewhere to take you.”His tone held that mysterious edge that always made my heart race just a little fasterI should’ve known something was up when Damian added for me to “wear something comfortable but nice.” Those were the kinds of instructions you gave someone you were trying to impress, not someone you were fake dating to get your mother off your back.Still, I found myself slipping into a soft linen dress and pulling my hair into a loose bun, not for him, obviously. Just…
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-14The chef and The charmer chapter 55
It was Monday morning, and the warm sunlight spilled into the room through sheer curtains, gently coaxing me out of sleep. For a second, I didn’t want to move. My body ached in that lazy, pleasant way that follows a day spent walking, laughing, and feeling like the world wasn’t such a complicated place. Yesterday with Damien had been… nice. Too nice, maybe. It had felt real. Too real for something that was supposed to be fake.I stretched beneath the covers, staring at the ceiling with a soft smile tugging at my lips. The way Damien looked at me when I wasn’t paying attention, the little gestures—opening doors, taking my hand when we walked along the shoreline, and the way he let me ramble about the best beach snacks—played like a movie montage in my head.We’d gone to the beach. One of his beaches, apparently. He owned it. That still hadn’t quite sunk in. Who just owns a beach? Damien, apparently. And yet, despite how surreal that should’ve felt, it had been peaceful. Calm. Just the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-15The chef and The charmer chapter 56
The ride through Manhattan was something else.My mom sat beside me like she was going to a royal gala instead of just visiting her daughter’s… totally fake relationship penthouse. She had this air of “I’m not impressed” plastered on her face, but her eyes betrayed her. They were darting around like a kid in a candy store. I caught the little smile tugging at the corners of her lips and the way she subtly leaned toward the window every time we passed something remotely shiny.“Still the same old buildings,” she said, flicking a hand toward the skyline. “Little more glass, that’s all.”“Mhm,” I replied, biting back a smirk. “Totally normal street. Just happens to house… you know, multi-million-dollar penthouses. No big deal.”She gave me a side-eye like I was trying to pull something over on her. She wasn’t wrong. I was.But I was also enjoying the game.When the car slowed to a stop, the doorman rushed to open my door with a professional nod. Mom stepped out like she was used to this
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-16The chef and The charmer chapter 57
If I’d ever doubted Damien’s ability to perform under pressure, that doubt evaporated the moment he extended the bouquet toward my mom.“For the most beautiful woman in the room,” he said with a megawatt smile that could sell toothpaste to a shark.My mom blinked. Then blinked again. Then did the thing where she tilted her head slightly and raised her eyebrows in that “okay, I’m listening” kind of way.“You’re charming,” she said, eyeing the bouquet before taking it. “Dangerously so.”“I try,” Damien replied smoothly, removing his suit jacket like he’d done it a hundred times in this very hallway—which, knowing him, maybe he had. He was that kind of guy. Effortless.I gave him a warning glance over my shoulder as I walked back to the kitchen. “Don’t lay it on too thick.”He winked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”Dinner was already filling the penthouse with the comforting scent of garlic, herbs, and butter. My mom placed the flowers in a vase—because yes, apparently this place had vases just
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The chef and The charmer chapter 58
EvelynWaking up in Damien’s arms was… not part of the plan.And yet, here we were.Somewhere between my REM cycle and existential crisis, I’d apparently decided his chest was my new pillow. His arm was snug around my waist, and one of his legs—his legs, people—was tangled with mine.I blinked at the ceiling in silence.God, he smells good.No. Nope. Brain, don’t do this. We’re not doing this today. He’s my boss. A fake boyfriend. A relationship prop with very nice arms. That’s it.I carefully, very carefully, tried to wiggle away like some kind of stealthy ninja.Damien grumbled in his sleep and tightened his hold.I froze. My soul left my body. For a second, I thought he might kiss me in his sleep and I’d have to legally commit arson just to escape the situation.But after a beat, he relaxed again, and I used that window of mercy to scoot to the edge of the bed like it had grown lava.Freedom.I slipped into the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and gave myself a pep talk in
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The chef and The charmer chapter 59
Later that evening, the weight of the message still hung heavy in my chest.“E.”It was just a single letter, but it had shaken something loose inside me—a distant memory, a flicker of something unresolved. I kept trying to brush it off, tell myself it was nothing, maybe a prank or an old contact resurfacing with the worst timing imaginable. But deep down, I knew better.Still, I needed a moment to breathe. A break from pretending. From questions. From my spinning thoughts.So, I pushed the message out of my mind, tucked it into the mental box labeled ‘Do Not Open Unless Necessary’, and did what I should’ve done weeks ago—I called my dad.The phone rang twice before I heard his voice, gruff but familiar. “Evelyn?”“Hi, Dad,” I said, the word catching slightly in my throat. “It’s me.”There was a pause, long enough for guilt to twist inside my stomach. Then a heavy sigh came through the line. “Took you long enough.”“I know,” I whispered. “I’m sorry. I’ve been… all over the place latel
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-18The chef and The charmer chapter 60
After getting back from the bus station, I went straight to my room to start moving my things back from his. This back-and-forth has kept my mind occupied, stopping it from wandering to thoughts of who E really is. after finish rearranging my room,I sat on the edge of the bed, the afternoon sun light casting long shadows across the room. The message from “E” still lingered in my mind, a haunting echo that refused to fade. I picked up my phone again, staring at the screen. The message was there, but something was off—there was no number attached. Just the letter “E” and the cryptic words that had unsettled me.My heart dropped. No number meant no trace, no way to identify the sender. It was as if the message had materialized from thin air, a ghost from my past reaching out to remind me of things I’d rather forget.I scrolled through my old contacts, biting my lip as I searched for any “E” that could be the culprit. Emma? Eric? Both names stared back at me, each carrying its own set of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-18
Bab terbaru
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
