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chapter 10
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-07 09:27:00
Bab terkait
The chef and The charmer chapter 11
I returned to my station just in time for the competition to officially begin. The tension from the confrontation with Damian still lingered under my skin, but I pushed it aside, locking it away where it couldn’t distract me. I had bigger things to focus on.The competition floor buzzed with nervous energy—chefs chopping, flames flickering, the rhythmic clatter of knives against cutting boards. This was my element. Here, I could drown out the world and lose myself in the precision of my craft.I kept my head down, meticulously slicing herbs, measuring ingredients, keeping every movement controlled and methodical. If I focused hard enough, I could almost convince myself that the weight pressing on my chest was just the pressure of the contest—not the ghost of Damian’s voice still rattling around in my head.By the time I plated my first dish and sent it off to the judges, the knot in my stomach had started to ease. I could breathe again. This—this was where I belonged. Not locked in so
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08The chef and The charmer chapter 12
I barely had time to catch my breath when Chris found me in the hallway. My heart still drummed in my chest, the weight of disappointment heavier than the ache in my limbs. The sting of placing tired gnawed at me, a reminder that no matter how hard I pushed, it hadn’t been enough — not today.“Hey,” Chris’s voice cut through the noise in my head. His smile was cautious, like he wasn’t sure if it was the right moment. “You did great out there.”I forced a small smile, though it felt thin on my lips. “Thanks.”Chris stepped closer, his hands tucked in his jacket pockets. He shifted his weight from foot to foot,he seem to quite nervous. I figured the cameras weren’t around this time, so whatever he wanted to say must’ve been real.“Look… I wanted to apologize,” he started, his gaze flicking away before meeting mine again. “For the media mess… for how everything played out. You didn’t deserve that.”I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to hear those words unti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08The chef and The charmer chapter 13
“Evelyn, baby… how are you holding up?” Her voice was warm, familiar—like a soothing balm on an open wound.Tears welled up before I could stop them. I let out a shaky breath, the disappointment crashing over me all at once. “I should’ve done better, Mama. Third place… it’s not enough. What if… what if I’m not good enough? What if I never make it?”There was a pause, then her soft chuckle. “Oh, sweetheart… you’ve come too far to give up now. You’re a fighter. You always have been. This is just one chapter—not the whole story. Remember how you used to sneak into the kitchen late at night, trying to perfect that lemon tart? You burned it three times before you got it right. But you never stopped trying.”A small smile tugged at my lips through the tears. “I almost set the curtains on fire that night.”She laughed, the sound wrapping around me like a warm hug. “Exactly. And look at you now. You made it to the finals. Not everyone can say that. Third place or not, you’re still one of the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09The chef and The charmer chapter 14
Damien pov:The faint hum of music filtered through the walls, a steady bass thrumming beneath the laughter and clinking glasses of the networking event just beyond the door. The dimly lit room smelled faintly of perfume and expensive whiskey, a combination I was all too familiar with.Her name… what was her name again? Madison? Melanie? Something with an M, I think. Not that it mattered. She was pressed against me, her fingers toying with the buttons of my blazer, her breath warm against my neck.“I missed you,” she purred, tilting her head to brush her lips along my jawline.I smirked, one hand lazily trailing down the curve of her waist. “Did you? Or did you miss what I could do to you?”She giggled, a light sound that filled the room like a practiced melody. “Both. Can’t we do this again? One night wasn’t enough.”My grin widened, but there was no heat behind it. I leaned in, lips grazing her ear. “You know the rules, sweetheart. No second rounds.”Her pout was almost convincing.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10The chef and The charmer chapter 15
Damien povThe noise of the event buzzes around me, but I’m focused on one thing, or rather, one person. I ignore Chris’s latest remark—something about her “cleaned up nicely.” or “how she got everyone under a spell“. He can talk himself hoarse for all I care. I need a moment, a drink, and I spot a waiter passing by, his tray loaded with glasses of champagne. I grab two, handing one to a nearby acquaintance before slipping the other into my own hand.My gaze cuts through the crowd, and I find her immediately—Evelyn. She’s smiling, her confidence radiating like a beacon. She stands there, surrounded by chefs and industry elites, but she doesn’t seem like she belongs to either group. There’s an energy about her—alive, dangerous, the kind you can’t look away from. Her eyes dance with sharp intelligence, and the way she handles herself among them? Effortless. It’s almost too easy for her.I don’t wait long. I take a sip of champagne, feeling the bubbles tingle against my tongue, and then I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11The chef and The charmer chapter 16
Evelyn povThe evening stretches on, the air thick with the scent of roasted herbs and aged wine. I step outside onto the balcony, hoping to steal a moment of fresh air away from the crowded room. The cool breeze brushes against my skin, offering a fleeting sense of relief—until I catch the faint glow of a cigarette ember in the shadows.Damian Blackstone leans against the railing, half-hidden by the dim light, smoke curling lazily from between his fingers. I freeze, not realizing anyone else was out here.“Sorry… I didn’t know—”He glances at me, one brow lifting in that effortlessly arrogant way of his. “You don’t have to apologize. Balcony’s big enough for both of us.”I hesitate. The polite thing to do would be to leave—but something about the way he’s watching me makes my feet stay rooted. Still, I force myself to turn back toward the door. My hand grips the handle, ready to disappear—but it doesn’t budge.Locked.A low chuckle rumbles behind me. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12The chef and The charmer chapter 17
The taxi weaved through Manhattan’s endless motion, the city alive with flashing billboards, honking horns, and pedestrians moving with purpose. Skyscrapers stretched toward the sky, their glass surfaces reflecting the golden hues of the morning sun. I exhaled slowly, my fingers tightening around my bag strap.Damian’s penthouse was in one of the most exclusive high-rises, and as the taxi pulled up to the entrance, I took a steadying breath before stepping out. Inside, the lobby was all marble and glass, the kind of place where money wasn’t just spent—it was displayed.The front desk receptionist, a blonde woman with sharp eyes, barely spared me a glance before giving me a once-over, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Can I help you?” she asked, skepticism lacing her tone.“I’m here for Damian Blackstone,” I said evenly.Her brows lifted. “And you are?”“Evelyn Carter. His private chef.”She didn’t bother hiding her doubt, eyes flicking to my simple black blouse and jeans. I sighed,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13The chef and The charmer chapter 18
The early morning light spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Damian Blackstone’s penthouse, casting a soft glow over the sleek, modern kitchen. I roll up the sleeves of my crisp white chef’s jacket, inhaling the stillness of the morning before the inevitable chaos that will come with working for a man like him. The marble counter tops gleam, untouched, the high-end appliances silent. It’s a kitchen built for show, not for use, and it’s clear that no one has bothered to cook in here before me.I step toward the massive double-door refrigerator and pull it open, taking stock of the groceries delivered yesterday. Everything remains exactly where I left it—pristine vegetables still wrapped in their packaging, farm-fresh eggs untouched, smoked salmon sealed in its sleek black casing. My fingers brush over a loaf of sourdough bread, its golden crust slightly crisp to the touch. Good. At least I won’t have to deal with stale bread this morning.Grabbing what I need, I set the ingre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14
Bab terbaru
The chef and The charmer chapter 39
The city was finally beginning to feel like home. It was strange how familiarity crept in—slowly at first, then all at once. The streets that once seemed too loud, too crowded, too impersonal, now carried a sense of routine. The bakery on the corner who bakes my favorite kind of cake and bread. The barista at my favorite cafe smiled at me like we shared an inside joke every time i get out of the penthouse and last but not the least the corner store where Damien buys me ice cream when we go out for a walk, it has starts to look like a routine for the both of us . The loneliness that once pressed against my ribs was easing, even if it wasn’t completely gone. But even in the midst of my quiet victories, there were moments when the past clawed its way back in, uninvited and unrelenting.Eric and Emma. Their names had lost the sting they once carried, but every now and then, a memory would resurface, raw and vivid. Betrayal had a way of branding itself into a person’s bones, and no amount
The chef and The charmer chapter 38
After my walk with Damian last night, something in me shifted. Lighter. Freer. As if the weight of pretending, of balancing the tightrope between what was real and what wasn’t, had finally eased just enough for me to breathe.For the first time since stepping into his world, I felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.That morning, as I moved around the penthouse kitchen, my phone buzzed with an email notification. I wiped my hands on a kitchen towel before picking it up, expecting another mundane message. But as soon as I saw the sender’s name, my breath hitched.From: Chef Alain DufortSubject: Private Catering RequestDear Miss Evelyn,I hope this email finds you well. I had the pleasure of watching you few months back at Cooking Contest, and your passion for food was truly inspiring. I am hosting a private birthday dinner for my daughter this Saturday and would love for you to handle the catering. It will be an intimate gathering of about twenty guests, and I trust your e
The chef and The charmer chapter 37
Evelyn POVDamian’s world is nothing like mine.I realize this the first moment I step into the kitchen—our kitchen, technically, since I live here now. A penthouse too grand, too extravagant for someone like me. Stainless steel appliances gleam under warm, recessed lighting. A marble island stretches across the center, as if it were made for casual morning coffee and whispered confessions. Every tool, every spice jar, every delicate crystal glass has a place. Everything is intentional. Thoughtful. Perfect.Unlike my life. Unlike me.I tighten my grip on the handle of my knife, grounding myself in the familiarity of the blade’s weight. Cooking has always been my solace, my anchor. No matter how chaotic things get, the act of preparing food—the slicing, the seasoning, the slow transformation of raw ingredients into something nourishing—keeps me steady. It keeps my heart from drifting toward dangerous waters.Because that’s what this is. Dangerous.I exhale slowly, pushing aside the uns
The chef and The charmer chapter 36
Damian’s POV – The morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting long shadows across the sleek, polished desk. I leaned back in my leather chair, the unopened letter resting on the surface in front of me like a loaded gun. I had barely slept. My mother’s words had carved their way into my mind, stirring memories I preferred buried.A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.“Come in,” I called, straightening as Chris walked in.He looked like he had just downed a gallon of coffee—sharp suit, tired eyes. “What was so urgent that you dragged me in this early?” He dropped into the chair across from me, one brow raised. “Don’t tell me it’s about last night. You and Evelyn put on a good show.”I exhaled slowly, reaching for the letter and tossing it onto the desk. “Read it.”Chris picked it up, unfolding the expensive stationery. His expression shifted from mild curiosity to sharp focus as he scanned the words.“Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He lower
The chef and The charmer chapter 35
The next morning, I woke up alone in my room, the distant hum of the city filtering through the penthouse windows. Damian’s presence was nowhere to be felt—not that it ever was. We had separate rooms, separate lives, even if we were bound by this arrangement. Still, a faint trace of his cologne lingered in the air from when he had passed by my door last night. He was long gone. Again.Over the next week, a pattern emerged. Damian left early and returned late, his face drawn with exhaustion. He barely had time to eat, let alone talk. When he did speak, his words were brief, the sharpness of his usual charm dulled by whatever weight he was carrying.One evening, I was curled up on the couch when he finally came home, his tie loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looked exhausted, but still unfairly good. He sighed heavily as he dropped onto the couch beside me.“Long day?” I asked softly, studying him.He rubbed a hand down his face before leaning back against the cushions. “You could say th
The chef and The charmer chapter 34
The grand dining hall of Damian’s mother’s estate was as imposing as the woman herself. Crystal chandeliers cast an almost blinding glow over the long mahogany table, which was set with fine china and polished silverware. I smoothed down my white satin dress, feigning composure while internally bracing myself for the battle ahead.Damian’s mother sat at the head of the table, a perfect picture of cold elegance. Her eyes flickered to me, sharp and assessing, as if she were dissecting my very existence. I forced a polite smile, knowing she could see right through it.“So, Evelyn,” she began, her voice silky but laced with an unmistakable edge. “Tell me, where are you from?”“Cold Spring,” I replied evenly, keeping my tone polite but distant.Her perfectly arched brow lifted slightly. “Cold Spring? And your family? What do they do?”“Just regular civilians,” I said, holding my posture firm. “Nothing extravagant.”She hummed, taking a slow sip of her wine. “Interesting.” Her gaze lingered
The chef and The charmer chapter 33
Evelyn povThe scent of garlic and rosemary filled the kitchen as I stirred the pot, the warm aroma wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. The rhythmic chop of my knife against the cutting board echoed in the quiet space, a soothing sound after a long day of writing recipes and buy groceries.I glanced at the small folded note resting against the spice rack, the one Damien had left for me this morning. Just a simple, lazy scrawl of” heading to work “. Don’t burn the kitchen down while I’m gone. - D.” . A smile tugged at my lips before I shook my head, tucking the note into the pages of my recipe book.The front door creaked open, followed by the sound of keys dropping onto the console table. Heavy footsteps. A sigh.Damien.I kept my focus on the cutting board, but my ears picked up every small movement—the rustle of fabric as he loosened his tie, the low exhale of exhaustion. The air in the room shifted slightly, like it always did when he entered.“What’s for dinner?” His voice
The chef and The charmer chapter 32
Damien povI slipped into my car, the engine rumbling to life as I pulled out onto the main-slicked road. The meeting with the board of directors had ended over an hour ago, but their words still echoed in my head. The weight of the discussions pressed against my mind, but it wasn’t what made my chest tighten. That honor belonged to my mother. Her call had been cold and clipped, each syllable sharp as glass. She was back from France — when the hell had that happened? Of course, she didn’t bother to tell me. She never does. Everything with her is calculated. Controlled. Just like that house. Cold. Silent. Full of secrets.The drive to the family mansion stretched longer than I remembered. It stood like a ghost against the darkened sky, perched on its remote estate where the elite of New York hid behind their wealth. As the wrought iron gates creaked open tall and imposing, my tires crunched over the gravel driveway. I hadn’t set foot here since my father’s funeral.The mansion looms in
The chef and The charmer chapter 31
Damien povThe first rays of dawn barely painted the sky when my eyes snapped open. The penthouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city below. For the first time in a long while, the weight of responsibility tugged me out of bed. After a year of avoiding everything, I was finally going back to work.The cold water hit my face like a slap, jolting me fully awake. I stared at my reflection, watching droplets slide down my face, catching on the faint scar on my temple — a souvenir from the accident. I barely recognized myself. Shaving, dressing, each motion felt mechanical. The tailored suit clung to my frame, the crispness of the fabric unfamiliar after months of living in loungewear. Still, the weight of it settled something in me. Damien Blackstone was back.As I sipped my coffee, I pulled out my phone and dialed Chris.“Well, well, look who finally remembered how to use a phone,” Chris teased.I smirked. “Don’t start. I need backup today. You in?”Chris sighed. “You sure you
