Seasoned With Love
Season 3 – Episode 10: "The Deal Luke Walked Away From"
Amara's POV
The door had barely finished closing behind Evan before the whole restaurant felt like it was holding its breath.
Marcus said it first.
"Alright… somebody needs to explain what just happened."
Rose nodded.
"Yes. Immediately."
I didn't take my eyes off Luke.
"Luke."
He ran a hand across the back of his neck — something he does when he's thinking about how to say something difficult.
"I was hoping this conversation wouldn't happen like this."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Yeah well… that guy walked in like a storm cloud."
Rose leaned against the counter.
"He clearly knows a lot about you."
I spoke quietly.
"And apparently there's something I don't know."
Luke looked at me carefully.
Not defensive.
Just… weighing the moment.
"Amara deserves the truth."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes she does."
Rose added gently,
"We all probably should hear this."
Luke exhaled slowly.
"Okay."
He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table.
Which told me the story wasn't short.
I sat across from him.
Marcus and Rose stayed nearby but gave us space.
Luke looked at me.
"Before the restaurant… before any of this… I was leading a major development project."
I listened closely.
"What kind of project?"
"Urban redevelopment."
Rose's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"That's big money."
Luke nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus muttered,
"I knew it."
Luke continued.
"It involved several investors, city contracts, and private firms. We were planning to build a chain of commercial properties across multiple cities."
I frowned slightly.
"That sounds huge."
"It was."
Then Luke paused.
And I could tell this was the part that mattered.
"But halfway through the project… I found something."
Rose leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of something?"
Luke answered calmly.
"The deal wasn't clean."
Marcus immediately reacted.
"How not clean?"
Luke looked at him.
"Some of the properties being acquired were going to displace entire communities."
The room went quiet.
Luke continued.
"And not legally."
Rose's expression hardened.
"So they were forcing people out."
Luke nodded once.
"Yes."
I asked softly,
"And the investors knew?"
"Yes."
Marcus shook his head.
"That's messed up."
Luke continued.
"I brought it to the board. I told them we needed to stop the deal and restructure it."
Rose asked,
"And they didn't want to."
"No."
"What did they say?" I asked.
Luke gave a small, humorless smile.
"They said it was the cost of progress."
Marcus scoffed.
"Of course they did."
Luke looked at me again.
"And I refused to sign off on it."
Rose nodded slowly.
"That's where things changed."
Luke continued.
"The contracts were already moving forward. Investors had already put in millions."
Marcus blinked.
"How many millions are we talking?"
Luke answered simply.
"A lot."
Rose exhaled slowly.
"And when you pulled out…"
Luke finished the sentence.
"The entire project collapsed."
Silence filled the room.
Marcus stared at him.
"You're saying… you walked away from a deal worth millions."
"Yes."
"And it blew up the whole thing."
"Yes."
Marcus shook his head again.
"Man…"
Rose spoke quietly.
"That would make powerful people angry."
Luke nodded.
"It did."
I asked the question that had been sitting in my chest since Evan walked in.
"Is that why some of them never forgave you?"
Luke looked at me.
"Yes."
The honesty in that answer hit harder than anything else.
I leaned back slightly.
"So when Evan said people are watching you…"
"They've always been watching."
Marcus looked toward the door Evan had walked through.
"That explains the vibe."
Rose studied Luke carefully.
"Why didn't you tell Amara earlier?"
Luke answered honestly.
"Because I didn't want that world bleeding into this one."
I asked softly,
"Into the restaurant?"
"Yes."
"But it just did," I said.
Luke nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Marcus stepped closer to the table.
"Okay but let me get this straight."
We all looked at him.
"You basically chose people over money."
Luke shrugged slightly.
"I chose what was right."
Marcus pointed at him.
"Yeah, that."
Rose smiled faintly.
"That explains a lot actually."
I tilted my head.
"What do you mean?"
Rose answered.
"Luke didn't suddenly become this person when he met you, Amara. He was already that person."
Luke gave her a small look.
"You're helping me here."
Rose shrugged.
"I'm telling the truth."
I looked back at Luke.
"Did it cost you everything?"
Luke thought about that question.
"Not everything."
"What did it cost you?"
"Reputation in certain circles."
Marcus muttered,
"Sounds like the wrong circles anyway."
Rose nodded.
"Agreed."
I studied Luke for a moment.
"Did you ever regret it?"
Luke answered immediately.
"No."
That answer came so fast it surprised even me.
I smiled slightly.
"Good."
He looked relieved.
"You're not upset?"
"No."
Marcus laughed softly.
"She respects it."
Rose nodded.
"Honestly, it makes sense."
But then Rose added something important.
"However… it also means Evan isn't here randomly."
Luke nodded slowly.
"No. He's not."
Marcus looked between us.
"You think they're trying to pull Luke back into that world."
Luke answered calmly.
"Yes."
I crossed my arms.
"And if you say no again?"
Luke met my eyes.
"Then some of them will push harder."
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"Let them try."
Rose smirked.
"You're not fighting investors, Marcus."
Marcus shrugged.
"I'll still stand there looking intimidating."
Luke actually laughed a little at that.
But I could see something deeper on his face.
Concern.
Not for himself.
For us.
I reached across the table and took his hand.
"Luke."
"Yes."
"Whatever they're planning… we'll handle it."
He looked at me carefully.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
Rose nodded.
"She means that."
Marcus added,
"We're all here."
Luke looked around the restaurant.
At the people who had become his team.
Then back at me.
And I could see something settle inside him.
Like he wasn't carrying the past alone anymore.
But something told me Evan wasn't done yet.
Not even close.
End of Episode: 10