Chapter 0307


    John gets to work preparing the meat, and Anton starts on the desserts. I ce my focus on the main


    courses, a wide variety of different meals that all need to be prepped, from luxurious seafood dishes to


    hearty steak and potatoes.


    Daisy and Chloe, with their impable attention to detail, begin to float in and out of the kitchen as the


    hors d’oeuvres are prepared. They’re working as servers and bartenders tonight, and I couldn’t be


    more grateful. Meanwhile, Ethan is preparing the charcuterie boards, his face a mask ofserlike focus.


    As we work seamlessly in our respective roles, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and


    gratitude for my team. We’vee such a long way, and yet here we are, catering the Alpha party like


    we’ve been doing it for years.


    Before I know it, though, Mr. Thompson is announcing that the first guests will be arriving soon. The


    hour hand has almost reached seven o’clock, but the day flew by.


    “Everyone, gather around,” I call out over the sounds of the kitchen.


    My team gathers around me, their faces expectant and a little nervous. For a moment, I feel frozen—


    but only for a moment. I’m not on stage anymore. I’m not in front of a live studio audience or the


    shing red light of a camera.


    I’m here, in my kitchen, my home, with my family.


    “I can’t thank all of you enough,” I begin with a smile, and pause to look around at the faces of my


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    team.


    There’s Anton, with his weathered but bright eyes.


    There’s John, with a smile hiding behind his beard, his chef’s coat looking only a little out of ce on


    his frame. There’s Ethan, leaning on the counter to support his bad leg, but there’s a light in his eyes


    that will never go out.


    There’s Daisy, leaning against Ethan—as if I wouldn’t notice the chemistry between the two of them


    across her chest, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on me.


    And then my eyes flicker over to the space by the doorway; the space where he used to stand. It’s


    empty now. Karl should be there, but he isn’t, and he won’t fill that space anymore.


    Taking a shuddering breath, I quickly look back at my team and manage a smile. “You’ve all put in a lot


    of hard worktely,” I say. “You deserve a vacation after all of this.”


    “Is Abby taking us to Paris?” Daisy exims, resulting in a chuckle from the rest of the team.


    I shake my head with augh. “I wish I could, but no. All I can promise is an enormous thank-you,


    which I know isn’t enough.” I pause, licking my lips. “Really, I love you guys. I don’t deserve you.”


    “It’s the best we could ever ask for,” John chimes in. Co?tent of Drаmа?ovels.cоm


    “Alright, everyone,” I say, my eyes scanning my team onest time. “Let’s make this the best Alpha


    party in history!”