Page 117 of Culinary Chaos

“It’s my favorite,” Hope said, straightening up. “Thank you for coming to my taste testing today. You’ve been most helpful.” She gave a little fake bow before she took the plate toward the sink. She clapped a hand on Conrad’s shoulder. “You’re up.”

He said nothing, but Hope turned around and crossed her arms, giving Angelica a half-amused look. Instead of leaving Conrad on his own, she followed him back to Angelica.

“I need to go through some retention strategies with you.”

“All right.” Conrad sighed, and Hope could tell he was still tense as fuck.

“I’ll meet you in the office in a minute.” Angelica hadn’t taken her eyes off Hope, not the entire time. When Conrad was gone, Angelica gave Hope a curious glance. “Trying to humanize me?”

“A little.” Hope laughed. “He’s scared to death of you.”

“Perfect. He should be.” Angelica nodded sharply and walked out of the kitchen.

Hope watched her go, the way she walked swiftly, her heels clacking each time she took a step, the movement of her slacks and jacket as they formed to her body exactly as they should. The clearing of a throat caught her attention, and she shocked herselfback into reality. She was in a kitchen. There were cameras pointed at her. They could see absolutely everything she’d been thinking, couldn’t they?

Fuck.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

“Cut!” Rex said loudly.

Angelica sighed, glad that they were done for the day. She’d given the update she had for Luxury Suites and what she was going to be doing going forward to help Conrad. She had her work cut out for her still, but she did believe that this hotel could at least be turned around. And it felt damn good to just be home.

Something about the travel this time had been harder on her than ever before. Or perhaps it was the work environment. She’d analyze that later. Angelica sat on the edge of the conference table, crossing her arms as the crew started to clear everything up and put everything away.

Rex, however, came directly to her. “We need to talk.”

“About?” Angelica pressed her lips together firmly. Had Hope told him finally? Were the beans spilled, and would she be outed to the entire crew over what had happened? She was the one in power, so it’d all fall on her in the end.

“Hope.”

Fuck. He did know, didn’t he? Angelica clenched her jaw tightly, trying to relax but knowing it was impossible. She wasgoing to be kicked out of this operation so fast that she wouldn’t know what had hit her.

“We need you two to film together more.”

“What?” Angelica shook her head, confused more now than ever. This wasn’t about that kiss Hope had planted on her weeks ago? Or the conversation that Hope had tried to have with her in the elevator?

“You two have been avoiding each other. I don’t know why, but you’re both the hosts of the show, so I need you to actually be together in the same room on occasion.”

“Oh.” Angelica pursed her lips and watched the crew carefully. She could barely bring herself to look at Rex, honestly. She hadn’t realized it was that obvious that they were avoiding each other. That or Rex was just particularly aware because of filming and because Hope was his wife. “What do you suggest?”

“Isn’t there something the two of you need to discuss?”

There really wasn’t. That was the disadvantage to splitting everything the way they had. Unless it was about budget, then they both sort of just went their own ways and did what they needed to do. Angelica pursed her lips in a frown before she fixed that. “Not really.”

“Can you find something?”

“Like a failed inspection?” Angelica stared at him hard. She really did want to know what he knew about that. How much had he fed to Josef? How much had just been Josef’s idea? It’d give her a good estimate of who Rex ultimately was.

Rex shook his head, his cheeks turning slightly red. “I wouldn’t do something that drastic.”

But would he stop it if someone else was going to? Angelica continued to watch him carefully, judging every reaction that he gave. “What do you suggest?”

“Budget? Hope needs a new one for all the menu changes she’s making, doesn’t she?”

“Not really, not if she stays within the budget she already had.”