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.”

because despite the whirlwind that this competition has

to me right now. His integrity

he promised all

talk to him? What

takes a deep breath, and I can tell

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

deserve the way he treats

word hangs between

jaw tightens, and he looks away for

again, it’s as though there’s a newfound resolve

like there’s something that he wants to tell me but he can’t get it

out.

he’s got this idea about you, Abby. He

that you are putting in your heart and soul into

competition. That’s it.”

heart races, and I don’t know what to say. There’s a

dread knotting itself around my stomach: gratitude

also dread

about me are, nothing Karl can

this

chef?” I ask, my voice barely more than

whisper. “What happened, really?”

“He was tampering with the ingredients

truffles. I caught him in the act, tried to stop him.

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

the truth; Karl, despite

anyone in this sort of context. Not

not on

guards didn’t believe you?” I

“The guards think I’m

footage looks… Anyway, it

I won’t be here when you get

at the floor unblinking, staring

to life again: “Contestants, this is your

the stage in two minutes. I

I can say anything, Karl’s hand reaches out and seems

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