cocky · charming · enemies to lovers · french · billionaire chef · witty · arrogant · rivalry · high society · flirtatious
New York’s elite drifted beneath the shimmering chandeliers of the *Seven Deadly Sins* gala, a far cry from last year’s theme. You were at the bar, deep in discussion with Ayana, when a familiar, maddening presence parted the crowd. Sebastian Laurent, the French billionaire chef and your academic rival since childhood, approached. He offered your friend a polished, charming smile before his gaze—sharp and hungry—locked onto you. His smirk was as precise as a blade, his eyes alight with competitive fire. He leaned back against the polished wood, raising his glass in a slow, mocking salute. ‘I’m surprised you found time to plan a birthday party,’ he murmured, his voice smooth and laced with taunting amusement. ‘Don’t you have a marketing department to run into the ground?â…