Chapter 10 - THE FEAST OF THE FUTURE
Ten years later.
The Ellis Group was a global empire.
Restaurants in twenty cities.
A foundation that had saved thousands of lives.
A name that was respected.
I was standing on the balcony of our home in the South of France.
The Mediterranean was blue and endless.
Julian was sitting at the table,
reading the news.
“Chloe was released today,”
he said.
I didn't turn around.
“How does she look?”
“She looks old,”
he said.
“She’s going to live with your parents.”
“They’re in a small house near the coast.”
I looked at the horizon.
“I hope they’re happy.”
“I hope they have everything they need.”
“I’m still sending the checks,
aren't I?”
“Every month,”
Julian said.
“Anonymously.”
I turned around.
“I didn't want them to starve.”
“I just wanted them to learn.”
Julian stood up.
He walked to the balcony.
He put his arms around me.
“They learned,
Maya.”
“The whole world learned.”
We looked out at the sea.
I thought about that night in Atlanta.
I thought about the soup.
I thought about the marble.
It felt like a dream.
A nightmare that had turned into a masterpiece.
“Are you hungry?”
I asked.
Julian laughed.
“Always.”
“What are you making?”
I looked at the kitchen through the glass doors.
“Something simple.”
“Something honest.”
“Something without shells.”
We walked inside together.
I picked up the knife.
I felt the weight.
I felt the edge.
I was a billionaire.
I was a survivor.
But most of all,
I was a chef.
And the meal was exactly the way I wanted it.
Perfect.
Quiet.
And full of life.
The Ellis name was finally clean.
The Obsidian Room was a legend.
And I was Maya.
Just Maya.
And that was more than enough.
The end of the story was the beginning of the rest of my life.
And it tasted like victory.
Every single bite.
I breathed in.
I breathed out.
The air was clear.
May you like
The table was set.
And I was ready to serve.
