Chapter 24

Griffin

I feel as if there's a weight on my shoulders that is currently getting heavy to bear. As I swiftly walk toward the kitchen, everything that just happened in Anya's office plays in a loop in my mind.

"My mother knows about us?"

"When will you be ready? When I pop out a few kids?"

I feel a drop of sweat trickle down my back as I push into the kitchen. The secret we've been keeping is slowly coming to the surface and I'm not ready for the fallout of it.

I broke a promise I made to Callum and I see no way of making him understand I had no choice. He doesn't understand love. He will cut me out as his friend and the likelihood that I lose my job is pretty damn high. I never wanted to choose between Anya and Callum, but I'm afraid that's the direction we're headed.

Carol knows and it's only a matter of time before Don is told. I have no idea how he'll react to the news. Will he accept our relationship or will he deem me damaged goods?

There are so many ways this could blow up in my face and I'm terrified that in the end, I'll be the one left standing alone.

"Chef, the article in the paper about you was impressive. Congratulations."

I nod to Charles, one of my sous chefs. "Thanks," I mumble.

Of course, I read the article. Being described as a master in the kitchen had me smiling like a damn fool. It's a compliment that truly made me proud.

I've overcome a lot in my life, mainly my father, and although only two people know how horrible it was, I feel like I've accomplished things that seemed unreachable. I didn't think I'd survive childhood, let alone get a culinary degree. I never would've imagined being the head chef at any restaurant, never mind being a co-owner with my best friends. I sure as hell didn't think I'd ever experience love and yet here I am, desperately in love with Anya.

None of it was handed to me. I've busted my ass for everything. Christ, I had to chase after Anya to give me a chance.

Now just when I feel like I have everything that I could possibly ever want, I could lose it all.

I close my eyes briefly and take a deep breath. "No, fuck that," I whisper to myself. I've fought for everything I have and I'm not going to stop now. I don't know how I'll do it, but I'm determined to have it all.

"Hey, the room is set up and Anya is kinda in bitch mode, so watch out," Tripp says, grinning as he walks into the kitchen.

"Hey, don't talk about your sister that way."

"You know, someone recently told me that every guy fights for the right woman," he says, grabbing a stack of napkins.

"Sounds like a smart guy," I say, chuckling.

"He is if he takes his own advice," he says, walking out of the kitchen.

For fuck's sake.

"Griff, you sure everything is good for tonight," Callum asks, rushing into the kitchen.

I know tonight is a big deal, but he's been over the top the last few days. Now that I have the worry of my secret being exposed, I'm feeling that fire inside me that Anya has been so good at keeping at bay.

"Yeah, Callum, I told you a hundred times. I've got everything handled. It will be a perfectly executed dinner. Fucking relax."

Yep, I regret the words as they slip out of my mouth.

"What the hell did you just say? You want me to fucking relax when we have the potential for the biggest thing to happen at the brewery? You want me to fucking relax and let it all fall to shit and let our—mine and yours—reputation be disgraced? Maybe you shouldn't be so relaxed like you've been the last few weeks. I've noticed how different you've been and I wasn't going to say anything, but seriously what the hell is going on?"

I blow out a breath as I try to compose myself. "I didn't mean it. You know me better than that. I just meant try not to stress yourself out so much. I promise you that everything is handled in this kitchen. I would never disappoint you or this brewery. Give me a little credit. I'm sorry it came out the way it did," I say, hoping to deflect from his last bit of questioning.

He sighs and leans against the counter, scrubbing his face. "I didn't mean to bite your head off. I just want this to go perfectly. I want us all to have the success that we deserve."

I grab his shoulder and nod. "We already have success, don't forget that. This party is monumental, I'm not denying that, but don't dismiss what we've accomplished already. You allow the world to fall on your shoulders, but Cal, we're all in this together. We all know exactly what needs to be done to show the Mayor and his guests that we truly are the fucking best. Trust in that."

He smiles, shaking his head. "You might be a master in the kitchen, but you're also a genius with words. Thanks, man."

After our talk, Callum leaves and hopefully has relaxed a little. I continue to stay busy in the kitchen, making sure I don't disappoint anyone tonight. I haven't seen Anya since I walked out of her office and damn I miss her already.

The party is in full swing and it is going as perfectly as Callum and Anya hoped for. The food has been served and my job is over, but I won't leave. Just like every party I'll be here long after closing with Anya.

I decided to step out of the kitchen and watch from afar. I've been watching Callum talking and laughing with all the big wigs in the room. He fits in perfectly with them. I've been watching Tripp bust his ass to stay on top of everything and it makes me smile thinking he's taking my advice. I watched Brock and Shepherd serve the new beer and the looks of amazement on everyone's face that tasted it.

But what I've really been focused on is Anya. The way she flawlessly carries herself as the professional woman she is. How she interacts with each person is different and it's mesmerizing to watch. The way her face lights up when she's given a compliment or the sound of her laughter escaping the room. The way she lights up the room just by stepping into it. She's breathtaking and I find myself leaning against the wall to keep from falling to my knees.

She's now talking to the Mayor with a huge smile on her face that has my heart racing. I pull out my phone and grin.

Damn baby, you look almost as sexy talking to the Mayor as you do naked in my bed.

I smile as I hit send and glance up to watch her reaction. She rests her hand on her pocket and I know she felt her phone vibrate. I peek down at my phone and my smile slips.

"No, no, no. Fuck no," I whisper, staring at the text.

I didn't send it to just Anya, I sent it to the group text. With everyone. I still had it pulled up from earlier and accidentally sent it through to that.

"Fuck," I whisper, running my hand through my hair.

I glance around as my heart feels like it's going to burst out of my chest. Tripp catches my eye and laughs. Fuck. Brock looks at his phone and his brow dips. Shepherd left after serving the beer.

Just as I turn to make a run for it, Callum comes out of his office, pulling his phone from his pocket.

"Fuck," I whisper.

He reads the text and looks at me before glancing over at the Mayor. It takes him all of three seconds to put it all together before he's rushing toward me.

"You son of a bitch," he shouts.

He goes to take a swing, but I grab his arm and shake my head. "Please, not here. Everyone at the party will see and it will ruin our reputation."

He gives a humorless laugh as his eyes narrow. "You think I give a fuck about your reputation when you've been fucking my sister. My sister, Griffin. You broke a promise, you son of a bitch. You're lucky I don't kill you right now," he shouts.

Anya glances over when she hears the commotion and excuses herself from the Mayor.

"Callum, let me explain," I rush out.

He grabs onto my chef's coat, pulling me closer to his face. "You're a fucking liar. I don't want to hear shit you have to say. You stay away from me and my sister. I'm not asking you, I'm fucking telling you. If I so much as see you look in her direction, I will fucking kill you."

"Callum, stop it," Anya says, trying to pull him off me and push us out of the room.

"Anya, don't," I plead.

"Don't fucking talk to her," he hisses.

Brock and Tripp rush over at this point. I'm humiliated at the scene that is being caused.

"Callum, what the hell, let go of him," Brock says, trying to get between us.

"Brock, I deserve it," I say.

"What?" Anya says. "This is why you wanted to keep us a secret because you knew Callum was going to act like an animal?"

Callum snaps his angry green eyes toward her. "He wanted you to keep it a secret because he broke a promise. A promise that he swore he'd never break. When I told him to promise he'd never touch my little sister."

"What? You made him promise not to touch me?" she shouts. Her sad eyes slide to mine and the hurt I see shatters my heart. "You were never going to tell anyone, were you? I was a dirty little secret that you intended to keep hidden."

"Callum, seriously?" Brock says.

"Now it's making sense," Tripp whispers with a sly smile.

"Well, look at the prodigal son," a booming voice says from the middle of the room, causing all eyes to look over.

Callum lets go of me and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.

My father. In the flesh. And he's here.

Why?

"Dad, what the hell?"

I haven't seen or spoken to him in nearly four years and tonight, while my world is falling apart, he chooses to make a fucking appearance.

"I saw you in the paper," he says, holding up the article. "Seems my boy is real successful and that's good cause you owe me eighteen years worth of food and rent."

"Get the hell out of here," I hiss, trying desperately to de-escalate the scene rapidly unfolding.

He laughs and continues further into the brewery. "A party for the Mayor. That's pretty big, boy. Never thought you'd amount to shit, but look at you."

"I believe you were asked to leave," Callum says, crossing his arms, standing between me and my father.

"I believe I'll be having a beer while I wait for my son to get my goddamn money," he replies, clearly drunk. His eyes are still the same as they were when I was younger—angry and sullen, with a glassy sheen that speaks of too many nights spent drowning his sorrows. His face has aged over the years, deepening the creases around his mouth and making the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes more noticeable. His once robust frame has grown gaunt, his skin now sallow and sagging, with a scruffy, unkempt beard adding to his disheveled appearance. The smell of alcohol clings to him, mingling with the faint, stale odor of sweat. His clothes, wrinkled and stained, hang loosely on his thinning body, completing the picture of a man who has seen better days.

"Go wait outside for me," I say, trying to get him out before he causes an even bigger scene.

"Go back to the party. Make sure everything is still running smoothly," Callum hisses at his brothers and sister.

Anya has tears running down her cheeks and I feel like I can't breathe. I've destroyed her and now my punishment is so much worse because my father is about to destroy us all.

"Mr. Mayor, how about my fucking son over there? Won't give his father the money he owes him. What do you think about that?" My father's now yelling for the whole room to hear him.

The room grows silent as my father staggers closer to the mayor, and I can't believe this is all happening right before my eyes.

I march over toward him, grabbing my father and pushing him up against the wall. There's shouting, screaming, and I swear I hear Anya's soft cries, but it doesn't stop me. I take a swing and he falls to the ground. A pile of trash crumbled on the floor.

I get a few steps away before I fall to my knees. The weight I had on my shoulders finally taking over and crushing me.

I've lost everything in a matter of minutes. My best friend, my pride, my success, and the love of my life.

"I'm so fucking sorry," I whisper, to everyone and to no one.