It was a busy day in the kitchen of the five-star restaurant. Maya had her hands full as she prepared exquisite delicacies for the restaurant's esteemed customers at her cooking station.
The kitchen was filled with noise, such as the sizzling of meat on the grill, the caramelizing of onions in the skillet, the sputtering of mustard in oil, the boiling of water, and the clattering of cooking utensils. All these sounds created the lively atmosphere of a busy kitchen, a sound that Maya loves so much.
Maya is the happiest when she is cooking at the restaurant. She feels more alive because she is doing what she loves.
"Maya," someone called her name softly.
Maya swung her gaze to the left and smiled halfheartedly at Dan, her male colleague who has a crush on her.
"Do you need my assistance with anything?" Maya asked.
Dan grinned at her. "No, I just want you to know that if you are still concerned about what happened after you bumped into the French onion soup the other day, there is no need to worry. I quickly prepared another one for the customer who had ordered it."
Maya let out a big O. She placed her hands on her chest and said, "Thank you so much for doing that, Dan. I am extremely grateful."
"Well, why don't we go out tonight for a drink and a chat? That would be a nice way to thank me for saving the order," he smiled widely, revealing his white teeth.
Maya's smile faded. She felt a strong urge to cringe, but she managed to maintain a polite expression. "That would be great, but I have a shift at my other job."
"I'm sorry," she said, respectfully declining.
But Dan insisted, "What about Saturday? We're both off on Saturday. Maya, I promised you would have a good time." He pleaded with his eyes softened.
Maya was speechless; she didn't know what to say. If she said no, she would appear unkind. If she said yes, it would mean she had agreed to go out on a date with him.
Dan is very good-looking and a nice guy, but unfortunately, she has no feelings for him.
"I… I—"
"Chef DeLuca," a waiter called out, saving Maya from this awkward situation
"Customers at a private table have ordered three plates of beef stroganoff. They requested the meal should be cooked by you," the waiter informs her.
In just three months of working here, Maya has become a popular chef among the restaurant's patrons, she frequently receives requests like this.
She glanced at Antonio Mendez, the head chef. "Chef Mendez, may I?" she asked, seeking his approval. Private table meal orders are strictly prepared by the leading chefs, not by a junior chef like her.
"Go ahead, dear. I trust you," he replied, giving his stamp of approval.
"Thanks!" Maya felt a rush of excitement inside.
She ignored Dan and carefully whipped out three plates of beef stroganoff, handing them to the waiter to serve.
"Chef DeLuca, they requested that you come with me," the waiter said.
Maya frowned. Does she know these customers? Most of the customers she is familiar with request her presence so they can personally thank her for their meal.
"Okay," Maya said . She followed the waiter as he wheels the food cart to the private table area.
Maya's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at the private table. Her stepfather was sitting there.
He smirked viciously when he noticed her arrival.
Maya maintained her composure and waited for the waiter to place the three plates of beef stroganoff on the table before taking his leave.
Immediately after he left, her stepfather spoke. "Hello, stepdaughter. I decided to pay you a visit at your workplace."
"Good to see you, sir," Maya propelled a fake smile at him.
"Are you sure? You don't seem happy to see me, stepdaughter," he replied, his eyes darkening.
"Come here, little girl," he beckoned.
A wave of fear settled in the pit of her stomach. Her heart raced in her ears as she slowly approached the table.
Her stepfather brought his hand close to her face and slapped her hard, causing a throbbing pain to surge through her cheek. She wanted to groan in pain and let out a cry, but she had to stifle it and endure the pain.
"Now smile and welcome me properly," he barked at her.
"O-Okay, sir," Maya stutters.
"It's good to see you, sir," She smiled at him, making sure her smile was genuine.
Fredrick Hathaway nodded with satisfaction. "Good girl," he said.
Suddenly, the sound of clicking heels caught their attention. Valentina, Maya's half-sister, appeared with a beautiful woman whom Maya recognized.
"Soraya, you're back!" Maya exclaimed in surprise, addressing the woman next to her half-sister.
Soraya is the niece of her stepfather.
Soraya ignores Maya and gracefully sits down beside Fredrick Hathaway.
"Hey, sis," Valentina blew a kiss at Maya in acknowledgment.
"Hey," Maya did a little wave in return
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Uncle," Soraya said, apologizing to Fredrick Hathaway. "I had to retouch up my makeup in the ladies' room. You know I always need to look perfect."
Perfect is what everyone describes Soraya She is incredibly beautiful and elegant, exuding a majestic aura and poise. She is a former beauty pageant queen, and she is consistently named the most beautiful woman in the world by numerous fashion magazines annually
Soraya has been away for over a year, and Maya thought she would never see her again. Now, she has returned to join her Stepfather and her half-siblings to make life even more miserable.
Soraya tasted the beef stroganoff, and moaned in delight. "It's good. Did you make it, Bastard?" she rudely directed the question at Maya.
A pang coursed through Maya's chest. "Bastard" and "adulterer's daughter"—that's what Soraya has been calling her ever since they were kids. Time doesn't make it hurt any less.
"Yes, I'm glad you like it, Soraya," Maya managed to say politely.
Maya wishes she could be defiant instead of acting like a doormat, they treat like trash. But her stepfather and half-brother, Terrence, have subdued her through the use of violence, abusing her until she bent to their rule. Now, she is unable to stand up to them and must remain silent and obedient, enduring their mistreatment.
"Can I take my leave, sir? I need to get back to the kitchen. " It took a sheer amount of courage for Maya to ask.
Fredrick Hathaway grabbed Maya's wrist and griped roughly, "Don't you dare. You must stand here until we finish eating. I know the owner of the restaurant. I'm sure you don't want to be fired." He threatens.
"I-I will stay," Maya stuttered.
He let go of her wrist.
Maya obediently stood in front of the table and watched them eat.
"Poor me a glass of wine," Soraya snapped at her, ordering her harshly.
Maya did as she instructed. She carefully poured a red wine into the glass and placed it before Soraya.
She poured a glass for Valentina too.
"Now we are settled. Let's get to business." Fredrick Hathaway brought out four photos from his case and laid them on the table.
Maya peered at the photos and gasped quietly. The men in the photos are Dalton, Aiden, River, and Oliver.
What is her stepfather doing with their photos?
Fredrick Hathaway paned his gaze on Soraya and started a long speech. "I have spent a lot of money to get you into these four brothers' social circles; live luxuriously like them. I made you attend the expensive private high school their cousin attended ,so you could befriend her and use her to get closer to them, I got you to join them on vacations around the world. You attended high-class parties they attended. I trained and groomed you to become a perfect wife for one of them. Now it is time for you to choose a husband among these brothers.
His long monologue made Maya want to laugh. She doesn't think those brothers want to get married anytime soon. Or marry someone self-absorbed as Soraya.
Maya kept her thoughts to herself; if she utters them, she might go home with a black eye and bruised lips.
"I choose Dalton Black, he is the richest billionaire among them." Soraya picked up his photo from the table and ran her manicured finger over Dalton's face. A ravenous desire gleams in her eyes.
Fredrick Hathaway smiled.." That's my girl, don't disappoint me."
"I won't, uncle, I will make him fall madly in love with me and trap him in my clutches." She confidently said.
Maya was curious. She wondered if Soraya would succeed. Dalton has a stern personality but he is quite a gentleman. She reminisced how he acted protective when River offered to take her to her seat. Dalton rather ended up doing that instead. Thinking of that moment made Maya smile.
"What about me, Daddy? I want a handsome billionaire husband!" Valentina whines.
Fredrick Hathaway rubbed the space between his brows with boredom. "Choose one among them."
Valentina claps excitedly. "Yes!"
"I choose Aiden! He is so handsome and rich!" Valentina brought his photo to her lips and kissed it.
"You are so smart, sweetheart," Frederick Hathaway kissed his daughter's cheeks.
"His Sports car company is one of the best in the world. I want it for myself ." Greed shuns in his eyes.
Maya inwardly snorted. Is her stepfather crazy? Aiden is a maniac, he is too wild for Valentina. But she is intrigued. Valentina will annoy the hell out of Aiden and it will be fun to watch!
"Does Dalton Black have any beautiful women around him at home? Like a maid. A woman that has access to him?" Fredrick Hathaway enquired.
Soraya shakes her head. "I don't think so, uncle. Only a driver and his godmother live with him. At least that's what his cousin told me."
"Good, if there was one. I would have gotten rid of her. We don't need any competition." Fredrick Hathaway maliciously said.
Maya's chest pangs with fear as anxiety eats its way into her stomach. Her Stepfather might kill her if he finds out she is now Dalton's chef.
"I'm future Mrs. Black. No woman stands a chance. Any beautiful woman I see in his mansion will get eliminated. I will kill that bitch." Soraya vilely drew her thumb across her neck to demonstrate.
Maya's eyes oscillated with fretfulness in their socket. She is doomed. God, help her. She doesn't want to die!