Chapter 2: The Folder
Ethan Cole saw Ava push through the kitchen doors and nearly dropped the pan in his hand.
“Ava?” he said.
She looked away, but not before he saw the fresh red mark across her cheek.
Every cook in the kitchen went still. Ethan had known Ava since they were children, before Langeri House became a palace for the rich, before her father died, before money began rewriting the truth. He was now the youngest head chef the restaurant had ever had, but in that moment, he felt powerless.
“Who did that?” he asked.
“No one,” Ava whispered.
“Ava.”
She set the tray down with a shaking breath. “Vivian Harrington. But it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving.”
“It does matter.”
“No, Ethan. I came here because I thought I could find what my father lost. I thought the original ownership file might still be in this building. But I was wrong. Vivian won.”
Before Ethan could answer, a delivery boy appeared at the back entrance carrying a black leather case.
“Chef Cole?” the boy asked. “This was sent from Burke & Sloane Law. Urgent.”
Ethan took the case, confused. The name hit Ava like a bell. Burke & Sloane had represented her father before he died.
Her hands went cold. “Open it.”
Inside was a folder stamped with the crest of Langeri House. The pages were old, but the signatures were clear. Ethan read the first line, then stopped breathing.
“What is it?” Ava asked.
He looked at her, stunned. “It’s a transfer agreement.”
Ava stepped closer.
Ethan turned the folder toward her. Beneath the official seal was her father’s signature. Beside it was William Langeri’s—the founder of the restaurant. The agreement stated that forty-nine percent of Langeri House had been transferred to Thomas Monroe after he saved the business from bankruptcy. If Thomas died, the shares would pass to his only child.
Ava Monroe.
Her vision blurred.
“There’s more,” Ethan said. “Vivian’s company tried to claim the Monroe shares never existed. Burke & Sloane found the original record in the county archive. This confirms you are not just an employee here.”
Ava could barely speak. “I own part of it.”
“You are the largest private shareholder,” Ethan said. “And tonight’s gala is a vote to sell the restaurant to Vivian’s hotel group.”
The kitchen fell silent.
Ava looked down at her uniform, at the wine stains on her sleeves, at the hands that had carried plates for people who looked through her.
Then she heard Vivian’s voice from the dining room. “Where is that girl? I want her fired in front of everyone.”
Something inside Ava changed.
She wiped her tears and took the folder from Ethan.
May you like
“Come with me,” she said.
Ethan nodded. “Always.”
