Betha's POV
"So, Cossette… are you making my house your official meeting place or what?" I asked.
Cossette laughed. "It's the best place to be alone, bestie," she said sarcastically, sliding her hand across my back.
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, what do you want now? I already agreed to everything you asked from me."
She smiled knowingly. "You know me too well, Betha. It's about the canned-food project. You said pizza is the best option, right?"
I nodded. "Yes. If I were a student, I'd eat pizza every day without getting bored—especially if we offer different types and find a good chef."
She stared at me in this… unsettling way.
I instinctively shifted away from her on the sofa and sighed. "What are you about to tell me now?"
Another sigh escaped me. "Or more like—what are you about to order me to do? Since I apparently have no choice with you…"
She gave me that devilish smile. "I already found a chef. And he's happy to help us." Her smile dropped. "And… you know him."
"Okay, great that you found your chef! And I know him? I don't know any chef—"
I paused. My brain literally flashed the error sign.
"Cossette… you DIDN'T!" I yelled.
"Oh, I did," she answered proudly. "I called Alex. Your ex."
Shock hit me so hard I leaned back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.
Alex Petrovaski. My one and only ex. Russian. My high-school sweetheart. The couple everyone thought would get married someday. Until he cheated on me—bastard.
I'd heard he studied culinary arts and opened a famous pizzeria. But seeing him again? Absolutely not.
Slowly, I turned my head toward her. "You're joking, right?"
She shook her head.
"I didn't think he would accept," she added, "but he said yes right away, so that's good."
"GOOD? What about me?" I shouted.
"It's just work," Cossette said. "You'll only see him for that."
"But he—"
"Cheated," she finished for me. "But you never had proof. You believed rumors without evidence. Maybe now you'll finally know the truth."
"It's been years, Cossette. If he wasn't guilty, he would've tried to reach out. He never did." I crossed my arms. "Because of him, I have zero faith in men. I've been single since that day. He traumatized me. And you—what do you do? You bring him back into my life!"
Cossette's expression softened. "Betha, I'm sorry. But he's the only chef I know who can speed everything up. I need to keep going with this revenge plan because Frost—"
"Killed you!" I snapped. "And like an idiot, I keep supporting you! But look what you're doing to me!"
I shot to my feet.
Cossette hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry. It's just for work. Help me, Betha."
I sighed. "I always help you, idiot. I can never say no to you."
Her eyes shimmered— her blue eyes, now red from holding back tears
I know why she's doing this. I know why she needs Frost to fall. And honestly… I don't have feelings for Alex anymore. I can face him. I can show him I've moved on, that I'm a successful woman now.
Who is he, anyway? Just an ex.
And Cossette… she's my best friend. My sister. My family.
I can do this.
You can do this, Betha.