“You’re not acting like you respect me,” I retorted, pulling my arm away from him.
A smile spread across his face. “Of course I respect you. That’s why I’m going to respectfully watch you fall flat on your face and fail at the bake-off, fail at your business, and probably fail at life. I would, of course, never dream of disrespecting you by offering to save you from yourself.”
“Good,” I said, “Because I will not fail. I will win this competition. And my shop will be an outstanding success.”
Will it?I wondered as I turned away from Matt to try to focus on what Anastasia was saying. Had she announced the theme? Did I miss it? Ugh. I was going to kill Matt.
“And those are our judges, so let’s get on to the baking! This year’s going to be a bit different from last year. We still have the ever-popular fan favorite voting. To spice it up this Christmas, we are going to pair everyone up with a bake-off buddy. That’s right, this bake-off is a team event.”
No, no, no. I do not bake well with others. Baking is a precision art. I can’t have people next to me distracting me.
“Both members of the team have to participate in creating the dessert, or the team is disqualified,” Anastasia added. “Now.” She held out a Santa hat. “I’m going to pick names randomly out of a hat. Our first team is Hensley and Brody.”
The snooty girl and my Hallmark hottie went to a station. I tried not to hyperventilate as I tried to listen for my name. This was not part of the plan. A bake-off partner was not a variable I had control over.
It will be fine. You’ll get paired with one of the serious pastry chef girls and you can be her humble sous chef. You’ll for sure win. This is a good thing. Think positive.
“Our next pair,” Anastasia announced, holding up a card. “Merrie and…” She reached into the hat.
Please give me someone qualified.
“…and Matt Frost.”
“No!”
“Fuck no.”
12
Matt
“You need to watch your language,” Belle chastised me before I could even complain to her about the bake-off pairing.
“I didn’t even want to be in this stupid competition, and now I’m paired with her.” I pointed at where Merrie was setting up at our station.
Unlike the other contestants, who were chatting happily with their bake-off partners or in the case of Brody and Hensley, flirting with their bake-off partners, Merrie’s expression was grim.
“Just try to have a little fun,” Belle coaxed. “You used to love Christmas; it was your favorite holiday when you were a kid.”
“I’m not a kid anymore.”
My older sister gave me a sympathetic look.
“I’m a billionaire and a businessman,” I said, jaw set.
Belle crossed her arms.
“Then as one businessperson to another, let me remind you that you signed a contract. I have advertising dollars spent on this show, so get out there, bake a Christmas dessert, and stop fucking with my money. How’s that? Billionaire boss enough for you?”
Merrie was angrily setting up a stand mixer and setting out pans. She had a small red notepad by her that she was doodling little sketches on.
“What are you baking?” I asked, leaning against the counter.
“We,” she said, pointing between us, “are making a Christmas truffle cheesecake since New York cheesecake is today’s theme.”
“Huh,” I said, “Well, have fun. I’m going to answer emails.”
“No,” she said, “you have to help bake.”
