Vanya's pov:
"You're supposed to use clarified butter for that recipe." I said, wiping the broth off my finger. "It gives it a more dignified taste."
"Yes ma'am. I'll get to it right away!"
The kitchen was a flurry of activities. With a huge event coming up in a matter of days, all my chefs had hands on deck to ensure that everything went smoother than oil.
The aromas of food wafted in the air. I could feel the heat, and it was making me a bit sweaty. But work had to be done, and it was something I would endure.
"Miss Jacob!" I heard a loud voice call my name. I turned to see a junior chef. "I made this for you!" He announced, holding a plate of cake in his hands. He stretched out to me.
I held back a smile. "Thank you, Mike." I said, taking it from him.
"You...you know my name?"
"Yes. I know all my worker by their name." I took a bite of the cake. "It's moist, but it's lacking flavour. What was it supposed to be?"
"V-vanilla!"
"Well," I handed the plate back to him. "Perfect the recipe and we can add it to the upcoming menu."
"Really?! Thank you so much Miss Jacob!"
I smiled at him. "You're welcome."
He nodded, a shy blush on his face. Then he turned and raced off, going back to his work with an eager look on his face.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I made my way out of the kitchen before I picked it up. "Father!" I said with a wide smile. I didn't even need to glance at the screen to know it was Marco.
"It's three thirty." He said.
"Oh my Luna!" I cried out. Glancing at my watch, I felt guilt seeping inside me. "I'm so sorry father. I ..."
"I know how hectic it must be running a million dollar catering industry." Marco said with a sigh. "But remember you have kids to pick up from school."
I rushed out of the kitchen area to my office. "I'm so sorry. I'll go right now. Right away."
"Why don't you hire a sitter?" He asked,
"I want to raise my kids myself." I said with a sigh. "Father, we've talked about this a whole lot before."
"Yes. For four years now. And you've...."
"Sorry, can't hear you! Gotta go! Bye!" I hung up, exhaling heavily.
The kids are going to kill me!
****
"How many minutes is she late by?" Andrew said, folding his arms across his chest. He turned to his brother. "Hey! I asked you a question."
"Um! An hour!" Ryan replied, looking up from the book he was reading. "She's late by one hour!"
"Fifteen minutes and forty-two seconds." Andrew seconded, his brown eyed narrowed at me.
"Boys, we don't have to do this now," I said, trying to reason with them.
"What makes you think, oh dear mother of mine," Andrew said, walking round me in circles. "That it is normal to keep us waiting for so long?"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "We need to go, now."
"No!" He raised a hand. "Answer my inquiry first"
I deadpanned, but on the inside I was fighting a smile. "Are you serious?"
"Yes." He jutted his chin out. "One hundred billion percent."
"Oh my dear Andrew, I wish I could play with this game of yours" I said with a sigh, flipping my hair over to my shoulder. "But sadly, I do not have time to spare! Run for your life!"
He burst into high pitched giggles as I reached for him, grabbing him and throwing him over my shoulder. "Put me down mama!" He shrieked, his laugher high and sweet. "I must not be seen in such a humiliating way!"
I grabbed Ryan too, he whined as I threw him over my other shoulder. "Mom! You're interrupting the flow!"
"Oh you nerd." Andrew hissed, knocking the book out of Ryan's hand.
I pulled them both down, holding each in my arm before they could start fighting. "Boys! That's enough!"
Andrew calmed down, his eyes staring into mine. "You're late again, mama."
"You said you wouldn't be." Ryan added.
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time. Next time I'll have uncle Marco pick you up?"
"No!" They screamed at once. "He's mean!"
"What do you mean?" I asked, carrying them out of the classroom. "He's perfect, like a teddy bear."
"He's a real bear!" Andrew cried. "He doesn't let me play with him!"
"That's because you always play silly pranks." Ryan said.
"Oh do shut up." Andrew said. Soon they started bickering.
Honestly, no one prepared me for the amount of fights I'd have to separate having twin boys. They fought each other at every chance and yet would make up in a flash.
"That's enough now." I said. We got outside the school and I put them down. "Let's go home. We'll have butter chicken for dinner."
"Yay!" Andrew cheered.
"I want ice cream." Ryan said.
"Ice cream isn't food."
"I didn't ask you."
They're twins, but so different. They are two split images of each other, having the same dark hair and soulful brown eyes, both are incredibly smart kids but that was where their similarities ended. Andrew was loud and an authoritarian, sometimes I sear he's a grandpa in a four year old's body. At such a young age he shows capabilities of an alpha. While Ryan is quieter and prefers to read and draw rather than talk to anyone.
They have been the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm so grateful that I have them, even though they fight all the time and cause me headaches.
They're my boys.
"Let's get going now." I called out, unlocking the car. "We'll settle this at home!"
"Yes mama!" They said in unison.
Everything was worth it in the end. All the odd jobs I had to do before I was able to build my own company. It was all worth it.
To see the smiles on their faces. To be called 'mama'. I can't ask for anything more.
But…….Vanya's pov:I couldn't ever get used to seeing so many rich and influential people under one roof. The cool air smelled of money and expensive cologne. I myself looked like one of these rich people, dressed in an exquisite dark red gown studded with gems on the plunging neckline. I had my hair done in a princess braid, tendrils of it framing my face and eyes. I held a champagne flute in my hand, sipping it occasionally. It was the good kind, the expensive bubbles tickling my tongue.The dance floor was alive with couples in their attractive designer clothes dancing to fancy piano music. I stood on the balcony, drinking my champagne and watching the event. I had no obligation to be here, but I couldn't say no to the client's invitation.How many of these events have I attended in just three months? A lot of them. And with each one, JAY’S CUISINE was there to attend to all the catering and interior decorating needs. I think this one was a fundraiser for women cancer, I wasn't exactly
Vanya's POV:"I'll be taking my leave now," Roman announced, leaving with a bow. I couldn't say anything to him, my eyes focused solely on Josephine."It's been only four years?" I scoffed, my eyes wide with surprise. "Is that supposed to make me feel better or what?"Josephine giggled, turning to glance at Cian for a brief moment. "What's the matter babe? Did I say something out of line?" She asked, batting long lashes at me. I rolled my eyes.I resisted the urge to smash my champagne flute into Josephine's eye. Four years, I'm very sure to her it must have been just four years. but to me those four years were full of so much pain and agony that I can't even bear to look at the two of them right now without feeling like I want to smash my glass with my bare hands or scream out in frustration.I controlled my emotions, taking in deep gulps of air to calm myself down. There's no point in over reacting right now, I'm only going to give them the satisfaction that they're looking for. No
Vanya'sPOVI stared at Josephine for a good ten seconds as if she had magically spawned an extra head."You know, I have really high hopes for whoever it is," She said, her smile widening. "You were a former luna, so I wouldn't expect you to be fucking anyone leas than an alpha, right? I mean, it would just be so crazy and low value behavior.""What?" I gasped, my eyes wide. I can't believe the words spewing out of her lips right now. Does she really think this is what is happening? "Oh don't look so surprised." She laughed, waving me off dismissively. "That gown you have on, it's designer. Unless of course it's fake, I don't mind that too."She's talking nonsense. And I don't have the energy to listen to her rant right now. She's doing this to get on my nerves I know that. And it's working. It's fucking working right now."Have a wonderful evening." I snapped, turning on my heel."Leaving so soon?" Josephine called after me, her chilling laughter going down to my bones. "Don't tell
Vanya's POV:It's not like I didn't know Cian's heart wasn't with me. As he had said, I chose to live in my own fantasy bubble, believing whatever the hell I wanted to believe as long as I was happy. Believing that Cian loved me. Believing that the moon goddess finally answered my prayers and mated us together. Believing that we would be together till we died. It wasn't that hard to see if only I looked. How distant he looked sometimes, like something was on his mind. And later I would come to discover that something on his mind was actually on someone. And that someone was the woman I believed was my best friend of all time.I laughed softly. I was so stupid."Here," Tara said, handing a plate with a slice of cake over to me. We sat on the elevated platform right next to our catering van. About four of my staff were in the van, drinking some water and having light snacks. Tara poured some champagne for the both of us and we sat back to enjoy the small treat. I drank the champagne
Vanya's POV:"Come on Tara, I'm driving you home.""But why?" Tara drawled, her head bobbing on my shoulder. The stench of alcohol was heavy on her breath. She raised her head and looked up at me, cheeks flushed and lips bloody red. "How are you not drunk?" She asked, a hiccup leaving her lips."I have high alcohol tolerance." I said. I supported her, my arm over her shoulder as we stumbled to my car. "I'm sober enough to drive us home.""Okay," She mumbled. "I think I'm gonna be sick."Before I could stop her, she doubled over, throwing up the contents in her stomach on the ground. I patted her back, holding her hair back."Let it all out." I mumbled. She gagged and retched, mumbling half apologies about how she's such a mess. I heard approaching footsteps running toward us. I turned to see Mike holding a bottle of water."Is she okay?" He asked, worried eyes glancing at Tara."She's fine." I said, taking the bottle from his hand. I opened it and brought it up to Tara's lips. She dr
Vanya's POVThe next morning, I woke up late.I laid in bed for a few seconds, trying to remember what had happened that left me feeling so tired. Memories of the previous night rushed into my head, making me groan out loud and bury my pillow into my face.It all came rushing back. Cian. Josephine. Tara's breakdown in my car. Tara!I sat up in a start, looking around the room. I heaved a sigh of relief seeing the body lying beside me, warm brown hair sprayed all over the pink silk pillows. I leaned over checking to see if she was still breathing. Thankfully she was.I got out of bed, stretching my shoulders. I still wore my gown from the party, I must have crashed into the bed the moment I came home. So was Tara, she was still dressed for the party.I went about my morning routine, taking a shower and changing into my day clothes. By the time I was done, Tara was still asleep. The clock hanging on my wall read ten thirty in the morning."Marco will kill me." I muttered under my breat
Vanya's POVI watched Tara devour the plate of soup placed in front of her. She looked terrible, dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was pale too, lacking it's rosy hue. She had taken off her clothes from the party and ran a cold shower, now dressed in an oversized t shirt of mine. Now her hair hung in damp rattails down her back and shoulders. "You're such a wonderful chef, Mr Leon," she said, swallowing a mouthful of the chicken soup. "Just call me Marco," He said, passing her a glass of water. "And slow down, you wouldn't want to choke now."She nodded. "Thank you. Now I can see where Miss Jacob got her awesome cooking skills from.""Oh please." I scoffed in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I taught him everything he knows."Marco smiled, shaking his head. "Don't argue with her now." He said. "Just eat your food.""I'm never going to drink so much again." Tara groaned. "My head hurts like someone is playing soccer with a metal ball.""You'll be fine." I said, offering her a sma
Vanya's POVThe weekend went by in a blur. After Tara left and I had to spend a lot of hours appeasing the twins, I'm glad that Ryan finally understood what was going on and played along perfectly.All thoughts of Josephine and Cian were pushed to the darkest parts of my mind. I spent the rest of my weekend having fun with my boys. We had indoor picnics and went out for ice cream on Sunday evening. And by Monday morning, it was time to go back to our regular schedules."Here are the reports from the last event at the Rochester house." Tara said as she handed me a file. "From the figures we had a sixty percent increase in calls and project proposals. If we're to take all of them, we'll need more staff. ""More staff huh?" I took the papers from her and leafed through them. The figured were looking good. And I'm sure there was nothing there that would point to the breakdown Tara had at the events. She also looked better now, her cheeks were back to life and she had a cheerful smile on h