n uneven bursts. The contract lay on the coffee table

mont

deci

d somehow managed to turn her world upside dow

r to either se

t him

he. "You really don't take

g sharp in his gaze, something unrelenting. "N

d. "I'm not lyi

sence overwhelming in the

ted how he could see right through he

r," she said, crossing her arm

what it can give you." His voice lowered, smoot

tiffe

he was

e kne

ween them, thick with

"Fifteen minutes until midnight,

wallo

ontrol-by a system that had never worked in her favor, by men like

th

s *her*

reached for

it, as she scanned the contract

idn't shake

ew exactly what she

abbed

sign

he paper, Jayden's lips curved

d gi

ammed agains

'd just made the best

he w

-

arrived at Le Jardin an

as she prepped ingredients, letting the famil

ht felt

had watched her, his gaze heavy with s

dn't s

s to figure out what the h

e usual morning chaos, Celeste had pus

, she thoug

's voice cut th

My offic

mach tw

the curious looks from the other chefs

d her, Roux turned, his expression un

se stuttered.

kened. "Jayd

eath c

se he c

't waste a second

say?" she ask

en, with a slow shake of his head, he

ened around the e

aring the words still sent a strange mi

id, forcing herself

id an obscene amount of money to terminate

ath came fast

really ha

nger a chef a

or's personal chef fo

take, Bennett. Working for a man like McGr

flared in

ght. That she was disposable. That she could never p

had cho

, she was cho

hen I guess I'll just h

ome crawling back when

bother re

time in her life, sh

-

hat she had expected-sleek, mode

pen-concept kitchen was fitted with top-of-the-line applian

eamed

ly against the marble counter, wa

Celeste," he

"This isn't my home, McGr

ed. "That remai

his words sent a shi

she said, setting her bag down

ance between them in a slow, deliberate stride.

feel like she had already lost w

er shoulders. "Wh

t before gesturing toward

ng past him to inspect the

ne

he'd make damn sure he neve

e knew she could control- The food. But as she felt Jayden's eyes on her, sharp and unreadable, she knew

-