Chapter 15 - [15] A Partner in Crime

I couldn't wait. As soon as Vanessa gave me the green light, my mind was buzzing with ideas, the kind of rush you get when you know something big is about to happen. And the first person I had to tell was Sasha.We had been tight ever since our university days. If there was anyone who shared my passion for food, it was her. We'd spent countless late nights cramming for exams, talking about the dream—our dream—of opening a restaurant one day. Only now, it wasn't just a dream anymore. It was real.I found Sasha hanging out at her usual spot—this low-key food truck joint by the university. Even after graduating, we still found ourselves here, drawn by the cheap, greasy tacos that somehow felt like home."Sasha!" I called out, spotting her ponytail swishing as she turned around. That ever-energetic bounce in her step hadn't changed a bit.Sasha, with her medium-length brown ponytail and that carefree, happy grin plastered on her face, waved back enthusiastically. Her simple, casual outfit—a loose tank top and jeans—did nothing to hide her curvy figure, which she never seemed to pay much attention to but knew how to flaunt in her own way. She was all about comfort, and that was part of what made her so damn fun to be around. No pretense. Just Sasha being Sasha."Tristan, what's up?" she asked, walking up to me with that natural, happy-go-lucky vibe she always had. Her hazel eyes sparkled with curiosity."I've got news. Big fking news," I said, trying to keep my excitement in check but failing miserably.She raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Did you win the lottery or something? Spill it, man!"I couldn't help but laugh. "Better. Vanessa's backing me. We're going to start the restaurant."For a second, she just stood there, her eyes widening in disbelief. And then, like a bomb had just gone off, she screamed, "No fking way!"Before I knew it, she'd grabbed my hands, her excitement infectious. "Are you serious? Like, we're actually doing this? Holy shit, Tristan!""Yeah, we're actually doing this," I said, grinning like an idiot. "I just got the funds."Without another word, Sasha's eyes lit up, and before I knew it, we were both holding hands, jumping up and down like a couple of overgrown kids. It felt like everything was falling into place, like all the stress and uncertainty from the past few years had been leading up to this moment."This is fking insane!" she exclaimed, still jumping, her ponytail bouncing with every movement. "We've talked about this for years! Our own place! Oh my gosh, I can already picture it—like, fusion dishes from everywhere, but in that fun, casual vibe we always talked about.""Exactly," I said, catching my breath from all the jumping. "I want it to be a place where people come for the food but stay for the atmosphere, you know? No pretentious bullshit, just amazing flavors."She clapped her hands together, beaming. "Dude, this is what we were born to do. And Vanessa's okay with me being part of this?"I paused for a moment. Vanessa hadn't exactly mentioned Sasha, but I knew she wouldn't mind. As long as I was in control, she'd let me do whatever I wanted with the business. At least, that's what I told myself."Yeah," I said, nodding. "She's cool with it. She knows we're a package deal. You're the best fucking chef I know, and I wouldn't do this without you."Sasha grinned even wider. "Damn straight. And you've got the business sense. We're gonna kill this, Tristan. LA doesn't even know what's coming."We both plopped down on the bench outside the food truck, the weight of the moment finally sinking in."So, what's the plan?" she asked, leaning back, her arms behind her head, the excitement still shining in her eyes. "Do we have a location? A concept? Or are we just winging it?""I've got ideas," I replied, pulling out my phone to show her some of the locations I'd been eyeing. "There's this spot downtown that's been up for rent. It's a bit rundown, but with some work, it could be perfect. And for the concept, I'm thinking global street food—ramen, tacos, dumplings—everything we love, but done in a way that's accessible to everyone. No crazy prices, just good food that hits hard."She nodded, her eyes scanning through the photos. "I love it. I'm already thinking of menu ideas. Like, what if we had a ramen-taco fusion dish? Or dumplings stuffed with barbecued pork tacos? We could go fucking wild with this.""That's exactly what I was thinking," I said, feeling the excitement grow even more. "We'll take the best of everything, mix it up, and make something new."Sasha suddenly slapped my arm, a big grin on her face. "Dude, this is gonna be so fucking fun. I'm all in. I'll start working on the menu ideas tonight. And you better be ready to work your ass off because we're not just starting a restaurant—we're starting a revolution."I couldn't stop smiling. "Fk yeah. A food revolution."We sat there for a while, talking about the future, throwing around crazy ideas like ramen-burger hybrids or sushi burritos. It felt surreal, like we were finally on the verge of something huge. Sasha's energy was contagious, as always. She didn't just bring good vibes—she brought that raw, unfiltered enthusiasm that made me feel like we could do anything."Okay, but seriously," Sasha said, after we'd calmed down a bit. "You sure Vanessa's okay with this? I mean, I know she's your sugar mommy or whatever, but... I don't want to step on anyone's toes."I waved it off. "Vanessa's cool. She's just happy to see me succeed, you know? As long as I keep her in the loop, it's all good."Sasha gave me a skeptical look, but she didn't push. "Alright, man. I trust you. And I'm fking pumped. This is going to be epic."I grinned, feeling that same fire inside me. This was really happening. Our dream was finally within reach."Let's do this," I said, holding out my hand.Sasha took it, shaking it firmly. "To the best damn restaurant LA's ever seen."***The next day, I decided it was time. If Sasha and I were going to make this restaurant a reality, she had to meet Vanessa. It was the only way to make sure everything was on the up and up. Besides, I figured they'd get along—Vanessa was always so supportive, and Sasha had this natural charm that made her easy to like.Still, there was a tiny knot of anxiety in my gut as we walked into the sleek, modern lobby of Vanessa's office building. I glanced at Sasha, who seemed totally unfazed, chatting away about some wild ramen-burger hybrid she was thinking of adding to the menu."This place is fking fancy," Sasha remarked, glancing around at the polished marble floors and abstract art on the walls. "I mean, I knew your sugar mommy was loaded, but damn."I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, she does alright."Sasha gave me a playful nudge. "You're not nervous, are you? Relax, Tristan. I'm sure she's cool."I forced a smile. "Yeah, totally."But as we stepped into Vanessa's office, that knot in my stomach tightened. Vanessa sat behind her massive glass desk, looking as poised and elegant as ever. Her long wavy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she was wearing a tailored red dress that hugged her curves, accentuating those perfect full breasts. She greeted us with a warm smile, but the moment her eyes landed on Sasha, I noticed a flicker of something else. Jealousy, maybe? It was gone just as quickly as it had appeared, but it left me feeling uneasy."Vanessa, this is Sasha," I said, introducing them. "She's going to be my partner in the restaurant. We've been dreaming about this for years."Vanessa stood up, extending her hand to Sasha, her smile still in place. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sasha. Tristan's told me a lot about you."Sasha, ever the friendly one, shook Vanessa's hand with a bright grin. "Likewise! I've heard so much about you too. Tristan wouldn't have made it through uni without you."Vanessa's smile widened, but there was something sharp in her eyes. "I'm sure he wouldn't have."I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension I could feel building in the room. "So, Vanessa, Sasha and I were talking, and we're thinking of looking for locations downtown. Somewhere that has a lot of foot traffic, you know?"Vanessa turned her attention to me, her expression softening. "Downtown, huh? That's a smart choice. You'll need visibility if you want to make an impact."Sasha nodded eagerly. "Exactly! We were thinking somewhere near the business district. It'll bring in the office crowd during lunch, and the tourists in the evening."Vanessa's smile returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, lucky for you, I happen to know a few people. I could probably secure a prime location for you."My eyes lit up. "Wait—really?"Vanessa glanced at Sasha before her gaze settled on me again. "Of course. You know I want to see you succeed, Tristan." She stepped closer to me, her hand brushing my arm in that familiar, possessive way. "I'll make a few calls. You'll have the perfect spot before you know it.""Wow, Vanessa, that's... amazing," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."Vanessa's smile softened, and she leaned in, her voice low and intimate. "Anything for you, darling."Sasha, standing a little to the side, looked between us with a grin. "That's awesome! You're the best, Vanessa. This is gonna take our little dream and make it something huge."Vanessa's gaze flicked to Sasha, her smile tightening for just a moment before she turned back to me. "Yes, well, I'm sure you two will make a great team."I could sense the tension simmering beneath Vanessa's calm exterior, but I didn't know how to address it. Sasha, for her part, seemed blissfully unaware, chatting on about menu ideas and how we could really make a name for ourselves with the right location.As we continued talking, I noticed how Vanessa's hand stayed on my arm a little longer than usual, her thumb rubbing slow circles on my skin. It was subtle, but it sent a clear message. I was hers, and she wasn't about to let anyone forget it.Eventually, Sasha excused herself to the restroom, leaving me alone with Vanessa. The moment the door closed behind her, Vanessa's demeanor shifted slightly. She turned to me, her expression still soft, but her eyes held that sharp edge I had come to recognize."So," she said, her voice smooth but with a hint of steel, "Sasha seems... enthusiastic."I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my head. "Yeah, she's super passionate about the restaurant. We've been talking about this since our first year of uni."Vanessa nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving mine. "I can see that. Just make sure you don't get... distracted." Her voice was light, but there was no mistaking the underlying warning.I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. "I won't, Vanessa. You know you're the one making this all possible. I owe everything to you."Her smile returned, genuine this time, as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Good boy," she whispered, pressing her lips to mine in a slow, deliberate kiss.When we pulled apart, she glanced toward the door where Sasha had disappeared. "I'll handle the location. You focus on the restaurant... and on me."I nodded, feeling both grateful and slightly uneasy. Vanessa had a way of making me feel like the luckiest guy in the world, but there was always that lingering sense of control, like she was pulling the strings behind everything I did.Sasha returned a few moments later, completely oblivious to the undercurrent between Vanessa and me. "So, what did I miss?" she asked with a grin, wiping her hands on her jeans."Nothing much," Vanessa replied smoothly, her smile in place once again. "Just that I'll be securing a location for you two downtown. It'll be perfect for your concept."Sasha's eyes widened with excitement. "No fking way! Vanessa, you're incredible. This is going to be epic!"Vanessa smiled sweetly, but I could see that flicker of something else in her eyes again—something possessive. "I'm happy to help, Sasha. After all, I want what's best for Tristan."Sasha, still unaware, laughed. "Well, whatever's best for Tristan is best for me. We're a team, right?"I forced a smile, feeling the weight of Vanessa's gaze on me. "Yeah... a team."Q: What would you do if you other half is jealous of your friend?