Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Ariana
Iwas on the phone with Hannah, listening to her speak excitedly about her wedding plans. The ceremony would be held here in this town, since it was both hers and Payton’s hometown, and their families were all still here.
The rehearsal dinner and the reception would take place at Ana?s, just a month from today.
She had chosen the venue even before we officially opened, as if she already believed Ana?s was going to be a success.
“Did you hear what I said, Ari?” Her voice cut through my thoughts just as I walked across the restaurant, shaking my head at Allen, who was hurrying toward me with an iPad in one hand and a stack of documents in the other. He stopped in his tracks, still looking at me with a hopeful expression.
“Yes, I heard you,” I sighed. “But I have to go now, Hannah. Allen is giving me the look. He must have something important to discuss. Say hi to Payton for me.”
“Okay,” she said. “But Ari, I want to say something first, and I’ll be quick.”
“Yes,” I said, then waited.
“You already have a success with Ana?s. I saw the reviews, and they were all fantastic. I keep telling you this, and I won’t stop.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Especially your heart.
I know this plan matters to you, but Ari, I know you well enough to see that it’s hurting you too.
Hurting people is hurting you. I just don’t want you to lose yourself in the process. ”
I knew Hannah still believed I was the same person I used to be, before all of this. That somewhere inside, the good part of me was still there.
But she was wrong. That version of me was already gone.
“Okay, Hannah. I really have to go. Love you.”
She sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “Love you too, babe.”
After I hung up, I turned to Allen, who immediately overwhelmed me with reports to approve, expenses to sign, and a dozen other tasks that made my head spin.
We sat down at one of the tables, and I placed my lunch order.
A few minutes later, Kenji strolled in, set the plate in front of me, and slid into the chair across from mine.
Allen frowned at him. “We’re in a meeting,” he said.
“I know. Sorry,” Kenji replied calmly, his eyes on me. “I just need a minute with Ari. Something quick before I head back to the kitchen.”
I looked at Allen and said, “I’ll find you after I finish my lunch.”
Allen didn’t look happy about it, but he left anyway, sending a scowl Kenji’s way.
“So,” Kenji began, “I have two things I need to tell you.”
He paused, and I waited.
“First, I got a phone call today. From someone named Harriet Mercer.”
I froze. Grayson’s mother.
“She offered me the executive chef position at Belrose.” He let out a short laugh and shook his head. “I mean, my specialty is Japanese fusion. That’s not exactly what Belrose is known for. I haven’t talked to Thiago yet, but I bet she offered him the same thing.”
I laughed too. It was ridiculous—such a drastic change. She had no idea how the business worked. And I doubted Grayson even knew about the offer. Most importantly, they couldn’t possibly be able to afford either of these two chefs.
“And secondly,” he said, his tone softening as his eyes settled on me, “I just moved into a new apartment. A permanent one, finally. Turns out… it’s in the same building as yours.”
I stared at him, unsure what to say.
“I didn’t know you lived there,” he added quickly. “I only found out when I updated my address with HR. Allen mentioned it.”
“Okay,” I said slowly.
“I hope that’s okay with you,” he said gently. “And that you’ll see it as a good thing, as I do.”
“Oh.” I took a moment to gather myself. “Of course it’s okay. I don’t own the building. You have every right to be there, just as much as I do.”
“Good,” he said, flashing that devastating smile of his. It was impossible not to smile back. I did, without even thinking.
“Maybe we can have a movie night sometime,” he added. “And I’ll introduce you to Sunny.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Sunny?”
“My dog,” he explained, his grin growing. “She’s a Beagle. Cutest little thing to ever walk the earth.”
“Okay.” I smiled a little wider. Maybe it was actually nice having him nearby. At least I would not feel so alone all the time.
And he was so gorgeous. Seriously hot. I was not sure what to do with that part.
“Okay,” he echoed and rose slowly from his seat. “I’ve got to get back to work.” He nodded toward the dish he had just brought. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” I said, glancing up at him as he stood.
But before he could walk away, someone shouted my name across the restaurant.
“Ariana!”
Kenji and I both froze. He looked over his shoulder toward the voice, and I leaned to the side, trying to see who it was.
“Ariana!”
Damn it. Taylor.
She was storming toward me, heels clicking furiously against the floor, her face set in a glare. She stopped right at my table, throwing a glance at Kenji, then quickly looking away with a flicker of embarrassment. Her eyes locked back on mine.
“I need to talk to you,” she demanded.
I didn’t bother to stand. Kenji remained where he was, a frown beginning to form as he picked up on the tension.
“Then talk,” I said, calm and steady, not breaking eye contact.
“Not here,” Taylor said quickly, fidgeting and scanning the packed room. “Let’s go to your office.”
I shook my head. “I’m about to have my lunch. You can say whatever you need to say right here.” I gestured to the empty chair across from me, the one Kenji had just vacated. “Go ahead. Take a seat.”
She looked at me like she might slap me. “I can’t talk here,” she hissed, clearly rattled, her eyes darting toward Kenji. “People can hear.”
I almost laughed. “Why? Do you have something to hide, Taylor?”
Taylor crossed her arms, glaring down at me. “You know what you did to me, Ari,” she snapped, her voice tight with rage. “You’re trying to ruin me with lies.”
I actually laughed at that. “Lies? Really, Taylor? Or do you want more proof?”
Her lip curled. She had no excuse.
“What do you want, Ari? Just say it. You need money?” She scoffed and shook her head. “Of course you do. That’s all you ever cared about. That’s why you clung to my brother, and now you’re screwing Stephen Hale too. Because you’re greedy. Always were. So tell me, how much do you want?”
Kenji stepped around the table and came to stand beside me. Then he said, “Want me to kick her out, Ari? We’re allowed to do that to disruptive customers.”
“No,” I said with a light chuckle. “It’s alright. I’ve got this.”
Kenji’s eyes stayed on mine, searching, like he wasn’t sure if I really meant it. But something in my expression must have convinced him, because after a second, he gave a slight nod and walked away.
I turned back to Taylor.
“Do you really think you can afford to pay me?” I leaned slightly over the table, holding her gaze. “But here’s the thing. I don’t care how much you offer. It won’t stop me, Taylor. Nothing will. You just watch.”
Her expression faltered for the briefest second.
“And by the way,” I added, “has anyone informed you about the little money crisis your company is drowning in? Or that I’m about to take over Rosemere because you can’t keep up with the loan payments?”
Her eyes widened.
I smiled, slow and cold. “Guess that wasn’t in your morning briefing.”
“I need that job, Ari,” she hissed. “I’ve worked very hard for it.”
“Yeah…” I drawled, tilting my head. “Too bad you lied on your resume.” Taylor’s jaw tightened, but I kept going. “I’m pretty sure the company wouldn’t want to keep someone who lied to get the job.”
She had been working at Savre, one of the country’s top beauty brands, for almost a year as a Junior Brand Manager. It was a prestigious title—one she flaunted everywhere. But the truth?
She never even finished her bachelor’s degree. She faked her diploma.
And now that secret was about to unravel.
How did I know?
Grayson told me himself. I was still with him then. Taylor was supposed to graduate the same year I did, but she never did. I knew that I had manipulated confidential information he shared about his sister, but I couldn’t care less, not after what they did to me.
Thank God for Toby. He had connections. Or more accurately, someone he could bribe at the university. He obtained her actual academic record for me. It clearly showed she didn’t have the grades to graduate and had been asked to repeat her final year, which, of course, she never did.
“I wonder how the board will react when they find out,” I said casually, picking up my fork. “Not just that you lied to get in, but that you’ve been sitting in meetings, leading campaigns, pretending to be qualified while cashing in a six-figure salary.”
Taylor’s face went pale. She looked around nervously, lowering her voice.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
I smiled, slow and unbothered. “Oh, Taylor. I already did. I sent everything to HR this morning. The text was just a courtesy.”
She looked like she was about to throw up. “You just ruined my life, you know that?”
“Not yet,” I said. “I think your life will actually be ruined when I tell everyone you slept with Jack Helser. You know, Demi’s husband.” I let out a mock gasp. “What will people say when they find out?”
Taylor was trembling now, eyes darting nervously as she scanned the room. But no one was listening. We were speaking just low enough to keep it between us.
Then a familiar voice came from behind Taylor—one I hadn’t even noticed approaching.
Or rather, voices.
Grayson stormed over, eyes locked on his sister like he might actually kick her. And just behind him was Stephen, whom I hadn’t even known was in town. His brow was furrowed, clearly sensing something was wrong, and he was calling my name.
“Taylor,” Grayson snapped, stepping up beside her. “Get out. Now.”
“But Gray, she—”
“It’s your own fault,” he cut her off. “Get out of here before I drag you out myself.”
Taylor turned to me, tears brimming in her eyes, and shot me a glare sharp enough to cut. I met it with a calm smile. She muttered a frustrated curse and stormed out of my restaurant without another word.
Grayson stayed behind.
We locked eyes.
And at that moment, something inside me cracked. Because I could see it, plain as day.
He was looking at me like he didn’t know who I was anymore. Especially now that he knew the truth, his perception of me had perhaps gone back to what it was before. But now, it was like what I had just done had erased the version of me he thought he knew.
It stung—deeper than I expected, deeper than I wanted to admit. Maybe because he was right.
I hadn’t always been like this. I wasn’t vindictive before, wasn’t cruel. He knew that better than anyone. And now he was looking at me like I had crossed a line there was no coming back from, his eyes carrying something sharp and unmistakable.
Disappointment. Pure and quiet, and worse than anger.
Maybe Hannah had been right all along—that hurting people would only end up hurting me too. That in chasing this twisted kind of justice, I’d lose pieces of myself I couldn’t get back.
Then Grayson finally spoke, his voice quiet. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t bother you again.”
He turned without a word, gave Stephen a silent nod, and walked out, his head bowed.
Stephen slid into the seat beside me and leaned back, his expression heavy.
“I didn’t know you were coming to town,” I said.
“I texted you this morning, but you didn’t reply,” he said.
“Ah, you did?” I grimaced, remembering the notification I’d seen but never opened. “Sorry.”
“So,” he sighed, “I take it that was Taylor?”
“Yes.” I met his gaze.
“And your plan for her has been executed?”
The way he said it made me pause. I didn’t answer. I just held his stare.
He exhaled slowly. “Honestly, I don’t like this version of you, Ari.
I love that you’re ambitious, that you’re smart.
I respect your drive, and I believe in competition, in fighting to win.
And I know they hurt you more than anyone should ever be hurt.
But this personal vendetta is changing you.
It is making you cruel, and I don’t know what to make of it. ”
So Hannah thought it. Grayson thought it. And now Stephen, too—all of them looking at me like I had become someone unrecognizable, someone they didn’t particularly like.
But hatred had lived inside me for so long that I didn’t know who I was without it. My life, especially these last three years, had been built around it, shaped by it, held together by it in ways I wasn’t sure I was ready to examine.
And I wasn’t about to let anyone get in my way.
So I looked at Stephen and said,
“You can think whatever you want, Stephen. You can choose to stay and have lunch with me, or you can choose to walk out that door and be with someone less vicious than me.”
His head dropped, and he shook it slowly, a bitter chuckle escaping him. When he looked back at me, he said,
“I’m staying. But I’m not going to stop reminding you, Ari, so you don’t fall so far into your darkest side that you can’t come back.”
I didn’t respond.
He could try.
But I wouldn’t back down.
I had already made that promise to myself.