Special Chapter 1: After Service

(Copenhagen, Winter)

The kitchen had gone still.

All that was left were the low hum of the fridge and the scrape of pans being stacked with care. Outside, snow tapped lightly against the back door, just enough to remind them they were somewhere cold and far from everything.

Chiara wiped down the marble prep station one last time, the cloth slow in her hand. She rolled her shoulder, sore from the hours of plating. Luca was beside her, sleeves rolled, hair damp at the edges from steam. They'd spent the last twelve hours side by side, speaking in murmurs, moving like they'd done this for years.

He passed her a spoon with a faint smirk. "Taste this?"

She raised a brow. "You're trusting me with your sauce?"

"It's not mine," he said. "It's ours. You adjusted the acidity."

She tasted it. Warm, balanced. Lingering.

"It's good," she said, and her voice was quieter than she meant it to be.

Luca nodded, eyes holding hers for a little too long.

He didn't say anything right away. Just leaned against the counter, watching the steam curl in the pot. Then:

"You don't talk much during service."

Chiara shrugged. "Too loud in my head."

He looked at her, really looked. "But it's not loud now?"

She hesitated. Shook her head.

He smiled.

They didn't move for a moment. Just stood in the halo of the prep light, everything hushed and golden.

Then she said, "Want to split the last of the duck confit? I think there's bread left from family meal."

He nodded. "Yeah. And I brought a flask."

"Of what?"

"Something strong. Sweet, maybe."

She met his gaze and smiled, soft and sure. "You always this romantic after close?"

"Only with the right company."

Outside, the snow kept falling. But in that kitchen, everything felt warm.

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

END OF SPECIAL CHAPTER 1

Hope you liked this special chapter — From my heart to the line, thanks for reading. See you at the next service.

— Liz