Chapter 0234


    Abby


    The director holds up three fingers, his mouth moving silently as he counts down to live. Three… two…


    one.


    “And… we’re back!” The announcer''s voice booms across the studio, and the audience erupts into


    cheers and apuse as an assistant holds up cue cards out of the camera’s view. “What a whirlwind


    first round, folks! Let’s give a round of apuse to our winners so far: Abby, Bryan, and Daniel!”


    The announcer’s voice then turns our attention toward the contestant who lostst round. “It was a


    tough loss for Frederick, but that’s the nature of the game!” he says.


    The judges thene into the spotlight, and Logan’s words slice through the warmth of the stage


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    lights.


    “The first round was child’s y,” he says. “Now, we begin to separate the good eggs…” His eyes


    skewer me from across the room, and I resist the urge to look away. “From the bad.”


    Karl’s eyes flit over to me, but I ignore them. I keep my smile stered on my face, urging myself to


    ignore the ghost of Logan and Daniel’s words, to ce my entire focus on the real reason why I’m


    here: to win.


    Vanessa’s tone, by contrast, is afort. “I expect the best from all of our lovely contestants,” she


    says, her smile sweeping the stage. “And most of all, let’s appreciate why we’re here today: to


    celebrate cuisine in all of its forms.”


    As the judges return to their stand, the announcer draws in a deep breath.


    “Contestants,” he starts, the studio falling eerily silent. “We’re about to sweeten the pot! Forget the


    entrees; we’re diving into desserts this round! A limoncello and pistachio tiramisu is your challenge!”


    A murmur ripples through the crowd, and a knot of anxiety begins to twist in my gut.


    “Dessert?” I repeat softly, my mind racing through the preparations that I wasn’t expecting to make until


    the third round.


    Karl leans in, his whisper barely audible over the buzz of the audience. “Didn’t see thating, did


    we? You’ve got any dessert tricks up your sleeve?” he asks.


    I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Maybe one or two, but tiramisu is a whole different


    beast,” I answer. “Luckily for us, I’ve practiced this recipe. So I think we should be okay.”


    Karl grins, the tension leaving his eyes for the first time since the announcement. “And that’s why you’ll


    win; because you’re always prepared.”


    “Yeah, well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I murmur.


    I take in the array of ingredients that I didn’t have a chance to properly familiarize myself with this


    morning: the standing mixer, the fragrant spices, the proofing rack. I begin making a list in my head of


    what I’ll need, which spices will best suit the vor, what I could incorporate for an extra kick that will


    make my dish stand out.


    Just then, the director gives us the cue. We’re just moments away from the signal to start, the final


    seconds ticking away.


    “Contestants,” the announcer says, “take your positions. We begin in three... two... one… Cook!”


    The buzzer sounds and the kitchen descends into chaos again. Co?tent belo?gs to Draм?nоvеls.cоm