"Every day has a past. Every day has a tomorrow."
― Amy Meyerson

Chloe's POV.

"Please take a seat, Mr. Phillip," I say as I grab my diary and pen to note down any details for the new contract. I smooth out the creases my turquoise body con dress with my free hand while waiting for him to take out a paper from his folder that he's been skimming through.

"So as I spoke to you before about what needs to be done, we need some really good images for our website and the upcoming magazine issue. The restaurant is called 'The Countryside Gourmet'," he hands me a paper with the payment details and I raise an eyebrow.

I look at him in confusion, "With the time you're giving me to work on your contract, you'll have to increase the pay by ten percent Mr. Phillip. Not only is this non-negotiable but please understand that you're making me clear out my schedule for tomorrow in a day's notice," I reason out with my voice as serious as it could be. This is the reason Dan left the contract negotiation with me every single time.

Noticing him sigh, I wait for his answer while his eyebrows knit while he thinks it out, "I'll take to the boss, I'm sure we can work with that," he finally says with a smile. He looks like he's in his late thirties with a little grey hair.

He stands up, pulling at his suit in an attempt to straighten it out and extends his hand towards me which I take standing up to, "Thank you, Ms. Miller. I appreciate you accepting the offer at the very last minute."

"It's my pleasure and I've got a reservation at your restaurant this afternoon with my brother so I'll just look around if you don't mind,"

"Oh, of course. I'll let our representative know about your visit and they'll show you around," he says as I release my hand from his.

"Thank you. Have a great day," I say with a smile and he heads to the glass door exit of my office, "You too Ms. Miller,"

I sigh and fall back into my seat as I notice him leave and Dan immediately walks in, "So?"

He looks at me excitedly and takes a seat on the table making me roll my eyes, "That was the quickest discussion and well he's from that new restaurant Blake was talking about,"

"Oh wow, that's nice. You could take a look around when you go there today so that way at least one of us wouldn't be as clueless," he grins making me smile.

Blake enters the room too with his eyes glued onto his phone as he types away quickly, "That was quick,"

"Yup," both Dan and me say in unison agreeing with what Blake said. Dan walks over to the mini-fridge and grabs three coke cans before handing one each to us. I sink into my leather seat sipping on it, Blake's surprise visit changed our work plans a little bit but that gave me and Dan more time to relax for the week. Along with Blake offering to help us with the photoshoots as long as he's around.

~•~•~•

Blake runs his hand through his brown hair looking at the endless menu making me giggle, "Decided what you want to have yet?"

"Could we just opt for the buffet instead?" he asks me as I stifle a laugh and just nod, what do I say? He loves food and I just don't say it out loud but I sure am one hell of a foodie too. I guess having Zach and Blake around who had huge appetites made me a foodie too.

"But first some fancy champagne," I say smiling as the server comes up with our glasses and a bottle of champagne. What were we celebrating again? Our relationship, we've been there for each other through the worst of times when our parents divorced and many other situations life threw at us. And no matter what, we always had each other back.

I look out the window as the raindrops hit the glass making a rhythm enough to make me smile. It was the same rhythm that calmed my heart the day I had to drop off my best friend at the rehabilitation center. Little did I know, that was the last time I got to see him.

"You okay, little sis?" Blake's concerned voice gets my attention and I nod giving him an almost convincing smile but of course, my brother knew me too well to buy it, "Let's get some food,"

I say shifting the topic and take one last sip of my drink before standing up. He shakes his head sighing and follows me with his hand resting on my back, just enough to let me know that he's got my back. Blake is my biggest support and when Zach left, he was the one who dug up information to make sure Zach was alright. Not because he cared about Zach but because he wanted me to move on from caring too much for him.

Serving ourselves, my eyes land on the chicken empanadas, and I involuntarily smile as the memory of Zach making them for me crossed my mind. He's a chef and of course having him as a best friend came with benefits like him making me my favorite foods. Placing a few on my plate, I add in a few more stuff before both of us headed back to our table.

This place is nice and cozy, somewhere I could see myself dropping by often and of course, the photoshoot of this place is going to turn out great because of the beautiful interior. It reminds me of the bistro in California where I spent a lot of time during grad school.

"You know, we should visit this place again when Hailey is back. The food is amazing," Blake says diving into his food and I nod with a smile, it'd be great to meet up like this again especially with Hailey.

We continue to eat in silence and the sound of cutlery is only heard with so many people around. The turn out to this new place seems to be great and I see why it's because of the darned good food. I bite into the empanada and my heart drops at the taste, this tasted way too familiar and it couldn't be so much of a coincidence now, could it?

"What's wrong?"

"This just tastes familiar," I tell Blake pointing out at the empanada in hand.

"You know he's not the only one who could make good empanadas right?" he raises his eyebrow pointing out and I nod almost convinced with what he said. And this food was too good to ruin my time here with the thoughts of that douchebag.

Finishing the last of the savory food on my plate, I grab the plate of desserts with a smile gaining attention from my brother who's trying hard to eat as civilized as he could without reaching out for stuff on my plate, "So, hows your work going? You haven't said much about it,"

"Well it's been pretty stressful but in a good way," he says grinning.

"That's great news," he takes a spoonful of my Crème Brulee and I whine, "You had to ruin that pretty crackle!"

"I'm sorry! I'll get you another," he says matching my low tone and grin. Damn it, what's better than being able to boss your brother around? Nothing.

"I love this and we could get some take away before we leave. Right away, I'll just take the tour around, while you finish up," I tell him standing up as I see Mr. Phillip walk our way. I hated how I had to think of work right now but it's only to make things easier for the photoshoot tomorrow.

Mr. Phillip continues conversing over the phone before pointing out in the direction to walk, I follow him while silencing my continuously buzzing phone. I already knew who it was, Dan of course, "The boss wanted to meet you but he's busy in the kitchen today,"

I give Mr. Phillip an understanding look when I realize that he's talking to me, "He wanted me to apologize on his behalf but you can continue with the tour of the restaurant. Mandy is going to show you around," he points out at a woman of my age waiting for us to get done with the conversation.

"Thank you and the restaurant is beautiful, I'm sure we can get great pictures tomorrow," saying that, we bid our goodbyes before I follow Mandy around.

"Ms. Miller?" she asks me confirming my name and I smile at her before speaking up, "You can call me Chloe,"

"Okay, Chloe," I nod with a smile as I follow her through the beautiful corridor with the sit-out area on the other side of the glass partition. Damn, I love the raindrops rolling down the glass, it's just beautiful and with a book to read, this is the perfect weather.

I'm probably going to do that once I get home since Blake anyway has some work to get done with tonight. Normally these were the days, I spent time sitting at the porch of my house trying to reflect on things in life but it's time to change that. It's time I move on and start living in my present.

"Chloe?"

"Yup?" I ask Mandy and follow her gaze to the staff lounge. Damn, this is huge and sure it is just getting more and more interesting.

"So this is the staff lounge where we usually take our breaks or just have a team meeting and that is our lockers room," she points out around as we walk past the rooms and I couldn't help admire the dim natural light that entered everywhere. The beautifully carpeted wooden floors made the clinking of my heel against the floor evident. The whole glass and wood combination just gave out the perfect aura to make anyone relax but the point here is that it just meets the idea that Zach had for his restaurant.

I shake my head trying to get his thoughts off my mind, I think its time for me to get rid of that letter and pack away his stuff. It's enough how much he occupies my mind already, I failed at another relationship after him and I don't think I have it in me to keep holding on to the idea of him coming back.

So how many relationships did he ruin for me already, two and that is enough for me to despise him, oh my fucking heart sucks at getting things straight, "And this is the kitchen,"

She shows me the huge kitchen with a hell lot of work going on, "Wow, do you think we can get them to slow down for the photoshoot tomorrow?"

"Yes, we'll be closed tomorrow till the evening so that you can work with ease,"

"Oh that's nice of you guys," I smile at her before turning around and walking out of the chaotic kitchen as I feel my head hurting. Damn, how the hell do they work in there with all that sound of utensils?

I feel a hand on my shoulder and stop knowing that it wasn't Mandy, "Chloe, is that you?"

~•~•~•