The AD snapped the clapboard and Alice checked the monitor before she gave Grace the go ahead.
Niko slid his plates onto the judges’ table, and the dimple appeared. Her heart ached at the sight.
“Before you is a milk chocolate Christmas ornament decorated with painted milk chocolate, all hand carved. It’s stuffed with a pumpkin vanilla and allspice mousse.”
Sven broke the shell and tasted the mousse, rolling it on his tongue. He tore off a large piece of chocolate, rotated it between his fingers, and inspected it closely. “The chocolate is excellent. And you make your own blend? Is it organic?”
“Yes, it’s my own blend, and yes, it’s all organic, although I can’t divulge my recipe,” Niko said, crossing his arms, the dragon’s nose peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his T-shirt.
Alice scribbled on her pad, excitement for Niko sending her pulse racing. She’d been around enough to recognize that Sven’s simple question held a deeper meaning. The man owned a large organic dessert company and Niko’s chocolate had caught his interest. Yet another opportunity for Niko, perhaps a sponsor for the mini-series they discussed. While she’d be out of his life soon enough, she wanted him to succeed and she’d do what she could to help him navigate the deep waters of television.
“That’s understandable.” Frank cracked his ornament open and used a piece of the shell to scoop out the mousse. He brought it to his nose and inhaled before he popped it into his mouth. “The chocolate is even, and the mousse has enough airiness to it. Although I find the pumpkin a bit too sweet. That might be a matter of personal taste.”
“No, I agree,” Sven said, steepling his fingers and resting his chin on his hands. “Nice consistency but a bit on the sweet side.”
Elaine picked up the plate and arched her neck, inspecting the dessert from all angles, before she settled it back on the table. Lifting her spoon, she cracked the shell. “Yet another well-presented dessert and the flavors are rich. The chocolate is exceptional but I’m curious to see what else you can make besides chocolate.”
“I’m a fan but I do have to agree. I’d like to see what else you have up your sleeve,” Frank said.
Niko nodded and shifted his weight to his other foot. She watched his face, pleased he wasn’t angry like many of the contestants she’d dealt with over the years. An even temperament was important in this business.
“He’s a chocolatier, that’s what he makes,” Sven argued.
Elaine twisted in her chair and laid her forearms on the table, frowning at Sven. “If he makes it to the final round, I’d like to see more from him. He’s obviously very gifted and I think he can push the envelope.”
“Grace, let’s move to Beau,” Alice directed. The food handlers rushed in and removed the old plates. Niko might be accepting their critique but Alice wasn’t as forgiving. All of the contestants stuck with what they knew, why should Niko be different because he made chocolate?
Beau put his dessert on the table before each judge. The AD clicked the clapboard and Alice gave the command to start the interview. Niko’s review hadn’t been as positive as the first round but once again, he’d showed innovation.
“Beau, please tell the judges about your dish.” Beau crossed his arms and flashed a shit-eating grin, his chef’s coat pulling against his shoulders. He had a broad chest but thin legs, a bit bowed, which reminded Alice of a rooster. She bit back a laugh and clicked on a different angle of the dessert. “I’ve made a baked Alaska angel ornament with edible glass wings and halo. I used my Cordon Bleu background to create the peppermint ice cream and the meringue detail.”
Of course you did. His dessert was impressive but his arrogant attitude left much to be desired.
“The meringue is light and fluffy and the ice cream has the right amount of sweetness but the chocolate brownie is a bit dry,” Frank said, dissecting the Alaska with his fork.
Elaine began her critique when Alice sensed more than saw someone behind her. She shifted in her seat and caught Chloe lingering behind the curtain. Turning her mic on mute, she said in a whisper. “Chloe?”
The girl slipped out of the shadows; lip caught between her teeth. She clutched at a small black purse she wore over her shoulder. “Sorry,” she whispered back. “I wanted to see.”
Alice considered sending her back to the bleachers but she’d promised Chloe the entire show experience. She hopped from her chair. “If you promise to be really quiet, you can stay back here and watch.”
Chloe brought her fingers to her lips and pretended to turn a lock and then she tossed the invisible key over her shoulder. Alice shook her head and couldn’t help but grin. Unable to resist, she brought the girl in for a brief hug before she assisted her into the second chair. Chloe leaned forward and studied the screens, the flickering lights casting shadows across her face. This child could be her daughter, raised by her. Except she hadn’t been. She hadn’t wanted to raise a child on her own because she didn’t want the child to end up like her, in foster care after years of neglect.
She studied the girl’s profile, wishing for the millionth time she could see her face undistorted by the ravages of the harsh treatments. Perhaps she’d be able to ask for a picture from Hallie and compare it to her younger self. And risk Hallie putting two and two together? At Chloe’s age, she’d been in her second year of foster care. No pictures of her existed during that time. She’d flown under the radar so much, she’d become invisible.
Alice never, ever wanted any child of hers to feel the same way.
Chapter Thirty-One
Niko crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels, more anxious than he’d been in the first show. The judge’s comments for him were mixed on this round. He had a lot riding on tonight’s decision and he hoped he’d done enough to move on to the live show. The fact they wanted to see more from him was a better sign than the success of the actual dessert. He had much more to show them but he wouldn’t compromise his own aesthetic, or apologize for his use of chocolate.
The other two contestants hadn’t fared much better. Diana’s tart was overcooked and Holston screwed up his ice cream. Niko had put too much vanilla in his mousse, he’d figured that out once he started to pipe it into the chocolate ball.
Should haves didn’t win a competition.
“The judges have made their decisions. Contestants, look to your stations,” Grace said.
Niko’s stomach roiled and he twisted around. The breath hissed from between clenched teeth and he lowered his eyelids for the briefest of seconds. Station two was dark.
