Chapter 0194


    Abby


    I’m standing in the middle of the restaurant, my phone clutched in my hand as I stare at the screen.


    The headline res back at me: “Inside Abby’s Bizarre World: A Journey into the Mind of a Lunatic.”


    “Guys, you have to see this,” I say, grinning as I turn the screen towards Daisy, Chloe, Karl, John,


    Ethan, and Anton.


    Karl starts to chuckle. “Oh my god, look, she included my quote—''it’s like being a hamster on a disco


    ball: spinning but fabulous.”


    Daisy snickers. “That was pure gold, Karl. I’m surprised you came up with that one.”


    Chloe leans over my shoulder. “And she actually wrote about your mute from Mars’? How gullible


    was thisdy?”


    Ethanughs so hard he almost spits out his coffee. “This is hrious. Do you think she realized we


    were messing with her?”


    “I hope not,” Anton says, shaking his head. “It adds to the mystery, no?”


    As we’re reveling in the absurdity of it all, my phone rings. Theughter dies down a bit as I nce at


    the caller ID. “It’s Mr. Thompson,” I announce before swiping to answer.


    “Abby, good morning. I presume you’ve seen the article.” His voice is stern, making my heart race.


    “I was… just discussing it with my team,” I reply, shooting a look at everyone to signal that it’s serious.


    “Quite the story, huh?”


    Mr. Thompson pauses, and I can practically feel the tension emanating through the phone. “I don’t find


    it amusing, Abby. This is terrible press for someone who ispeting in the cook-off. What were you


    thinking?”


    I bite my lip, realizing the gravity of what’s happening. “Mr. Thompson, I can exin. The journalist was


    actually a fraud. We found out toote, and we thought responding this way would at least make the


    piece discreditable.”


    “You should have been more cautious, Abby. Such naivety doesn’t bode well in the culinary industry.”


    I can feel my stomach knotting, the weight of his words crushing my earlier triumph. “I understand that


    it was a risky move, but it was an unusual situation.”


    “That may be, but you should know better than to retaliate like this. You’re now on thin ice, Abby. Not


    just with thepetition, but with me.”


    I look around at my friends; their faces are filled with concern. “I understand, Mr. Thompson. What


    should I do?”


    He sighs. “Look, I like you, Abby. Since I believe you’re talented and I want to see you seed, I’m


    going to give you another chance. I’ll send you the contact information of a journalist I trust. You’re


    going to give them an interview, and this time, it had better be straightforward. No antics.”


    I feel a mix of relief and gratitude. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”


    “Consider this yourst chance, Abby. Don’t mess it up.”


    “I won’t, Mr. Thompson. I promise.”


    …


    No more disco-ball hamsters, we agreed. We need this one to be a hit.


    “Abby, rx! You’re making me nervous just looking at you,” Chloe exims, perched on a barstool as


    she wipes down sses.


    “I just want this to go right, you know?” I reply, peeking at my phone. Still no messages. Vanessa


    should be here by now.


    Daisy sidles up next to me, coffee mug in hand. “Hey, she’s a professional. She’ll be here, and she’ll


    write a fabulous piece, and everything will be just—” Reаd at Draмanоvels


    My heart drops. “What? Is everyone okay? What about my apartment?”


    David sighs. “I think everyone’s fine, but you need to get here. Police, fire department, everyone’s here.


    It looks like it was set deliberately.”Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.