CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE COOKING TEST

Ava stopped at the diner on her way to the first round of the competition. She took in a burst of air before opening the door. The ride here had been one heck of a nervous ride. The competition was today, and she couldn't stay calm at all. The many what-ifs flooded her mind. Still, she knew she was doing this, doubts and all. Kathrine, Jude, and Casey shouted on seeing her. Casey collected her backpack to check what she had packedin there while the others hugged her.

"Knives?" Casey asked, hoping Ava didn't forget to pack those.She searched the hidden zipper and found them just as Ava replied that she had packed them.

"All packed, including napkins and my magic wand." Teased Ava.

The trio hugged her, pecking her and wishing her luck. "All the best, chef,"

Ava pulled back then, "Thanks, guys." She said, taking her bag. "My ride will be here soon." The driver who dropped her off was delivering a piece of luggage and would be coming back for her. Her eyes were misty as she looked at the diner one last time. For some weeks, she wouldn't be able to come to work. She had dropped an offline message for Patricia about missing work for now. The woman wasn't in Seattle at the moment. She had traveled to Atlanta to nurse her grandchild. And she had explained as clearly as she could about the competition. There had been no response. Hopefully, Pat got the letter. She could have called but didn't get the courage to.

"Make me proud," Kathrine said, smiling. At that time, the cab driver honked. "He's here."

As they all walked out, the back door opened. Patricia came in with a big cake. "You didn't think I'll miss the chance to send off my best chef, do you?" she asked, walking into the diner. She dropped the cake with Kathrine and pulled her favorite chef for a big hug. Then pulling back, she collected the cake and handed it over to the gift owner. "Make us proud." She smiled,brushing off the tears on both their faces.

Not trusting her voice, Ava only nodded and smiled. When she got the cake, she giggled excitedly. "Patsy," Cakes were her weakness. She could never refuse one. Every one of her colleagues knew that. She eyed the frosty thing happily, "Thank you."

"Unfortunately, this stays here with us," said Casey, joggling two knives, "Cut it?"

Ava nodded as the assistant chef dived into the cake. They gave her a large piece and proceeded to cut it for others. The car honked again. "I forgot that," she smiled excitedly. Getting her bag, she headed for the door. The team followed her, including their boss. Jude helped drop her bag inside the boot.

They stood by while the cabman drove her off. "We will be waiting for the live show," Jude called after her.

"Break a leg," Casey called too.

The entire staff, including their boss, stood, tears on their faces as the dust settled. And they knew that the diner would never be the same again for a while. Gloomily, the team went back to the restaurant.

❖

"Hello," greeted Sophie as she walked gaily into the studio. "Am I up yet?" she asked the technical guy who was busy with some checking. He had his earplugs on and could barely hear a thing. He only gave Sophie a thumbs up and went about his job. Shaking her head, she went into the staff room to check on the others. She was almost late for her show, thanks to that insane episode with Lucian. She forced herself to forget about the man as she opened the door. It would be a difficult thing to do unless she had work. "Hi, guys." She greeted the staff.

"Sophie," called her best colleague, Jessy. "The boss' been looking for you," she told her, "Looks like you're in big trouble." The last part was said in a whisper.

Sophie dropped her bag, checked the wall clock, and shrugged, "I know I'm late, but I still have some good ten minutes." It was strictly work policy that whoever was next should be at the studio thirty minutes early. And though she was a sucker for time, she had always tried to meet up. So, the older man should be able to cut her some slack when she waltzes in late.

"I don't think this has to do with your show," put in another staff. "You should see him now."

"Before the show?" she doubted that. "I'll be up soon."

"I think you should go now," Jessy said, gently pushing Sophie out. "You look good, by the way." She called after her, then closed the door with a soft sigh.

Sophie sighed too as she rushed down to her boss' office. The door was wide open when she walked into the place. His back was turned to her, but the man snapped her fingers when she was in. Sophie knew that meant she should lock the door. So, she did just that and sat down. "You wanted to see me," she said, jumping right in. If he was going to whoop her ass for running some seconds late, there was no point for niceties. "Okay?" she raised her brows questioningly at her boss. Allen was a smallish man. But he had so much beard to go round the men in the whole studio. And this beard, he carries so proudly.

At the moment, the man was busy brushing the beards with his left hand. Though he appeared interested in the chore, he was thinking. This much Sophie, as did every staff knows about. Their boss was always lost in thought whenever brushing his beard. Sophie checked the time hesitantly, willing the man to come back to the room. But wishes and horses didn't exactly always work now, did they? "Allen? I have a show to run in less than two minutes." She said casually but firmly. Her gaze stilled as the man coughed and adjusted himself. Sophie mentally welcomed him back to the room.

"Yes," said Allen. He coughed and reached the left cabinet for a file, dropped it on his table with a slam, and sat down. "When are you supposed to go on air?" he asked. "I mean, you came in…." he checked the wall clock and frowned. Time was far gone.

She rolled her eyes then. Really! He's really going to bullshit me for running late. Her wolf stirred and stuttered, And we ain't even late. "Boss, I still have five minutes," she complained, "Now, though, I barely have a minute."

"A minute," the boss said, checking his wristwatch, "Then I better be fast with this," he adjusted his tie, "You will be co-hosting the cooking show with Langdon." He told her, then leaned back in his chair, waiting for her outburst. The Winterfedwas a big shot in town. Throwing their child anyhow like thiscould land him in trouble big time. Unless this sits well with Sophie. And the man who had insisted on having her on the show wasn't cutting him any slack either.

For seconds, Sophie neither blinked nor uttered a word. The cooking show was the lamest show ever. People hardly pay attention to it. Why would her boss pick her for this? Did he somehow forget who she was? "Why?" That was all she could ask. Why will my fine ass be hosting a cooking show? My family,pays your freaking bills, Allen.

Well, that I have an answer to, he smiled inwardly. Perhaps, this would go smoothly after all. He hoped. His job was on the line here. McGuire had threatened him to make a move.

On the other hand, the Winterfed had their hands in their finances at the studio. Since Sophie started working here, they had been funding one thing or the other. Recently, the studio had just been refurbished, all thanks to them. "Mr. McGuire requested it."

Hearing the name somehow pacified her steaming anger. Sophie understood now who was pulling the string. Only Peterson could dare face a Winterfed. And there was just one singular Winterfed he had a grip on. Herself. If he dared it with any of her family, he would regret trying such an insane act. She sighed as she asked her boss. "Peterson McGuire?" Her boss nodded then. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Would you please do it?" he asked nicely, "It could be good for us all, you know," he shrugged, "For the views." He drawled, hinting at her drop in viewers for her last show.

"I already have good views, thank you," she stood then to leave. The expression on her boss' face stopped her. "What? I'm the top on the chart."

He twisted his face awkwardly. "No, not anymore."

"Just because I dropped a few hundred doesn't mean I cannot get it back…." she began to complain. This is why she hated these ratings. Just a slip-up, and your numbers drop. It's as if they expected you to not be human. Technically, you're not, her wolf accused. She rolled her eyes but paid no heed to her. This was neither the time nor place to be dragging issues with her wolf. "Well, I have always been the top-rated," she pointed out. Truthfully, she always has been top of the chart in the number of views. Her TV series review gained so much attention from the audience. And that was because she always brought the star character on air.

Last week, someone recorded her little drama with Lucian's bitch at the party. It was a short clip but enough to show her face. Her online ratings had suffered the backlash and her social media handle. The internet was going crazy over it. Thankfully, it was under control, and her refusal to address it was cutting down the attention. Lucian hadn't released any statement either, which was good. That was to her credit. His silence showed the world he was on her side, even if he wasn't really. The man was slipping away from her grasp. She was beginning to clutch at straw here. Imagine being grateful for her man's silence. When have we ever? Her wolf sneered. "When indeed," she replied.

Thinking Sophie was speaking to him, Allen replied. "Since the clip came on air," he said. "Maybe this is how you get back your hundred." He shrugged.

"A cooking stuff. I can't stand the heat."

He smiled at her then. "It wasn't a request. McGuire insisted." He informed her.

A lady peeked in then. "Soph," she called, "You're up."

Allen nodded. "Go on," he urged. As Sophie rushed out, her boss smiled and muttered. "Either way, you're doing it."

❖

Ava got to the venue on the smartcard sent by the cooking show. It was a big hotel, and she stood to admire the building first before dragging her box inside. "Welcome," the security man greeted, "Here for the show?" She nodded, and he pointed in the direction to go. "Take the elevator down there to the 5th floor." He directed.

"Thank you," she said, grabbed her box, and headed there.

"Hello," a lady greeted.

Ava turned around to see it was one of the chefs. "Hi." She waved at her, excited to meet a familiar face. Together, they entered the elevator and went to the floor. The 5th floor was already crowded with activities. Most of the chefs were around,as were some handlers. Ava greeted a few and looked around for Marie Jones. "She's late again," she muttered when she didn't see the lady. The chef was the one person who had impressed her that day. Hopefully, she didn't back out.

"Everyone starts getting ready. We are going to be taking you out now," announced the assistant. She clapped as she hurried the contestants along. "Get a locker, keep your things there under lock. Let's be quick with that. The show is about to start."

Everyone went to get a locker for their stuff. Ava found one where she pushed her box into. Everyone was busy with that. They locked their lockers and tossed the key in their pockets. Some ladies dropped theirs in their purses and went to keep the purse with the assistant. The door was suddenly forced open, or so it would seem. Everyone looked in the direction. It was Marie Jones. "That lady sure knows how to make an entrance," Avasmiled as she waved at the chef. The locker beside hers was empty deliberately.

Marie Jones smiled and walked over to where Ava was. "Hey girl," she hugged her warmly, "Fancy meeting you here." She teased.

"You joke a lot," Ava said, helping her get her things in the locker.

"What did I miss?" she asked when she was done with her stuff.

"Nah," waving her index at her chef friend, Ava refused to tell her a thing. There was no way she was making her an informant. "We're not doing that, Marie. You need to cultivate the early bird habit. She's never late."

That was amusing. The lady laughed as she covered her mouth before she drew attention again to herself. Raising her hand in surrender, Marie backed off. "All right, all right," she laughed, "I'll just ask the assistant."

"All done?" asked the assistant, walking back in.

"Yes," answered a few. "Almost." Chorused two ladies. "All done." They said when they had submitted their keys. Marie shook her head at them. She was done arranging her things even if she was the last person. But she failed to see she had come in with just a backpack while those ladies had brought three boxes.

"Then, we're up," announced the assistant, "Come with me, please."

The contestants were all taken to a bigger room where everyone had access to a table. It was painted white, and the tables were covered with white linen with some items on it. Each table had similar ingredients and equipment. "Set up." The assistant said and left them to it. Ava and Marie separated as each chef looked for the table with their name. While this was going on, the camera crew walked in. They began to set up their tools. Two of the men worked on the setup. And the presenter was this cute guy, Langdon, and a lady, Sophie Winterfed.

"It's Sophie Winterfed," a chef who recognized Sophiewhispered. The others turned to look at the lady in question. "She's the host for that movies' review with the star player." She gasped.

"It's the most viewed show on the TV." Chip in another.

"That means a lot of people would be seeing this." Another said.

"Yes, and it's good," chipped in a chef.

"How's that good?"

Everyone turned to look at the mouth that voiced such trash. It was a smallish woman with the annoying face.

Ava laughed as the woman looked blankly at everyone. She really doesn't know? She found that interesting. Though she could understand that, the woman would be in her late thirties. The show might not interest her. The review was mostly for young adults and teens since the reviewed movies were mostly Sci-Fi, teen wolves, and mystical beings centered.

"It's for publicity, durh," replied the chef who sighted Sophie first. "Everyone sees you do your thing, and from there, interested candidates start booking you."

The lady smiled then, "I understand now," she waved her handrecklessly, "We need them too." She pointed at the crew. While the ladies giggled about the lady and the show, the speaker was turned on as someone said, "Hello." The whisperings stopped immediately as the chef all turned toward the direction of the voice. A stage was unveiled slowly, and they applauded.

"Welcome, everyone," greeted the handler. The man behind the stage stepped out. He is a very tall, well-built, handsome dude. And his accent made the ladies swoon. Besides him, three other handlers stood to watch. Among them were two ladies. Nodding at the others, the handler addressing the contestants stopped to listen to the chefs' response. "I see we all have our stand."

"Yes, sir," they responded.

"Good," the man replied. "I will be your handler for the show," he waved in the direction of the camera where Sophie and a man were. The two waved back. "Since I'm a chef myself, you are to call me Main chef," he chuckled.

"Yes, Main chef." The contestants responded delightfully.

"Oh, they're quick learners," he smiled again for the camera. "You are privy to more than one chef as your handler," he said. "Three more will be joining me here, as you can see," he pointed at his colleagues, who waved. The contestants waved back. "Two male chefs, two female chefs," pointed out the handler. "We had to balance that one out." He smiled, and the contestants laughed at his jokes

"Now, to the task at hand so I don't make you sweat too much for it," he waved the small card he had in his hand. "Here's your task for today," he said, then looked in the card. "A son got drafted off to the military. The night before his departure, he drank to a stupor," he paused then and looked up. "Projector?" he called. "Everyone check the screen for the assignment." He said.

The contestants all turned to look at the task.

The android read out the mission. Prepare a meal to clear his head before he is shipped off.

Turning back to the chef, the handler nodded, "Now, before I leave you to it, let me read out some tips," he said, turning back to the projector where the points were displayed. "Point will be given based on creativity and presentations." He read that again.

"The handlers will go around while you cook. Answer questions smartly, and tell your story," he read that again, then turned to the contestants. "We got that, didn't we?"

"Yes, the main chef," the contestants nodded.

"Now, get to it." he dismissed them and stepped back.

Everyone scrambled to their table.