Abby

I feel frozen to my spot as the judges make their way toward Daniel’s station.

The grin stretched across his face almost makes me feel sick, and it’s all I can

do not to run off the stage right now.

“Wow,” Vanessa says as she takes the first bite of Daniel’s dish, which looks

leaps and bounds ahead of mine just by presentation alone. “Really, Daniel;

wow. Despite everything, you created a phenomenal dish.”

“Thank you so much,” Daniel says, his eyes flickering toward me. “You know,

with my sous chef’s wrist in so much pain, it was difficult. But we made it.”

Enter title…

Next, the judges begin making their way toward me, and I feel like I’m going to

be sick. They stop in front of my station, and I can feel the cold weight of

Logan’s gaze on me already.

“Hello, Abby,” Vanessa says, her gaze sweet as ever despite the circumstances.

“Your performance in the second round was lacking, but you’re here now. How

do you feel?”

I swallow. “I feel…” I pause, my throat cracked and dry. “I feel… Hopeful,” I

mutter. Vanessa nods in response along with the third judge, but Logan—his

face is as inscrutable as ever.

test, times feels

the chef with the ‘violent’ partner. I

have his

even more vast and cold than it ever

Vanessa finally says, her voice low. “This…

expected from you.”

my chest as panic begins to set

start to explain, but my words falter under

nods, but it’s not one of understanding. “I see what you tried

together on the

flicks to the second judge, Xavier, a chef of few words. His

see it there before

adds

defend my dish, to say that the circumstances

know

they seem to expect the impossible

voice, clear and authoritative,

have here is a fundamental problem,”

meeting mine.

the edge of my station, my knuckles whitening.

quiver in my voice isn’t

put it

didn’t follow the instructions, Abby. This dish is not what

asked for.”

breath hitches, and I find myself gasping for

my composure shattering. “This is farro

It’s exactly what was

where you’re wrong,” Logan says with a disappointed shake

is not farro mafaldine with black

Logan is already digging through the dish with his fork.

as he stabs a piece of black

it this way and

like a black truffle to

all of the oxygen has

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255