Song for this chapter: Myla - Stars on the multimedia.

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Juls

It was the third week of March, and tonight was the grand reopening of Sapphire Haven after our big renovation. The restaurant had undergone a stunning transformation, and as I looked around at the beautifully redesigned space, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. The soft, sapphire-blue lighting, the luxurious velvet seating, and the sparkling crystal chandeliers created a truly magical ambiance. The renovation had turned Sapphire Haven into even more of a gem than before.

The evening was bustling with excitement. The newly added features, from the modern dark wood furnishings to the blue-hued art pieces, were getting rave reviews from our guests. I moved through the crowd, greeting customers and staff with a wide grin.

"Juls! This place looks incredible," one of our regulars, Mr. Thompson, said, admiring the new decor. "The ambiance is just perfect. I feel like I'm dining in a piece of jewelry."

"Thanks, Mr. Thompson," I replied, shaking his hand. "We wanted to make sure that the experience here is as luxurious and memorable as possible. Glad you're enjoying it!"

Tony, our head chef, was busy in the kitchen but took a moment to step out and see the fruits of his labor. "Looks amazing out here, Juls," he said, clapping me on the back. "Everything's running smoothly, and the food's getting rave reviews."

"I couldn't have done it without you, Tony. The new menu's a hit, huh?" I said, eyeing the bustling kitchen. "How's the team holding up?"

"Better than ever," Tony replied. "We've got a few new dishes that are really wowing the crowd. And your signature sapphire-colored oyster dish? That's flying off the plates."

As the evening progressed, I made my way around, chatting with guests and ensuring everyone was having a memorable experience. I stopped by a table where a couple was enjoying our seafood tower.

"How's everything tonight?" I asked.

"Everything is fantastic," the woman said, her eyes twinkling. "The ambiance is so enchanting, and the food is even better. We've been waiting for this reopening, and it's exceeded our expectations."

"I'm glad to hear that," I replied, feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. "We worked hard to make this a special night, and it's great to see it paying off."

Later, as I was making my rounds, one of the staff members approached me with a huge smile. "Juls, the new private dining rooms are getting a lot of attention. The gemstone themes are a hit!"

"Excellent!" I said, raising my glass in a toast. "That was the goal. We wanted to create an experience that felt both luxurious and personal."

The night continued with laughter and joy as guests enjoyed the evening, savoring the exquisite food and drinks. Even though Nat couldn't make it to the reopening, I felt her presence in the air, knowing she would have loved to see the final product.

As the last of the guests began to leave, I took a moment to reflect on the night. The renovation had brought a new life to Sapphire Haven, and the positive feedback was a testament to the hard work everyone had put in. I felt a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the support of my team and the loyalty of our customers.

Tonight was just the beginning. Sapphire Haven had been reborn, and I couldn't wait to see where this new chapter would take us.

***

The grand reopening of Sapphire Haven had gone off without a hitch, and now it was time to celebrate. My apartment, with its panoramic view of Manhattan's twinkling lights, was set up for a night of relaxation and fun. The city below was alive with the same energy we felt inside.

Tony, our head chef and the mastermind behind tonight's celebration, had already kicked things off with his usual flair. "Alright, everyone," he announced, holding up a bottle of whiskey, "time to celebrate in true Tony style!"

Borj, our lead line cook and one of my oldest friends, lounged on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table. "Tony, if you keep this up, I might need to start working out again," he joked, taking a sip from his glass.

Bea, our pastry chef with a knack for both sweets and sharp wit, added, "Oh, come on, Borj. We all know you love our food. If anyone needs a workout, it's Tony with all the calories he's burning."

Athena, who'd quickly become an integral part of our team, laughed and joined in. "Well, Tony's energy is what keeps the kitchen running. If he ever slows down, we'd all be in trouble."

Sasha, our restaurant manager and another one of the pioneers of Sapphire Haven, was chatting with me. "I still can't believe how far we've come," she said, her voice filled with pride. "Remember when we were just a small team trying to make it work? Now look at us."

I smiled, raising my glass of wine. "Yeah, and it's all thanks to you guys. I couldn't have done it without this amazing team."

Ryan, our sous chef, and Zac, another talented cook, had joined the group, bringing even more energy to the party. Ryan was holding a plate of snacks, and Zac was laughing at something Borj had said. "You know," Ryan said, "I was just thinking about that time we had to scramble to make a new batch of risotto because someone forgot to turn off the heat. Classic."

Zac added with a chuckle, "And then we had to explain to the guests why their meal was taking a little longer than usual. I think they appreciated the story more than the food!"

Tony took a swig from his whiskey and nodded. "And let's not forget the infamous 'mystery sauce' incident. We never did figure out what went wrong with that."

Athena leaned in, clearly enjoying the camaraderie. "And remember when we tried to make homemade pasta, and it turned into a sticky disaster? We had pasta everywhere, but we had so much fun cleaning up."

Sasha raised her glass in a toast. "To the team that turned Sapphire Haven into what it is today. To our shared successes, inside jokes, and the many milestones ahead."

We all clinked glasses, our laughter and conversation filling the room. As I looked around at my team—more than just colleagues, they were family—I felt a deep sense of gratitude. The success of Sapphire Haven wasn't just about the restaurant's achievements; it was about the incredible people who had made it all possible.

The laughter and chatter in my apartment had reached a new high as we swapped stories and celebrated the night. Tony, always the life of the party, poured another round of drinks. He looked around and smirked. "You know, I invited the whole crew—hostesses, servers, the bartenders, all of them. But, as usual, they've got family obligations or just needed the night off."

"Yeah, they never make it to these after-parties, huh?" Borj added with a chuckle. "Shame, because they've been killing it since day one."

Sasha, ever the manager, raised her glass. "They deserve all the credit, though. Our hosts and hostesses—they're the first ones people see when they walk into Sapphire Haven, and they set the tone for everything."

Athena nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "And the servers, man, they run around like it's a marathon every night. I see them sweating it out, balancing plates like it's nothing."

Bea smiled, joining in. "Don't forget the cleaning staff, dishwashers, bussers and runners. They're the unsung heroes. Without them, we'd be buried in dirty dishes, and the flow of the night would collapse."

Ryan raised his glass. "And the bartenders. Those guys are magicians behind the bar. I've seen them handle a crowd of thirsty customers with such speed, making it all look effortless. I don't know how they do it."

Zac chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief. "And our sommelier. The amount of knowledge that man has about wine? I can barely remember how to plate half the stuff we make, and he can talk about vintages from memory!"

"Plus, the barbacks," Borj added. "They're always there to back up the bartenders, making sure everything's stocked and ready. I'd be lost if my station ever ran out of anything."

Tony nodded, taking a long sip of his drink. "Seriously, everyone works so hard. The assistant manager has been juggling so much lately, too, especially with the renovation. And then there's the event coordinator, making sure all those special reservations are handled perfectly."

Sasha smiled. "And to think, without all those pieces, we wouldn't be Sapphire Haven. It's not just the kitchen. It's everyone working in sync."

Tony grinned. "I told them I'd save some drinks for them, though. If any of them change their minds and show up late, we've got more than enough whiskey and food to go around. But yeah, as usual, it's just the gang. Not complaining."

Bea laughed, leaning back on the couch. "Well, they've got lives outside of work, unlike some of us."

"Speak for yourself," Zac said, raising an eyebrow. "This is my life. I live for nights like these."

We all laughed, the sound of our voices filling the room. The team wasn't complete without the rest of the crew, but we made sure to honor their hard work, knowing that Sapphire Haven's success was built on the backs of every single one of them. Still, as Tony said, it was the same core group that always made it to the after-parties, and that sense of family was exactly what made nights like this so special.

***

I woke up to a pounding headache, a familiar feeling after a night of celebration. The sunlight streaming through the windows stung my eyes as I squinted against it. Groaning, I turned over on the couch, trying to gather my bearings. The apartment was quiet, except for the faint sound of someone moving around in the kitchen. I sat up slowly and rubbed my face, realizing the smell of strong coffee was the only thing keeping me from passing out again.

Tony appeared from the kitchen, mug in hand, looking surprisingly alert for someone who had partied just as hard as the rest of us last night. "Morning, sunshine," he teased, leaning against the counter.

"Ugh," I groaned, my head still throbbing. "What time is it?"

"Almost 10:30," Tony replied, taking a casual sip from his coffee.

My eyes shot open. "Wait, what?!" I jumped off the couch, stumbling a little as the room spun for a second. "We're supposed to open in 30 minutes!"

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I know. I've been waiting for you to realize that."

"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" I scrambled to find my shoes, cursing under my breath as I pulled on a jacket.

"Because watching you freak out is one of life's little pleasures," Tony said with a smirk.

"Not funny, man!" I threw a pillow at him, but he dodged it with ease. "We can't be late, even if I'm the owner."

Tony shrugged, unbothered. "Relax. The kitchen staff will be there on time. Bea, Sasha, and Borj probably beat us to it."

I grabbed my keys off the counter, running my fingers through my hair, trying to make myself look somewhat presentable. "Great, so now I'm going to look like the lazy boss who slept in after a party."

Tony drained the last of his coffee and grabbed his coat. "Eh, it's not like they don't know you. Plus, you've got a car. We'll make it with a minute to spare."

I shot him a glare as we rushed out the door. "You're not helping."

"Hey, just trying to keep you grounded, man. If you panic, I panic, and that's the last thing we need."

We hurried down to the garage, where my car was parked. I fumbled with the keys for a second, my mind racing. Tony, as calm as ever, hopped into the passenger seat while I revved the engine and tore out of the lot.

"You know," Tony said casually, "you could just pull the 'I'm the owner' card and stroll in whenever you want. It's your place, after all."

"I'm not that kind of boss," I muttered, weaving through the light morning traffic. "Besides, if we're late, everyone's going to think the whole staff's slacking off because of us."

Tony shrugged again, unfazed by my manic driving. "Fair point. But I bet they'd cut us some slack after last night. That party was legendary."

I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the panic still bubbling in my chest. "Yeah, but I'd rather not test that theory today."

As we pulled up in front of Sapphire Haven, I glanced at the clock. 10:52. Eight minutes until opening. We were cutting it close, but we'd made it. I exhaled a deep breath of relief and parked the car.

Tony grinned as we got out. "Told you we'd make it with time to spare."

I shook my head, locking the car. "Never again, Tony. Never again."

As soon as Tony and I stepped into the restaurant, the familiar smells of fresh coffee, pastries, and the soft hum of morning prep greeted us. Bea was by the pastry counter, her usual cheerful self, but something about the way she looked at me raised alarm bells. I had barely taken two steps before she shot me a question.

"Juls, did you see the news or check social media yet?" she asked, eyes wide, like she couldn't believe something herself.

I frowned, immediately sensing something off. "No, I haven't had time. Why? What's going on?"

Bea grabbed her phone off the counter and handed it to me. "This. It's all over Twitter, Instagram, everywhere. Sign and Linc were spotted together last night in Vegas."

My stomach dropped.

Tony raised an eyebrow, leaning over my shoulder to get a look at the screen. Sure enough, there it was—a trending post showing a picture of Sign and Linc at what looked like some high-end restaurant. They weren't doing anything scandalous, just sitting across from each other. But it was enough to cause a stir online. The caption was already sensationalized: "Former flames? Synarra Vignami Wright Thompson and Lincoln Campbell Smith spotted together in Vegas—what's the real story?"

"Holy..." I muttered under my breath, scrolling through the endless comments.

Borj was the first to react. "Whoa, wait, did they just drop their full names?"

Tony, ever casual, let out a low whistle. "Synarra Vignami Wright Thompson. Now that sounds like someone out of a classic novel."

Zac grinned. "Sign's full name is badass, man. It's like she was born to be in the spotlight. And Linc's—Lincoln Campbell Smith. That's got a cool ring to it too. Kinda presidential."

I couldn't help but chuckle, though the tension inside me hadn't quite left. "Yeah, I guess their names are a bit more impressive when you say them like that."

Bea was still wide-eyed, glancing between me and the screen. "So, like... what does this mean? Are they...?"

I shook my head, still processing. "I have no idea. All I know is that whatever's going on, it's between them. But if the press gets ahold of this, it could be trouble for both of them."

Borj crossed his arms, looking a little bewildered. "So wait... Sign? As in the Sign you introduced to us on New Year's Eve? She knows Linc?"

"Apparently," I said, still scrolling through the endless comments and articles popping up. "And it's blowing up online."

Tony, ever the unbothered one, leaned back against the counter, a smirk on his face. "This just got interesting."

Athena joined us, her brows furrowed in confusion. "So... they have some kind of history?"

"I didn't even know they knew each other," Zac added, shaking his head.

Sasha, who'd just walked over, glanced at the phone. "Synarra Vignami Wright Thompson... I mean, she does sound like she could be some international sensation."

Tony laughed. "If I had a name like that, I'd be dining with high-profile people in Vegas too."

Athena nodded. "Yeah, but with Sign's history and her keeping Ivy's father a secret... it's suspicious."

Everyone fell silent for a moment, the implications of what they saw hanging in the air.

Bea sighed, still holding her phone out. "Well, whatever it is, it's definitely going to blow up. Linc has a reputation for keeping things private, so the fact that he's with someone like Sign in public..."

I glanced at the clock. "We'll figure it out later. For now, let's get back to work before the doors open." But even as I said the words, my mind was spinning with thoughts about Sign and Linc—wondering what the hell was really going on between them.