All Chapters of His Private Chef: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

You need at least five bikinis,” Sophia declared dramatically, tossing a tiny yellow one onto my growing pile of clothes. “One for the pool, one for the beach, one for walking around like you're not trying to seduce anyone, but totally are. One for posing. One for backup.”“I don’t need to seduce anyone. Sophia, quit being extra,” I muttered, already overwhelmed by the mountain of silk and spandex building beside me.She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, but I have plans, Emily. I need you to seduce someone for me. Don’t ruin my carefully curated vision.”I groaned, picking up a neon green bikini that looked like it belonged in a music video and holding it at arm’s length. “This is half a napkin.”“That napkin is $890 and made in Italy,” Sophia whispered reverently. “Put it in the pile.”We were inside Braq&Blair, a boutique so luxurious it didn’t bother listing prices on most of the tags. They just handed you champagne and gave you a look that said if you had to ask, you didn’

“Emily.”His voice was low. Gentle. Too gentle for someone who had ruined me just hours ago.I stirred beneath the soft weight of the blanket, blinking up into Liam’s face. His expression was calm, but there was something behind his eyes, a flicker of last night’s hunger, now buried beneath polished restraint.“We’re about to land,” he said. “You should get back to your seat.”Right. The jet. The others. Reality.I sat up slowly, my body still humming from everything we’d done in this private room that had no business being so comfortable at thirty thousand feet. My dress had twisted around my thighs, my mouth was dry, and my heart had the audacity to skip at the sight of him. He was fully dressed, perfectly composed, like he hadn’t kissed me breathless and undone me with his mouth somewhere over the Atlantic.Wordlessly, I rose and slipped past him into the softly lit corridor, making my way back to my seat like I wasn’t carrying the memory of him between my legs.—Sophia shot me a

The car slowed as we approached the main estate, and suddenly the ocean breeze felt heavier. It was like it carried expectations instead of salt. Through the tinted window, I caught my first glimpse of the place Sophia had referred to as “the real Black compound.”This wasn't just a compound. It was a palace.The estate rose from the cliffside like it had been carved out of light and old money. White stone walls, clean-cut terraces, endless balconies draped in bougainvillea, and glass windows that reflected every inch of paradise. Security gates slid open as our convoy rolled in, and staff in crisp white linen waited at the entrance like we were royalty returning home.When I stepped out, my sandals touched cool marble. I adjusted my sunglasses, pretending not to gawk, but the way the estate shimmered in the sun made it impossible not to stare.Sophia leaned in. “Don’t let it scare you,” she whispered. “All bark, all noise. That’s this family’s specialty.”“But they still bite?”She s

The estate looked like something out of a luxury magazine that evening. The back patio had been transformed. Fairy lights twisted around palm trunks, gold-rimmed champagne flutes glinting under soft lanterns, and the gentle hum of jazz from a live trio tucked near the fountain. Ocean breeze, scented candles, and too many beautiful people in one place. It was almost annoying how rich the air felt.I arrived late with Sophia. She’d made me change twice before letting me out the door. She mentioned something about “vacation fabulous, not wedding guest desperate.” I didn’t even argue. I needed the distraction.The cousins were already gathering when we got there. Jay held court in the center of a circular lounge setup, sprawled across a curved couch like it was built just for him. Kelvin, stunning in a dark short-sleeve button-up that showed off his arms, was laughing with Leo and Owen near the bar. Leo looked like he walked off the cover of Vogue, and Owen had the unmistakable presence o

Kelvin’s confession brought our conversation to an abrupt halt. I offered him a quick goodnight and practically fled, my brain still doing cartwheels.“Only this time… we both have eyes on the same woman.”God help me return to L.A. as a sane woman after this vacation.I shut the door to my room gently, already reaching for the lamp switch, when a voice in the dark stole the breath right out of me.“Did you enjoy yourself?”I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. “Jesus, Liam, what the hell?!”He was seated in the corner, arms crossed, his face shadowed in the faint moonlight slipping through the balcony curtains. Still, that sharp edge in his voice cut clear.“Answer the question.”I steadied my breath. “What are you doing in here?”“I could ask you the same thing,” he said, standing now. “What were you doing with Kelvin for that long?”I blinked, caught between disbelief and irritation. “Is it a crime to talk to people now?”He took a slow, deliberate step toward me. “I remember telli