The CHEF from Burhan & Sons

Chapter 14 - Amaryllis

A Year Later...

Back in town. Back at ECC headquarters. It felt weird seeing Briana and Jeff again considering that I had been all over the place opening new branches for Ada. We have managed to open three more branches in three different locations and she's over the moon. I had to get back because she summoned me for some reason and it was good to find out that Briana was promoted to Training Coordinator, managing other consultants, and as for Jeff, he got his dream job in Marketing as a Content Creator. He loved the camera so it was a match made in ECC heaven.

"Now this is what I call a surprise", Briana said when I walked into her office with a bouquet of flowers. She stood up and hugged me then took the flowers along with a flower vase that had plastic ones. She called her assistant and told him to switch it out.

"How have you been? You look incredible", she said making me smile. "So do you miss coordinator? Congratulations, this is an amazing office, totally made for you", I said making her flip her hair with all the sass. "It's nice to have you back. Is it permanent?", she asked making me shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. Ada just summoned me so, here I am. She's finishing up a meeting so I had to come and see you first", I said and it made her smile even bigger.

My phone rang and it was Ada. "It's her. Let me go listen to her then we are having lunch somewhere to celebrate you and Jeff", I said in a rush then picked up. "Yes Ma'am", i answered. "Eeewww, that made me feel old. Am done with the meeting you can come now... and please call me Ada", she whined on the last part then hung up making me laugh and I went to the stairs.

"It's been a minute. How does it feel being the face of ECC?", she asked as I sat on one of the visitor chairs. "Overwhelming but good. I love seeing the way people respond after seeing the impact we're imposing on their businesses. It's really good", I complimented making her chuckle.

"Music to my ears. So, from the results you've shown in the last year, the CFO and I have decided to appoint you as the COO of Eternal Creation Consulting. What do you say?", Ada said then relaxed on her fancy chair as if she hadn't just dropped the bomb on me. "What?", I asked again making her smile. "Amaryllis, look at it this way. What do you and the COO position have in common?", she asked making me stare at her.

My brain failing miserably. She rolled her eyes at me. "You both oversee the day-to-day activities and execute ECC's long-term goals one of them being expanding to other locations. You're practically doing it already, the CFO and I are just upgrading your incentives and formalizing it. A normal branch manager doesn't open four new branches for different locations in a year. Come on, say yes", she pleaded with puppy dog eyes that made her look like she was crying.

"Does it mean I have to stay here?", I asked and she nodded. I released a breath and nodded too. She gave me the contract and when I reached the salary page I almost fainted. "Uh... there's a house included. I already have a house", I said making her smile. "That's why it is put as an accommodation allowance, so you will be given money for accommodation and it's up to you how you'll use it", she said and I smiled.

"Thank you Ada", i said and hugged her. I was about to leave when she called and when I turned she had a car remote in her hand. "Your car. My COO will not be seen coming to the office with an Uber", she said making me smile. It had a BMW logo on and it gave me chills. "Thank you, Ada. You will not regret this", I said. "I know", she said then went back to her desk turning her attention to the laptop.

"This deserves a celebration", Briana said as we left for the parking lot. I kept pressing the remote until we heard a car unlock. It was a white BMW X6. "Oh my fucking god!", Briana shouted making people look at us like we were crazy. "Sorry, she's just too excited", i said as we got in. The interior was beige, screaming Ada. It was just amazing. "This is incredible", I said while running my hands through the steering wheel. "Honey I know", Briana said while taking selfies.

We went to have dinner at a restaurant that was close to Briana's apartment. Jeff joined us after and he looked happy for some reason. "What happened to you?", I asked and he showed us an ultrasound photo. "Whaaaat! This day just keeps getting better and better", Briana said making Jeff stare at her.

"Fine, you're in the presence of the new COO of Eternal Creation Consulting and owner of a brand new BMW X6", Briana said making Jeff's eyes go wide with shock. He grabbed the waitress and ordered a bottle of tequila. It was celebration time. Jeff and his girlfriend had been trying to get pregnant for as long as I could remember so the fact that they were, was amazing. I was super happy for them.

"Does it mean that you're moving back here?", he asked and I nodded. "So you mean, you've been single all this time?", he asked and I knew where the conversation was going. "Yes, guys. I still have feelings for Liam. I tried dating but I found myself looking for things that I knew in my heart only Liam had them", I finally confessed and it felt good not to suffer in silence and hope that alcohol would make me forget.

"Well you will be happy to know that he hasn't gotten over you either", Briana said making me furrow his brows. "What do you mean? Have you been in touch with him?", I asked making her smile. "Not necessarily", she said then gave me her phone. It was an Instagram page of a very beautiful restaurant, then my eyes fell on the name. "No he didn't", i said with a hand on my mouth. "Yes, he did. I've seen people do crazy shit in my life but this dude surpasses every one of them", Jeff said earning a smack on the head.

"Don't listen to this smart ass, I think it's romantic. The other day he was in an interview and he was asked about the name and where you were. He didn't answer then the lady asked if you were 'the one that got away'. You should have seen the look in his eyes. That man will move mountains for you. You should check the interview out and see for yourself", Briana said making me pour a shot of tequila and drink it just to feel like myself again.