This whole gig has felt like a house of cards. As if one wrong move could topple everything. And for a while, I felt like it was everyone around me who kept trying to knock it down. When really, I’m the idiot who can’t keep it standing.
I didn’t give a shit about this gig—I haven’t since the moment I commented on Glen’s post begging for it. So, while I may be great at what I do, what good is that when I’m not putting anyactualeffort into my work? When I’m distracted by quite literally everything else—Nolan, a stupid old rivalry with Molly, and my own shitty attitude that I can’t seem to shake?
“You’re right.”
Demi opens her mouth again to reply, but shuts it quickly as she realizes I’m not about to argue with her.
“Yes…I am,” she says.
“I’m sorry. I messed up.”
“Fuck, Chloe—I don’t know how we’re going to fix this,” Glen huffs from behind Demi, his hands on his hips as he slowly paces back and forth.
There’s another quick rap on the door, and all three of our heads swivel to face it. Glen swings it open.
“Uh…hi,” Nolan says awkwardly, lifting a hand to give a little wave. “Bad time?”
Glen whips his head around to glare at me, already piecing things together in his mind.
“Who is that man?” he snaps, pointing at Nolan as if accusing him of a heinous crime.
“Uhh…” I stall, not wanting to reveal to Glen and Demi that not only did I lose one of their contestants, I’ve also been flirting with chefs—er,achef—when I’m not filming.
And also when I am.
I am so going to get fired for this.
Nolan seems to catch on quickly though, and cuts in.
“I’m Chef Braddock. Ms. Hill hasn’t been receiving her meal deliveries in the morning,” he says smoothly. I’m only slightly concerned about what a good liar he is. A bigger part of me is impressed, though. Take away the camera, and the man is a natural actor. “I came to personally pick up her menu card so that this doesn’t happen again. But I can come back another time.”
“Yeah, do youmind?” Demi retorts, a note of panicked sarcasm in her tone. “Now isn’t really a good time.”
“Of course.” He flashes them one hell of a gorgeous smile, and even though my entire body feels like it’s been pumped full of electricity, my nervous system practically powers down at the sight of him.
He says a quick goodbye, not meeting my gaze, and leaves before Glen can shut the door in his face.
Well, there go any potential plans with Nolan tonight.
Not that I would even have any time for that—I now have to figure out where in the world Molly Spencer could be.
Glen has turned to face me again, only slightly calmer than before, but still looking just as annoyed. “This is really not what I was hoping for when I hired you. Things were supposed to go better, notworse, this season. We’ve spent a lot of time developing Molly’s arc, and to have her disappear mid-season is going to really mess things up.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry, Glen. I?—”
Before I can finish my next attempt at groveling, Glen holds up a hand to silence me, and my mouth slams shut.
“Chloe, I like you. So, I need you to understand that what I’m about to say isn’t personal.”
Uh oh.
I brace for what I can only assume is coming next and mentally start preparing myself to beg on my hands and knees for a second chance. Kyla’s face flashes in my mind, and the thought of letting her down is so much worse than the idea of being fired.
“I’m going to need you to leave this ship within the next hour…” I open my mouth to argue-slash-beg, but then Glen adds, “…and find Molly fucking Spencer.”
That was…not what I was expecting.
“Or else Iwillfire you.”
