14Anna straightened her posture, her chin held high, and without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away. Each step was confident and deliberate, her head held high as she moved through the crowd, leaving Michael to stew in his own humiliation. The room remained silent as she exited, her presence commanding respect, the strength of her actions speaking louder than any words could have.Michael burned with anger, he brought out his phone and dialed a number. “ hello, find out who's funding Anna's businesses. Now!” He said on the phone and hung up the call. He stormed off.****Anna re-entered the winery, her heart still racing from the confrontation with Michael. The adrenaline was slowly ebbing away, leaving her feeling slightly unsettled. She scanned the room for Xavier, but he was nowhere to be seen. A growing sense of unease settled over her as she searched the crowded venue, her earlier confidence wavering.After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Anna decided to call h
15“Xavier, I... I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, a radiant smile breaking through the shock. “Thank you. I can’t believe this... it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”She looked around the restaurant with new eyes, realizing that it was no longer just a beautiful space—it was now a reflection of her passion, her hard work, and the faith Xavier had in her.*****On the morning of her first day at work in her very own restaurant, Anna awoke with a mixture of excitement and nerves buzzing through her. The sunlight streamed through her bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the room, but her mind was already focused on the tasks ahead. This was the day she had dreamed about for so long, and now it was finally here.After getting dressed in a crisp white chef's jacket, she decided to call Jessica, her best friend, for a bit of moral support and some extra hands to help with th
16“Come here!” Maureen said and Sophie walked to her, Maureen whispered something into her ears and Sophie smiled mischievously.“It's surely going to work out!” Sophie smiled.“I won’t let this go, Sophie. I won’t let her win.” Maureen smirked. Sophie gave her a supportive smile.Maureen nodded again, feeling slightly more in control as she leaned back in her chair. With Sophie by her side, she knew she wasn’t alone in this fight.***Anna walked Jessica to the door, her friend's face creased with worry after receiving an urgent call from work. "Are you sure everything’s okay?" Anna asked, concern lacing her voice as she placed a reassuring hand on Jessica's arm.Jessica nodded, though her expression remained tense. "I think so, but I have to get back right away. I'm sorry I can't stay longer.""Don't worry about it," Anna said with a comforting smile. "We’ll catch up later. Just take care of whatever you need to."They exchanged a quick hug before Jessica hurried out the door. Anna
17The silence stretched on, unbearably thick, until Sophie, now visibly uncomfortable, hastily pushed the plate away. “I think we’ll be going,” she muttered, her voice trembling slightly. Maureen nodded quickly, the two of them scrambling to gather their things, eager to escape the charged atmosphere.“No one is going anywhere. I said, what's going on here?” He insisted. And Maureen faked a smile immediately.“Oh Xavier! I invited the famous food critic, Sophie. She's so in demand. But I thought she'd be perfect for a munchkin with chef Anna.” Maureen whined flirtatiously. “Okay, Sophie…you don't like the food here?” Xavier asked and Sophie smiled. “It just doesn't say anything, there's no pizzazz!” Sophie mocked cracking up with Maureen.“Well, food critic, I think it says a lot…” Xavier tried to say but Anna cut him off. “Xavier.” Anna called, holding him closer.“I'm sorry. But the high culinary world has its own set of definitions and rules.” Sophie chuckled.“Nah, I've been to l
18"Hey, babydoll," Michael said, a smile curving his lips. It was the first time he’d ever smiled at her like that—genuine, warm, and completely out of character.Anna stared at him, shocked. She didn’t know what to make of his sudden change in demeanor, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what he was up to.Anna felt a knot of unease tightening in her stomach as she stared at Michael, his unexpected smile making her more wary than reassured. She straightened up, crossing her arms defensively."What are you doing here, Michael?" she asked, her voice firm but with an edge of uncertainty.Michael’s smile widened, a mocking glint in his eyes. He sauntered closer to her, his tone taking on a seductive, almost taunting lilt. "Nice place you got here. I was just curious, Anna. How does someone like you afford a place like this? Must’ve cost a pretty penny."“Get out! Your present is not…” Before Anna could respond, Michael reached out and tried to pull her closer, his hand gripping
19"This is perfect," Maureen murmured to herself, her voice tinged with excitement. "Yes! Xavier must see this video." She chuckled softly, her mind already racing with the possibilities of what this could mean. The thought of Xavier’s reaction to seeing Anna so vulnerable, so broken, brought a surge of satisfaction to her.Maureen’s smile widened as she ended the recording, her thumb brushing over the screen as if caressing a precious secret. She savored the moment, imagining how this small clip could unravel so much. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she began crafting a message to Xavier, her mind spinning with wicked thoughts.****Xavier sat in his office, the steady tick of the clock on the wall barely registering in his mind. His focus was entirely on the Rubik's cube in his hands, his fingers moving with practiced precision as he twisted and turned the colorful squares into alignment. Despite the puzzle occupying his hands, his thoughts were elsewhere—caught up in a whirlw
20Xavier’s grip on the phone tightened as he stared at the video in disbelief. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of anger and confusion swirling within him. The sight of Anna with Michael, the way she seemed so distraught and vulnerable, hit him like a punch to the gut.For a moment, Xavier couldn’t tear his eyes away from the screen. Everything he had been thinking, everything he had planned—it all seemed to unravel in that instant. “You do know taking people's photos without permission is illegal, right?” Xavier asked Maureen's greatest surprise. Like, she expected something else!“I was just trying to protect you.” Maureen defended and Xavier smirked.“Now for your information, I know she's divorced. I could care less! Get that into your fixed skull!” Xavier said and handed her phone back to her. Maureen made her hands to his collar and creased his tie.“Then why keep holding on to her my love? She's clearly still in love with her ex-husband.” She said, pouting her lips.
21"Actually, I’m here to deliver some food to a guest. Could you tell me which room Maureen booked last night?"The receptionist, still starstruck, didn’t hesitate. "Sure thing, let me check for you." She turned to her computer, typing in a few details as Anna watched, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. This was just the beginning. She was determined to get to the truth."Room 300," the receptionist said with a smile, and Anna thanked her before making her way down the hallway.When she reached the door, she knocked firmly. After a brief pause, she heard Maureen’s voice from the other side. "Who is it? Hold on!" The door swung open, and Maureen’s face paled when she saw Anna standing there, a cold, curly smile on her lips. Maureen’s jaw dropped, and she stammered, "How did you—"Before she could finish, Anna pushed past her with a force that left Maureen stumbling aside. Anna marched straight to the bedroom, her heart pounding with fury. There, on the bed, was Xavier, still wea