My Ambition 26

Chapter 1 

Just as I’m contemplating another bland meal for this CEO who’s pickier than Gordon Ramsay on a bad day, some girl barges in, sees me, and starts absolutely roasting him: 

“I knew it! Just like in those romance novels – the second I leave the country, you get yourself a lookalike to play house with!” 

Wait, what? 

I look down at my chef’s apron and the spatula I’m holding like I’m about to flip burgers at a backyard BBQ. 

Um, nobody mentioned I’d be cooking meals AND filling in as the main course when his girl’s away? 

Well. Guess I better think fast…should I demand double pay- 

Or just go all-in and make this whole CEO wife thing official? 

Before I could even react, his first love Sera kept going: 

‘No wonder you’ve ignored me all these years while I was abroad. You already had someone new by your side, so you just completel forgot about your old flame!” 

‘And now that I’m back, you can’t even bear to send away your little replacement. Well fine then-I’ll just bow out and let you two b happy together!” 

Watching Sera’s teary-eyed performance, I just stood there completely stunned. 

Wait, what script is this? 

I thought I got hired because of my amazing cooking skills-CEO Gabriel Stone headhunted me with an 800K salary to be his private chef and help with his stomach problems. 

How did I suddenly become the other woman? And… the replacement??? 

Gabriel frowned too: 

‘Sera, what the hell are you talking about? I’ve been flying out to see you every single week for the past three months. How is that gnoring you?” 

‘And this is Summer, the house chef. Not whatever crazy thing you’re imagining.” 

‘A chef?” Sera let a tear slide down her cheek. “What chef is that young and pretty?” 

“I love wearing white, and look-she’s wearing white too. If she’s not a replacement, then what is she? Gabe, why are you still lying 

me?” 

I looked down at my white chef’s coat, then at Sera’s white silk dress. 

My eye twitched. 

Like, the only thing these have in common is that they’re both made of white fabric. 

I sighed and spoke up: 

“Miss Sera, I really am just the chef. If you don’t believe me, go check the kitchen-I’ve got chicken soup simmering on the stove right 

now.” 

But Sera covered her ears and stomped her feet like a toddler: 

“Nope! Not listening! Even if there is soup, you guys totally just whipped that up to fool me!” 

Gabriel rubbed his temples: 

“Alright, so what’s it gonna take for you to believe Summer’s actually the chef?” 

“Fire her and I’ll believe you.” Sera had this whole ‘you can’t fool me’ look on her face. 

“Every romance novel says the first love and the stand-in can never coexist. Eventually she’s gonna steal my spot. Babe, I can’t lose you, so she’s gotta go!” 

Hearing all that, Gabriel’s frown got even worse. 

He glanced at me, looking torn. 

His stomach problems were like 90% better thanks to my cooking. Dude literally couldn’t survive without my food at this point. 

But if he didn’t boot me, his dear first love obviously wasn’t gonna let this go. 

After a beat, Gabriel finally made up his mind. He walked over and said quietly: 

‘Summer, I know we had that live-in deal, but with everything going on… I’m gonna need you to crash at the penthouse nearby 

instead.” 

‘I’ll cover double your gas money and toss in three months’ pay as compensation. Deal?” 

My eyes practically turned into dollar signs. 

Gabriel’s penthouse was literally a five-minute drive away. Double gas money plus three months of free cash? 

Jh, yes please!! 

nodded frantically before he could change his mind: 

Totally fine, boss! Want me gone today?” 

was already scrolling for movers on my phone. 

Gabriel blinked like he couldn’t believe I was this cool with it. 

Something weird crossed his face and he started to say something, but just ended up nodding: 

‘Yeah… might as well get it over with.” 

The movers showed up crazy fast. While I was telling them which boxes to grab, Sera strutted over in her designer heels: 

“So Summer, congrats on your little scheme while I was gone. Look how that worked out-now you’re getting kicked to the curb. 

Gabe only cares about me. You can try all you want, but fake will always be fake!” 

I’d just gotten the bank alert-that gorgeous seven-figure payout was sitting pretty in my account. 

Sera, who’d basically just handed me a lottery ticket, was looking way more friendly all of a sudden. 

I grinned and played along: 

“Oh totally, you’re like his whole world! I’m nobody compared to you.” 

Sera flipped her hair: “Glad we’re clear on that.” 

She click-clacked away. I could hear her talking to the butler about rooms. 

“I’ll take the one where Gabe keeps all my photos-you know, his little shrine room where he goes to miss me.” 

The butler sounded lost: “Uh… there isn’t a room like that?” 

Her voice went full banshee mode: 

‘What do you mean?! In every single romance book, when the first love goes overseas, the guy always has this locked room full of h pictures that nobody else can touch! 

If you don’t know something, just say you don’t know-don’t tell me there isn’t a room like that!” 

Couldn’t catch the rest, but I just shook my head and poured one out for that poor butler.