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"Everyone loves a munchkin with chef Anna!" Jessica added happily. "What?" Anna said and scrolled through her followers. She saw a strange follower without a name but just a letter. "N"

"Who the hell is this? Trying to be anonymous. Could it be…." Anna thought she was confused.

***

Morning

It was morning in the office and all the employees gathered around the table with assorted foods with some other two popular chefs as they tasted the food on the table which was prepared by Anna.

"Hmmm…it's really delicious." They are hummed as they taste different delicacies on the table. "She is really a good cook!" The two famous chefs complimented. Maureen stood by the corner, her eyes narrowing as she watched her colleagues gather around the food and eat from it, praising her homemade dish with enthusiasm. Each compliment felt like a personal attack, igniting a fiery rage within her chest. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced a tight smile.

"Can you believe this?" Maureen muttered to the woman beside her, barely hiding the venom in her voice. "Anna probably bought that food from a store and is pretending she made it. She always has to show off, doesn't she? I don't know why everyone is falling for it."

Her words dripped with bitterness, but Maureen didn't care. She couldn't stand the sight of Anna basking in the spotlight, enjoying the admiration that Maureen believed should have been hers. Instead of joining in on the praise, she continued to whisper snide remarks, determined to tarnish Anna's moment and her image but it seems like no one cares.

"Wow! This food tastes amazingly good! How did Mr Xavier get these famous chefs here?" Dan nodded in satisfaction. He was referring to Mara who was beside him, pointing to the famous chefs.Maureen glared at him with so much anger.

"I think they all wanted to try munchkin with chef Anna! Who knows!? And I can't blame them. Did you know how many views she has online? Millions!" Mars responded, with her tune, she is super excited about Anna's cooking and probably her top fan.

"This is so fabulous!" The female chef commented. "So delicate and light on the taste buds! I give her 5 stars." The other chef nodded. Maureen burned in range and it pushed her to finally talk.

"I think that this food looks pretty pedestrian. What did you all think?" She asked for support. They all looked away. "Maureen, stop being so uptight! You should give your sincere and honest review." Dan responded. "Dan, shut up! Why don't you go back to work? Crunching numbers and leaving the taste testing to those of us with a refined palette." Maureen said, clenching her teeth and fist.

Just then, Xavier walked in with Anna behind him. She is dressed in a beautiful red gown, a red heel shoe and a black bag. Her light make-up made her look more charming than ever.

"Attention everyone! I'd like to introduce you to Anna, the chef behind today's food and our new culinary influencer!" Xavier smiled, holding her waist. Anna smiled happily as there was a round of applause for her. Everyone was smiling and so happy except Maureen. Maureen froze, her heart plummeting to the pit of her stomach. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and a flash of shock crossed her face before it quickly twisted into a scowl. Her lips tightened into a thin line, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, a mix of anger and humiliation flooding her senses.

Maureen's fingers curled around the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to maintain her composure. Her chest tightened with a sharp pang of jealousy, and her jaw clenched so hard that it ached. Every congratulatory word from the crowd felt like a dagger to her pride.

She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, which burned with resentment. Inside, she was seething, her mind racing with bitter thoughts. How could Xavier choose Anna, of all people? It should have been her moment, her name being celebrated. But instead, she was left standing in the shadows, her emotions churning with a toxic mix of envy and rage.

"Guys, I'm sorry. I'm confused. Why are we all standing around here and admiring this food? When the only place it belongs ...." Maureen said and carried the plate food on the table, everyone stared at her in disbelief. "Is in the trash!" She finished and dumped the food in the trash can. The sound of the dish clattering against the metal bin reverberated like a thunderclap, freezing everyone in place.

Anna's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she watched her hard work being discarded so cruelly. Her hands instinctively went to her mouth, covering it as if to stifle the gasp that escaped her lips. She blinked rapidly, her eyes filling with unshed tears, not just from the act itself, but from the sheer malice behind it. 

Xavier, who had been smiling moments before, stood rooted to the spot, his expression quickly hardening as he processed what had just happened. His brows furrowed, and his jaw set in a grim line, clearly displeased by Maureen's outburst. The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension, the celebratory mood shattered in an instant.

The others in the room exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions ranging from shock to disapproval. A few murmured in disbelief, while others shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to react to the blatant display of hostility. The admiration they had felt for Anna's cooking now turned into a mix of sympathy for her and disdain for Maureen's actions.

Anna, swallowing hard, took a deep breath to steady herself. Though her heart was pounding in her chest, she straightened her posture and forced herself to meet Maureen's glare. Hurt and confusion flickered in her eyes, but she refused to let Maureen see her crumble. Instead, she spoke softly but firmly, her voice trembling only slightly, "Was that really necessary, Maureen?"

Maureen, still fuming, didn't respond. She just stood there, breathing heavily, her hands trembling slightly as she realized the full impact of what she had done. The room remained silent, everyone waiting to see what would happen next, the atmosphere thick with unresolved tension.

"Maureen, this your stupid and uncultured attitude towards Anna needs to stop right now! Stop misbehaving!" Xavier shouted coldly and Maureen flinched.

"How do we know this isn't just some fad? And you're not gambling away all the company's money on a barren lady?" Maureen asked and laughed sarcastically.

Anna's shock quickly gave way to a surge of anger, her eyes narrowing as she squared her shoulders. Her heart pounded in her chest, but this time it wasn't from hurt—it was from fury. 

"How dare you? What's that supposed to mean?" she shouted, her voice strong and unwavering. She stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You have no right to say that to me or to anyone. You think you can tear others down just because you're bitter? I won't stand for it."

Her voice carried across the room, filled with the righteous indignation of someone who had been pushed too far. The room fell silent again, but this time, all eyes were on Anna as she stood her ground, refusing to let Maureen's cruelty go unchecked.

"Oh! No offense but we specialize in high end McDonald's type restaurants." Maureen said nonchalantly.

"That's enough Maureen, shut up! You have not even tried Anna's cooking." Xavier responded. Maureen laughed out.

"Yeah, but you seem to be her number one fan. That's why you're letting her live with you right?" Maureen asked, everyone stared at them surprised.

"Live with him?" They all asked, looking at each other.