06/07/2025
Tasha sits at a sleek glass table in her penthouse.
City skyline glowing behind her. Gray streak in her hair catching light.
Her eyes focused, scrolling on her glowing tablet.
Tablet screen: Financial data.
Red box highlights:
“Ashlar Group Holdings – 30% Stake in FLAME Gwinnett.”
Her finger hovers over the name.
Tasha
“Rodd… 30% of this restaurant was financed under a shell company.”
Chef Rodd leans against the window frame, arms crossed.
Calm expression, Rolex visible.
Rodd
“Who owns Ashlar?”
A luxury yacht in Miami at sunset.
Vivienne sits with a glass of wine. Behind her, a shadowed billionaire pours another.
The Billionaire
“You wanted revenge? I’ll give you an empire. But this time… you don’t get to be nice about it.”
Vivienne
“Nice doesn’t get you the crown.”
Caption
The real game was never hers to play alone.
FLAME Gwinnett lobby.
Lawyers in tailored suits stride in, holding folders stamped “Ownership Dispute.”
Guests murmur. Staff look uneasy.
Lawyer
“Per financial records, our client is entitled to profits, creative control, and operational oversight.”
Vivienne and the billionaire arrive at FLAME’s entrance.
They’re smug, paparazzi flashes around them.
Billionaire
“You either sell us controlling interest—or we lock your doors by Monday.”
Chef Rodd upstairs, looking down from the mezzanine.
Expression: calm, eyes sharp.
The fire they started just lit the whole block.
War-room style meeting. Rodd, Tasha, and their core team around a table.
Holographic projections of FLAME Atlanta, Dubai, Tokyo hover above.
Rodd
“They want this building? Fine. I’ll give them bricks and glass.
But FLAME was never a location—it’s a movement.”
Tasha on her phone, smirking.
Billionaire’s stock ticker plunging on a tablet screen.
The original FLAME restaurant glowing with golden lights.
Press and influencers flood the gala.
Vivienne and Billionaire enter smugly.
In the foreground: Chef Rodd standing on stage in his tux.
Behind Rodd: giant holograms of FLAME Dubai, FLAME Tokyo, FLAME Lagos rotating slowly.
The crowd gasps.
Rodd raising glass
“Thanks for taking this off my hands. I needed the time to build something bigger.”
Vivienne whispers, eyes wide:
“He pivoted…”
The Billionaire, jaw tight:
“No… he scaled.”
FLAME Dubai drone shot at sunset.
Crowds wrapped around the building, gold banners waving:
“The Crown Stays Cooked”
Chef Rodd and Tasha on the balcony, overlooking the opening.
Tasha’s hand on his chest. His custom chef chain glints in the light.
Tasha
“You’re unstoppable, you know that?”
Rodd
“Nah… we’re unstoppable.”
“You can buy the building… but you’ll never own the flame.”
linktr.ee/chefrodd