Karl

The second round had left a bitter taste in my mouth. Seeing the way that the

judge, Logan, tore into Abby on live television left me feeling maybe a little too

overprotective, but I couldn’t just stand idly by while Abby had her integrity

ripped apart on stage.

I told Abby I needed to take a call, but it was a complete lie. I needed to talk to

this Logan, understand why he was being so harsh on Abby compared to the

other contestants. And most of all, I needed to make him see the truth: that Abby

was an excellent chef, undeserving of this treatment, and that her spices had

been sabotaged.

Enter title…

The security guard outside the judges’ private room was a mountain of a man,

his face impassive as I approached.

“Hello,” I said, adjusting my blue surgical mask slightly. “I’d like to speak with—”

“I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t go in there,” the security guard replied, his voice a

low rumble. “Policy.”

“But I just need a moment with Judge Logan. It’s important,” I pleaded, trying to

keep the urgency out of my voice.

Before the guard could refuse me again, the door cracked open and Logan’s

found mine. His eyes searched me

were considering, before

in,” he said, and the

on

as commanding off stage

and thick with

doing their own thing. I was relieved,

just be the two of

the door behind me, turning to face Logan, who

mixture of curiosity and

it?”

name.

what I would stick

over.

do for you, Ken?” he asked, folding his arms across

began, my hands clasped

“I’ve noticed something… a tension between

seem more personal than with the other contestants.

man to man, why it seems like you’ve got it

“Did Abby

shook my head vehemently. “No. She has

you in

looked at me for a moment,

Abby, which couldn’t be further from

with a disarming calmness.

out there,”

been with her, it’s

a moment, considering. “Look, I know Abby

gets them right, are some

her techniques are pretty

then?” I pressed. “Why

no less? You’re not nearly as strict with

mine, and there was a flicker of something unexpected

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