Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 66

(ARIELLE'S POV)

"You will be fine, won't you? And hey, promise me you won't overwhelm yourself," Ashley said, concern perched on her face.

We were parked in the restaurant's parking lot. It was Monday, and I was resuming work. Ashley had driven me as she wouldn't let me board a cab or Uber.

"I promise."

"Good. Have a nice day at work today, " she said and hugged me tightly.

"Thank you. You too," I said, returning the hug. After we disengaged, I grabbed my bag and alighted, waving.

As I walked towards the restaurant's entrance, a feeling of nostalgia hit me. It had been weeks since I'd been away, but it felt like months. I took a deep breath, excited about my return.

Suddenly, someone threw their weight around me, nearly knocking me off balance. "Goodness, it's so good to have you back!" Rebecca exclaimed.

"I know, right? It's good to be back, and I missed you," I said, laughing and hugging her back.

She giggled and grabbed my hand. "Let's go in. I'm sure Mr Stone will be excited to see you."

I nodded and fell into step with her. The familiar aroma of food enveloped me, a gentle reminder that I was back to where I belonged. The waiters and other workers all welcomed me with warm smiles and open arms. I was almost moved to tears by their kindness.

After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, I made my way to my office. I was surprised and pleased to find it had been redesigned. A welcome–back card on my desk caught my eye.

I picked it up, reading the heartwarming message. "Welcome back, head chef. We've missed you." I smiled and tucked the card away safely, feeling grateful. Afterward, I left my office and headed to Mr. Stone's office.

I arrived at his office and knocked on the door. He bade me to enter. I turned the handle and stepped inside.

"Good morning, sir," I said, offering a warm smile.

He looked up from the papers on his desk, a broad smile spreading on his face. "Ah, Arielle. Welcome back, it's great to see you."

"Thank you, sir. It's good to be back," I replied.

"How are you?" He asked, his brows furrowing in concern. "Are you sure you're fully recovered and ready to resume work?"

"I'm fine, sir," I assured him. "I've had enough rest, and I'm fully recuperated."

He nodded. “All right. Rebecca can fill you in on all the changes we've made while you were away. We've acquired some new appliances, and the workflow may be slightly different now."

“All right, sir," I said. "I'll take my leave now."

As I turned to leave, Mr Stone's voice stopped me. "Arielle, before you go, I want to know if you've made up your mind about the study abroad. There's just a month left before the scholarship closes,” he reminded.