Betha POV – Chapter 25 :
The cold hit me the moment I stepped out of the taxi. New York in this season was brutal—well, at least for me. The wind sliced through my coat as I pushed open the door of Alex's restaurant and slipped inside.
The warmth barely had time to reach my skin before I heard his voice.
Alex smirked from behind the counter. "Well, well… look who came early to our meeting."
I rolled my eyes. "I always come early. I'm a professional woman."
He blinked slowly, teasing. "Oh, you're professional in many ways. Remember the night of your anniversary?"
I practically shouted. "Shut up! Why do you always bring up old things? It's work time."
He laughed, walked closer—too close—and murmured inches from my face, "Maybe I want it back."
I froze.
He wants it back? After cheating on me?
Oh, this boy… He really forgot I'm Bethany Kelman, not just any woman.
I kicked his leg sharply.
He yelped, "Ouch! Bethany!"
I raised my voice. "You think I'll move on after what you did to me, Alexandre? You think I'll forgive you? Never. Do you hear me? Never."
Alex's expression shifted to something confused—almost soft. "Forgive me for what? I'm the one who should be telling you that."
I blinked, lost. "What?"
Before he could say anything else, the door opened and Coccette and Ray walked in.
"Hey guys," Coccette greeted.
Ray smiled politely. "Hello, Bethany." He turned to Alex. "I'm Ray Lether, CEO of Eat & Like. A pleasure to meet you."
Alex shook his hand. "Alexander Petrovaski . Chef and owner of this restaurant. Nice to meet you too, Ray."
Coccette clapped her hands together. "So, Betha, you start?"
I sighed. "Sure."
I walked to the center of the restaurant and chose the biggest table there—dark wood, polished to a shine, with a vintage chandelier above it casting a warm glow. I set my laptop down and opened it.
"So, please sit."
They all took their seats.
Ray leaned forward. "So, Betha, tell us about your idea."
I connected my laptop to the projector and the presentation filled the screen. Alex stayed unusually quiet—maybe still shocked by my earlier explosion. Meanwhile, Coccette watched me like a proud mom waiting for her daughter to start her school presentation.
"So," I began, "the pizza name is Khoro."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "A short Betha version of Kharasou, I guess?"
I nodded.
Ray shrugged. "Why not? It's not bad."
"Well… it is," I admitted. "But I thought maybe something more elegant. You know the famous quote La vie en rose? Why not turn it into La vie en pizza? Our French girl here will correct me if it's wrong."
Coccette laughed. "Using French to make things sound classy even when it has no logic at all. But it's not a bad idea. We can use it."
I nodded. "Great. Next slide."
I clicked again.
And again.
And nothing showed up.
I sighed. "Oh, what the hell, not again…"
I clicked multiple times—my biggest mistake.
Because suddenly… a shirtless photo of Alex filled the giant screen.
I jumped to block it, nearly falling over the table.
Alex, Ray, and Coccette burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Traitors—the three of them.
Coccette was literally crying.
Alex grinned. "You like my muscular chest that much?"
I stared at him like I was planning his funeral.
But the nightmare wasn't over.
One by one, every shirtless photo of him popped up.
Yacht.
Gym.
Shirtless in HIS OWN restaurant.
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole while they died laughing.
Ray wiped tears from his eyes. "Guess you're a fan of Alex."
Alex smirked proudly.
I finally managed to close the images—but my laptop had other plans.
Because next appeared a photo of Ray. From yesterday.
And then another.
And another.
Ray's jaw dropped—then he started laughing too.
Alex clapped him on the back. "Oh, so Ray gets his moment too."
Ray chuckled. "Seems like it."
I wanted to scream.
I had searched them yesterday… and forgot to delete everything.
I am truly an idiot.
I slammed the laptop shut and forced myself to breathe. "I'll continue the presentation without the computer." I said it calmly, trying to look professional and not like someone who just publicly exposed her entire search history.
But of course…
Alex smirked. "Acting innocent, Betha. Yes, sure."
Ray tilted his head. "Why was I in your search too?"
Coccette crossed her arms dramatically. "And why didn't you search me, excuse you?"
I stared at her. Seriously, Coccette? Not the time.
Panicked, I blurted the stupidest thing ever:
"It's not my computer!"
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Then whose is it?"
And I said something even worse.
I pointed at Coccette. "It's… it's Coccette's!"
"What??" She laughed, absolutely delighted.
Ray and Alex exchanged looks, both smirking.
Then Ray said sarcastically, "So why is there a big sticker on it that literally says 'It's Bethany's'?"
I looked at the laptop.
Then at Ray.
Oh.
F*ck.
I forgot the sticker.
I am the worst liar under stress in the entire universe.