All Chapters of His Private Chef: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“Where are we going? Unless you tell me right now, I’m not moving an inch,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Sophia and folding my arms in mock protest. I squinted harder, mimicking that intense stare you give someone when you want to pry the truth out of them.She grinned like the devil had just given her a good idea. “It’s a surprise.”“That smile is suspicious.”“That’s because you’re definitely going to love where I’m taking you.”I raised a brow. “Does this surprise include your brother?”“If it did?”“Then I decline.”Sophia rolled her eyes. “No, drama queen. Liam is not involved. Now will you move?”Still skeptical, I stood up slowly. “If you’re lying to me…”“I would never,” she said, holding out her little finger with dramatic flair. “Pinky swear.”I looked at her like she’d lost it. “Are we five?”“Maybe.”“Fine,” I muttered, pointing a finger. “But if I see so much as a shadow that remotely looks like Liam. I'm running.”“Noted. Now go put on something soft. Comfy.”Twenty-five

I barely parked when I saw a familiar figure lounging by my front steps, hands in his pockets, wearing that signature smirk that always meant trouble."Jay?" I stepped out of the car, eyebrows raised.He straightened, smug as ever. "Good. You’re home. For a minute, I thought I’d have to break in through the window."I gave him a flat look. "At the rate things are going, maybe I should just give you and Sophia spare keys. Save everyone the hassle."Jay grinned. "Not a bad idea. We’re basically unofficial tenants at this point."I crossed my arms. "What are you doing here? What are you up to now?""Sophia sent me to fetch you," he said dramatically. "Tonight’s the pre-birthday-slumber-bash-extravaganza. Her words, not mine."I blinked. "Wait. I’m sleeping at Liam’s again?"Jay burst into laughter. "You wish. No, the pre-bash is at my place this time. Liam banned Sophia from throwing any more parties at his house after the Great Pool Party Disaster."I raised an eyebrow. "Disaster?"He t

Getting ready for Sophia’s main birthday party felt like prepping for a red carpet event.I sat before a massive vanity mirror in our suite at the Le Tonne Hotel. A luxury hotel so pricey, a single night could empty your bank account. Everything was velvet and gold, and the whole place smelled like rose water and old money.Sophia’s glam team moved with the precision of stylists and the energy of fairy godparents high on espresso. One curled my hair into glossy waves, another dusted gold shimmer on my eyelids, and the last one worked on contouring cheekbones I didn’t even know I had.“You’re going to murder someone tonight,” Sophia said, lounging in her robe behind me while scrolling through her phone. “Just wait till Liam sees you.”I rolled my eyes. “That’s not the goal.”“Maybe not yours,” she replied, eyes still on the phone. “But mine? Absolutely.”Words hovered on the tip of my tongue, but the mirror stole them. One look at my reflection, and I went quiet.The dress was a showst

After I walked away from Liam on the rooftop, I didn’t look back. But God, I felt his eyes burning holes into my back until the elevator doors closed. The music, the lights, the people, they all blurred into static noise. Inside, I was a tangled mess of want, fury, and confusion.I didn’t even notice when Liam left the party.Somehow, in the chaos of the night, Jay, Sophia, and I ended up at a club downtown. It wasn’t planned. One second we were in the ballroom, the next, we were spilling out of a black SUV, laughing like lunatics and high on champagne.The club pulsed with neon lights and heavy bass. Jay was already dragging me to the dance floor before I could take in the place. Sophia ordered shots like she owned the bar.We danced. We sang. We acted like heartbreak and jealousy didn’t exist.But I wasn’t okay. Not even close.Even through the haze of tequila, I kept replaying Liam’s words, his touch, his voice saying things no man had ever dared say to me before. It was like he’d

After that conversation with Liam, things between us shifted. Not dramatically. There was no fight. No awkward silence. Just space.Days passed. Then a week. And slowly, summer settled in like a lazy guest who refused to leave. The weather turned warmer, the streets busier, and I was back to doing things on my own, just the way I liked it. Or so I told myself.I spent more time at my house, cooking in the kitchen with the windows open and jazz music humming in the background. I cleaned out my spice cabinet, tried out new recipes, rearranged furniture for no reason, and even took solo walks through the Sunday farmer’s market. I went to brunch spots alone with a book in hand and didn’t mind the stares.No drama. No Black family tension. No Liam. Just me.It was surprisingly peaceful. Lonely, yes, but peaceful. And I needed that quiet to think.I didn’t hear from Liam, nor did I see him, except when I talked to Sophia, who would tease me with, “Liam’s fine, thanks for asking.”Sophia’s a