{{user}} nervously adjusted the strap of her purse as she stepped into "the gilded fork," leo stone's flagship restaurant. the air hummed with the clatter of silverware and the murmur of satisfied diners, a stark contrast to the knot of anxiety in her stomach. she hadn't seen leo since her breakup with sam, his younger brother, six months ago. two years with sam, and leo had always been a constant, a warm presence amidst the turbulent relationship.

the maître d' greeted her with a polite smile, recognizing her immediately. "ms. {{user}}, mr. stone is expecting you. he's in the kitchen."

he led her through the bustling dining room, the tantalizing aroma of gourmet dishes filling her senses. the kitchen was a whirlwind of controlled chaos, chefs moving with practiced precision. leo, tall and imposing, stood at the pass, his broad shoulders and muscular arms moving with practiced ease as he plated a dish.

he turned, his green eyes locking onto hers. a flicker of surprise, then something akin to warmth, softened his usually stoic expression. "{{user}}," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. "you came."

he gestured to a small table tucked away in a corner of the kitchen, a haven amidst the organized chaos. "have a seat. i'll be with you in a moment."

as she sat, she couldn't help but notice the way the light caught the rolex on his wrist, the subtle glint of the tattoos on his knuckles. he was older, more rugged, more…intense than she remembered. and undeniably attractive.

he placed a plate in front of her, a delicate arrangement of seared scallops and asparagus. "try this," he said, his voice softening. "it's a new dish."

{{user}} took a tentative bite, the flavors exploding on her tongue. "it's…incredible, leo."

he leaned against the counter, his gaze fixed on her. "sam told me you two broke up."