Abby

As Karl speaks, my fingers worry the hem of my white chef’s coat, now no

longer pristine but splattered with sauce and tiny stains and the remains of

haphazardly cooked meals. It feels like a perfect representation of my inner

world right now: once untarnished and lily-white, but now stained and weathered

from the trials I’ve been through today.

We’re still standing in the supply closet, and the air feels thick. Karl is standing

over me still, his hand pressed into the door next to my head, sandwiching me

there with his body.

Enter title…

My wolf stirs ever so slightly, but now is not the time; I just found out that Karl

tried to talk to the judges for me, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.

“Abby…” he begins, his voice trailing off for a moment as his eyes search mine.

Finally, he pushes away from the door and crosses the small room, running his

hand through his hair for what feels like the millionth time in the past few

minutes.

“Just tell me, Karl,” I murmur, blinking away the tears that are threatening to

spill.

He pauses, then draws in a deep breath, and turns to face me again. “Abby,

yes, I did talk to Logan; but I never tried to bribe anybody. I hope you can

believe me in that regard.”

whirlwind that this competition has become,

no reason to lie to me right now. His integrity is still

promised all those

talk to

can tell

you’re an incredible chef, Abby. The best here, without

deserve the way he treats

The word hangs between

and he looks away for a brief

When he faces me again, it’s as though there’s a newfound

wants to tell me but

out.

idea about you, Abby. He doesn’t see things clearly. I just…

that you are putting in your

competition. That’s it.”

don’t know what to

and dread knotting itself around my stomach: gratitude for

also dread because I

about me are, nothing Karl can say would ever change

this

happened with the sous chef?” I ask,

whisper. “What happened, really?”

was tampering with

truffles. I caught him in the act, tried to

of his hand, but I swear, Abby, I never laid

he’s telling the truth; Karl, despite all of

hurt anyone in this sort of context. Not in

especially not on live

guards didn’t believe

guards think I’m lying. The

looks… Anyway, it doesn’t matter. They’re

I won’t be here when you get

floor unblinking, staring at

“Contestants, this

to the stage in two minutes. I

anything, Karl’s hand

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

Comments ()

0/255