Page 27 of Possessive Greek Chef

The red carpet is rolled out and the can lights are in position when we arrive. Photographers are positioned on each side of the restaurant entrance, shooting photos of the guests as they arrive.

“This is the kind of thing that you see at a Hollywood movie premiere. Are we really this famous?” Aria’s eyes grow wide as she gazes out the car window.

“I don’t think your grand opening was as big as this. That’s good, baby. That means you proved yourself, you know? Your name is in lights now.”

“All because of you, Daddy. You made all of this happen for me. Thank you.”

“No, I got the ball rolling for you. You took it and ran with it. I love you, princess.”

“I love you, too.”

“Alright, let’s get this party started.”

The valet opens her door and helps her to the sidewalk while I come around to take my sweet girl on my arm.

We stop on the red carpet and get our pictures taken. Aria grips my arm firmly. She’s still not comfortable with the celebrity treatment. Her inability to see just how sexy she is only amplifies her allure to the paparazzi, and they treat her with a great deal of respect for it.

It takes us forever to complete the short walk to the front door, but when we get there and the doors open, the crowd inside bursts into a round of applause that stops Aria in her tracks. I don’t know if she’s going to drop my arm and run back outside or if she’s really digesting the immensity of respect that she’s earned in the culinary world. I look down at her face and realize that she’s crying, so I wave to the crowd and quickly take her to the office.

“What is it, baby? Is this too much for you? You and the baby are okay, right?” I hold her by the arms and do a visual inspection of her.

“Everything is good. It’s better than good. It’s a dream come true. I have my own restaurant, my face was even on the cover of a magazine, and I get to do what I love for a living every single day. Anyone would be over the moon to have a life like that but then there’s so much more. I have you. You’re the sexiest, most loving, protective man in the world and soon I’ll be holding the beautiful baby that you’ve made with me. I don’t deserve this amazing life, but I would fight a hungry pack of wolves to keep it just the way it is. I love you so much, Atticus. Thank you for giving me all of this.”

“You’re welcome, baby girl, and you do deserve it. You deserve everything that your heart desires. There’s no one else like you out there. Now, let’s wipe those tears and go back to the dining room. I have a surprise waiting for you out there.”

“There’s more? I don’t know if my heart can take much more,” she smiles.

“This will keep that smile on your face. I promise.”

“Kiss me first, Daddy. Kiss me right here where we made love on the night that you proposed.”

I take her in my arms and tell her, “You’re my sexy girl. You don’t have to ask for a kiss.”

We move back out to the dining room where the staff is busy carting dishes to the VIP diners. Each snapping pictures of their food before tasting it. It’s exactly the kind of thing that a restaurateur wants to see.

“We have a table set aside for us at the back of the dining room so we’ll have a bird eye view of the room,” I tell Aria, leading her that way.

“There are people at that table, Atticus. Are you sure?” she stretches her neck to get a better view of the group seated in our place.

“They’re my invited guests, baby girl. Don’t worry.”

We weave through the maze of tables, and Aria sees who we’re sitting with.

“Oh, my God! How did you do this without me knowing?” she gasps as she sees her mother and sister stand to greet her.

“They were so excited. They didn’t put up a fight. I’ve been keeping them at the Hotel Bretagne for the last few days.”

I watch as my girl hugs her mother and sister, wearing the priceless, innocent expression of a child. I hug my own mother and sister who are seated on the other side of the table and shake my uncle's hand.

“This is a beautiful place, Atticus. You’ve done it again,” my uncle tells me.

“Oh, hello! I didn’t see you,” Aria tells them.

My mother smiles and says. “I expect that it’s been some time since you’ve seen your mother, sweet girl. Take your time. We’ll catch up later.”

As I see it, everything is right with the world. My girl’s heart is filled to the rim with everything she’s ever wanted including the acceptance of her mother. Moreover, I had a hand in giving it all to her, and I intend to spend the rest of my life making her as happy as she is right now.

We make the rounds from table to table, shaking hands and taking photos with the culinary well to do, while our families watch with pride and a touch of amazement.

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