Chapter 2: The Opportunity

Putting a recognition plaque on her glass cabinet in the living room, Samantha smiled at the reward she received. Just the other day, the City's Mayor awarded her as one of Monroe's promising chefs!

She smiled and cherished her achievements, looking at everything from a single view. 

Out of the blue, she said to herself, "Dad, one day... one day you'll realize how I have made it on my own... and you'll be proud of me."

Nearly five years had passed since Samantha gave birth to Kyle and Kenzie.

At twenty-six years old, Samantha was still the beautiful girl she once was. She maintained her godly figure, and her face remained striking. 

She now worked as the head chef for The Emerald's famous restaurant, an establishment within the four-star hotel. It was where she was recognized for her remarkable culinary skills. 

Instead of becoming part of the military, she always dreamed of becoming a chef. Now that she was free from her father's control, she realized her aspiration, exactly as her grandmother suggested. 

In between taking care of her twins, she enrolled in a prestigious culinary school in the same city. 

Samantha took baby steps. After all, studying while raising two kids was not that easy. Thankfully, her aunt Diana took an early retirement in order to aid Samantha. Her aunt was almost always available to take care of the twins when Samantha was out to go to school.

Samantha did not realize how long she was gawking at her accomplishments and looking back at the past few years in her life. Only then did she check the time. She wound up exclaiming, "Shoot! It's almost two in the afternoon!"

"Go! Go, Sam. You still need to prepare for your set menus tonight!" Her aunt reminded while walking into the living room.

As Samantha grabbed her belongings, Kyle and Kenzie did not miss calling out to her. 

Kyle was working on her laptop when he announced, "Mommy, your windows are outdated. We need to upgrade it."

Samantha rolled her eyes at her boy genius. She never understood how Kyle was so good with gadgets for his age. She sighed, "Oh, well. I would not know. That came with the laptop when I bought it a year ago. Go ahead and... upgrade it."

"It costs one hundred twenty dollars," said Kyle, looking up at her. 

"Wow!" Samantha exclaimed. "We can... do that later. I don't mind using the old version."

She leaned over to kiss Kyle and said, "I have to go, baby! I love you!"

"Mom? When will we see Daddy?" From the other side of the living room, her little girl probed. 

The words of Kenzie made Samantha frown, and she stuttered in her next words, "Um! Daddy! Daddy is busy! Soon, Kenzie... Soon."

She gave Kenzie a kiss and pointed a finger at her little girl. "Don't forget to eat your dinner, guys! I'll see you tonight!"

Giving flying kisses to both of them, she bid goodbye, saying, "I love you! I love you!"

"Love you, Mom!" The twins said at the same time. 

"And... we love Daddy too!" Added Kenzie, making Samantha freeze in her stance for a second.

Yes, Samantha Davis lied to her kids about their father. 

When the twins turned three years old, they became more aware of what a family should comprise; a mother, a father, and children. Her kids noticed how they were clearly missing a father. 

For a single and busy mother like Samantha, it was difficult to explain the absence of a father to her twins, especially when they knew very little about how a family was formed.

At first, she brushed it off, telling them that their Dad was away, knowing they would momentarily forget about it. 

Sadly, when they first attended nursery, the words "father" and "Daddy" were repeatedly mentioned by their teachers and classmates. Their curiosity grew about their missing father, and when they turned four years old, Samantha told them that their daddy was working in Braeton City. 

Braeton City was the place of her birth. The same place that had long forsaken her. 

She wasn't planning on returning there. At least not now. So she determined it was safe to tell a lie and put the missing father there where he most likely lived!

One day, when her kids would have a full understanding of unwed mothers and children born out of wedlock, she swore she would tell them the truth. 

Internally, she thanked their youth and their innocence. Kenzie and Kyle, being young as they were, never dwelled on the topic. Gifts and any digital entertainment easily distracted them from asking more about their father. 

When her aunt Diana walked Samantha out the door, she warned, "Sam, you have to stop this. They are already turning five years old. What will you do when this backfires on you?"

"I know, aunt. Soon. I promise," Samantha said before adding, "Take care of the kids for me."

***

Heartbeats later, Samantha rushed to the hotel where she worked as a head chef for its fine dining restaurant. 

She changed into her uniform and made her way to the establishment. It was there where her staff greeted her with respect, "Good afternoon, Chef Sam!" 

With a smile on her face, she signaled for them to come closer. "Good afternoon! Let's all gather up for our daily meeting and discuss today's menu in - "

"Hold up, Sam!" Samantha turned to find her boss, the hotel's general manager, Gregory Patrick. 

"Mr. Patrick, good afternoon! How are you?" Samantha greeted with her usual elegant smile. 

"Sam! Oh, boy! Do I have great news for you!" Gregory eagerly approached Samantha and urged her to take a seat at one of the empty tables. 

The restaurant was still closed at the moment, preparing for their special dinner, which usually started at five in the afternoon. 

After excusing herself from the restaurant staff, she followed Gregory and sat comfortably in one seat. It was there when he told her about the significant news he was excited to share. 

"The other night, one of the biggest businessmen from Braeton City came to have dinner with us," told Gregory. 

Braeton. The word of the said city instantly gave her chills. 

"Ethan Wright!" Gregory nodded and said, "The one and only Ethan Wright came to our fine restaurant and tasted your dishes!" He held both her arms and said, "Sam! He loved it!"

"He loved it so much!" He repeated, raising both his hands in the air. 

"The Wright Diamond Corporation had recently invaded the hotel industry, and they want to introduce the best fine dining restaurants in Braeton City! And after having tasted your dishes, Sam, he wants to make you an offer!"

"He wanted you so badly; he was willing to pay off your contract with our hotel!" Revealed Gregory. "His assistant is coming over to see you tomorrow. He wants to employ you and bring you over to Braeton City!"

Gregory was at it so fast it was difficult for Samantha to grasp what was happening. She still had a year's contract with The Emerald. She wasn't going anywhere. At least, not with her termination fee, which costs ten thousand dollars!

"Wait? What? What are you talking about, Greg?" Samantha clarified. "I doubt that management will give me up that easily."

Looking earnestly into her eyes, Gregory revealed, "Sam, Mr. Wright offered not only to pay off the termination of your contract but was willing to give The Emerald an additional twenty thousand dollars more!"

Gregory blinked at Samantha before admitting, "I also got a generous tip for speaking to you about this."

"Great!" She raised her hands in dismay before saying, "So you sold me out!"

"Listen to me, Sam. Grab this opportunity! This is for your kids and your future! We are talking about the biggest corporation in Braeton City!" Gregory grabbed her hand and said, "Sam, he is willing to pay you three times your salary here at The Emerald! Plus, provide you with a flat within the new hotel you will be working for!"

"What more could you ask for? Free house and a whopping monthly salary of ten thousand dollars a month!" He announced excitedly. 

"How - " Samanta was truly ready to berate Gregory, but hearing "ten thousand dollars" utterly shocked her. "What - what did - you say?"

"That's right, Sam. He is willing to pay you that much. He wants nothing but the best for his hotel's grand opening, and he wants you to be part of the Wright Diamond Corporation!" Gregory leaned over to the stunned Samantha. He encouraged, "Come on, Sam. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Suddenly, the fear of returning to Braeton City intimidated her. For seconds, her mind drifted to her painful past, but at the same time, she had to admit; the offer was really good. 

With a ten thousand dollar monthly salary, she could easily save up to make her own business. Aside from that, she also had to consider her kids' growing needs. With her current income, she struggled to pay off their tuition plus the rent on the flat where they were occupying. 

Now, she was presented with an offer that even granted her free accommodation. 

Conflicted, she tilted her head and asked herself in silence, 'Should I take this?'