“It’s over?”

Jessa and Celeste were sitting on my couch, having just arrived from New York. Celeste didn’t want to waste time with lunch and pleasantries. She said all of that could come later. She and Jessa needed to tell me everything, and how it would affect my place at the Culinary Channel.

“Rowling is out of Culinary, effective at midnight. He’s being allowed into his offices under strict supervision to clear out his files and reassign pending projects and scripts. No acts of sabotage, no need for revenge. He quietly resigned and will be given enough severance to make him go away. Quietly,” Celeste explained with obvious displeasure.

“I get the feeling you aren’t happy with this settlement. Why? He’s out, right? He can’t harass anyone else at Culinary. It’s a win!”

Jessa rose from her seat and started to pace. Not a good sign. I knew, in part, she was anxious because she was so close to Clara and still couldn’t see her. The rest, I’m not sure I want to hear. She glanced over at her sister and they shared a look of understanding between them. They nodded at each other and Jessa looked back to me.

“Full disclosure time, Bethany. Rowling? He’s our brother.”

“What? What the actual fuck do you mean he’s your brother? I thought we were all friends. No, we are family, and you both left me to fend for myself with that piece of shit? Do I even know you two?” I shouted as my head bounced back and forth between them.

“Bethany, let us explain. Please?”

“Somebody better talk. Now.”

“Jessa and I always knew about each other. We were raised together. That half-sister stuff never mattered to us. We were sisters. We’re a year and few months apart in age. You know our story with Dad. He was a manwhore. He was the worst. On his deathbed, he told us about our brother. We knew who he was from our dealings with him. He got under my skin from the get-go, but we decided to try and help him.”

Jessa picked up the story. “He was trouble, Bethany. We bailed him out a few times. Helped to keep some of that trouble quiet. When we started the agency, he wanted to come in as a third and handle a television and movie division. It was too risky. He was too risky. So, we said no. He’s had it in for us since. Especially when this up-and-coming chef was taken under the Cox family wing and treated better than him. Or so he said. He’s angry too, that we have never publicly acknowledged him, but there has been good reason not to. As he climbed at Culinary, his behavior got worse. When you won and we saw the looks he gave you, we had to act to protect you. I’m not sorry we have.”

“This time, he got sloppy. Very sloppy,” Celeste said. “He’s sexually harassed a lot of women at Culinary. They were too scared to come out. But this time he went after the wrong girl. You’re very loved by the staff, the hosts, everyone. Sassy but smart. And very kind. When the tactics started and you left for Savannah, they decided to fight for you. Needless to say, the emails, screenshots, and sneaky pictures were enough evidence to have our dear sweet brother removed from his position.”

“They brought all this forward? For me? Are you serious, Celeste?”

“Dead.”

“What happens now?”

“Well, that’s the other reason why we’re here. Contract renegotiations. Yours is now null and void. Seeing as baby bro screwed up, Culinary wants the option to correct its fuck-up and general lack of paying attention to what was right in front of them. Even though we discreetly warned them,” Jessa stated, with a shake of her head.

Options. That word seems to have been thrown around a lot the last few days.

I have a few, and I know exactly what options I want to take.

“Jessa, best lawyer on the planet, and Celeste, best agent in heels, let’s talk terms.”

I asked for and received a year’s contract. Six shows, all filmed here in Savannah. The show would get a new name, and my crew would be given the opportunity to move and stay with the show. I would film a Christmas special and a farewell show that would air in the spring. My time with Culinary was coming to an end, and a new door would soon be opening.

The door to my own restaurant. On my grandmother’s land, bearing her name. Opal’s would be opening in two years.

In the meantime, I had news to share with all the important people in my life. All of them, including my mom.

I was home. To stay. No more running. I was home.

Look out, Savannah.