Page 23 of Broken Daddy

Am I really doing this?

DidI really do this?

Riding the high of getting off, thanks to Nate’s talented fingers, I’d spent the rest of the afternoon soaking in the sun. And later, with a few glasses of wine…

And I’d clicked right back to the link Sienna sent me.

A small part of me hadn’t actually expected them to consider me for the position. Executive chef is a big deal, after all. And yeah, I might have five years of experience under my belt, thanks to The Black Fig. But I left there with Erik’s lies on my heels and was so sure it would ruin my reputation.

Apparently, they didn’t get the memo in Germany.

I text Sienna quickly and within seconds, her name appears on my phone, indicating an incoming call.

“You’re kidding! You’re in the running? Gen, this is great!”

My mouth is dry.

“Yeah…I…I’m still processing it, honestly. They want to see a menu by the end of next month.”

“Wow. Well, they’re giving you more than enough time to put one together.”

“They better be! They want something completely unique; it’s going to take me forever. And I don’t even have access to a kitchen…”

That’s not entirely true. What I mean is,I don’t have access to anindustrialkitchen,but Sienna gets it.

“How’s that going, by the way? The job?”

“Oh…good. You know. Pays the bills.”

“You have someone subletting your apartment, right?”

“Yeah, until the end of the month.”

“Well, that kind of works out. If you get this job in Germany, you won’t have any ties to the city. You can break your lease and just go!”

I try to be excited about the idea as we discuss potential menu items. And I am…excited, that is.

But I’m also scared.

This isn’t the first time I’ve attempted a big venture in life. My ex, Will, and I had a restaurant together in my early twenties.

It was a pipe dream of mine, one I thought we’d shared. I was close to achieving a Michelin star back then.

Right up until Will got greedy, started talking to investors without me, hijacked the entire restaurant, and cut me out.

Needless to say, our partnership—and engagement—ended soon after.

I got lucky back then and The Black Fig snapped me up. Within a year, I had that star. I made a name for myself in the city, and last I knew, Will was somewhere out on the West Coast.

I don’t realize there’s been a long silence until Sienna asks hesitantly, “Are you okay? Second-guessing the application?”

“No.”

I say it hurriedly, as if to reassure myself.

“No, not at all. It’s just intimidating, you know? I’ve been making chicken nuggets over here.”

Sienna laughs at the joke and the tone lightens.

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