Chapter 8 - The Mayor’s Banquet
“There’s one more thing we need to settle tonight,” Adrien said, stepping toward the pass counter.
Maya wiped her cheeks with her red-striped apron towel. “What do you mean, Adrien?”
“Tonight was supposed to be Marcus’s grand reopening banquet for Mayor Sterling and the city council investors,” Adrien explained, looking out through the small glass portal window in the kitchen door. “They’re sitting out in the dining room right now, expecting a four-course dinner.”
Maya’s jaw tightened. She remembered Mayor Sterling—he was the one who had signed off on Marcus’s expedited property transfer without checking the fraudulent liens. He had turned a blind eye to Marcus’s corruption in exchange for political campaign donations.
“Mayor Sterling knew what Marcus was doing,” Maya said, her voice dropping into a cold, determined register. “He ignored my emails for three months when I tried to show him the accounting discrepancies.”
Adrien leaned against the stainless steel counter, a dark, dangerous smile playing on his lips.
“Then I think it’s time we serve Mayor Sterling a meal he will never forget,” Adrien said.
Maya looked over at her line cooks, who were all watching her with eager, loyal eyes. She pulled her red-striped towel tighter around her waist and tied her messy hair knot firmly in place.
May you like
“Line staff! Fires on all stations!” Maya commanded with absolute authority. “We are cooking my grandmother’s full menu tonight!”
👉 As the kitchen burst into frantic, joyful energy, Adrien pulled out his phone and made a call that would shake the city’s political foundation.
