Page 21 of Culinary Chaos

“You sure, Chef?” Antonio called.

“Absolutely.”

She waited, chomping at the bit, while the kitchen cleared out. As soon as she was alone, Hope ripped off her microphone, turned it off and threw it onto the counter. They had left the kitchen exactly as she’d found them in it. Messy and in the process of being cleaned. Hope gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles turning white from how hard she squeezed.

“Damn it!” she shouted into the empty room, her voice reverberating.

Growling, Hope snagged the closest pot and threw it onto the floor. The clanging noise hit something in her that the curse hadn’t. Satisfaction. She picked up another pot and threw it, savoring the pain it must feel as the sound ricocheted through the room and straight into her heart.

It felt so good.

She did it again and again, smirking slightly when she tipped over an entire container of silverware. The chinking brought the exact release that she was looking for. She shivered as she breathed out slowly, calming her racing heart.

What had she honestly expected walking in there like that?

And the fact that she’d completely forgotten that everything was being recorded? Ugh. What would Rex think when he saw that? She was embarrassed by her behavior. Shamed by it. She should have done better, and Angelica was right about that. Hope was there to be a boss, not a follower, and she’d been having far too much fun just screwing around.

“Hope…” Rex’s voice surprised her in the empty kitchen.

She frowned, staring down at her toes. Her cheeks burned from the embarrassment that she didn’t want to feel, which only intensified the feeling. “Who sent you in here?”

“Josef.”

That would figure. She rolled her shoulders, huffed out a breath of air, and looked up at him. “I hate her.”

“She’s not easy to get along with.” He stepped around the kitchenware that littered the floor and pulled her closer by her belt. In an instant, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Hope melted into him. She pressed her face into his shoulder and neck, allowing the tears to flow freely this time.

“She warned me she was a bitch,” Hope said with a wry laugh as she clung onto him. “I didn’t believe her.”

“You should have.” Rex rubbed his hands up and down her back and held her. “What happened?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Hope sniffled, staying in the safety of his embrace for a little bit longer before pulling away and wiping her eyes. “She was right.”

“Don’t let her hear that.” Rex laughed. “We’ll never hear the end of it.”

“I doubt that,” Hope muttered. “Besides, she already knows, and that’s the worst part about it.” Sliding her hands against her hips, Hope stared at the mess she’d made. “Are they going to use that footage?”

“Don’t know.” Rex shrugged. “I can talk to Josef about it, if you want me to.”

Hope shook her head. “No, don’t. I don’t need any more special privileges than I already have.”

“Special privileges?” Rex seemed confused by that.

Was he really that oblivious? She knew without a doubt that half of the crew was thinking she just got this job because of him and not because of her special skillset. And with what she’d just pulled? They’d all be right. She wasn’t the right person for this job. She couldn’t handle theIce Fairy. Hope rolled her eyes at that thought as she bent down to start picking up the pots and pans.

“The crew can do that,” Rex said.

“Nope.” Hope sighed heavily. “I need to do it.”

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She bolstered herself. This would be her punishment for her obnoxious behavior. She needed to get better control of herself. And she needed to do her job better than she was. “Why don’t you, Eva, and me find someplace to get ice cream tonight? I could use something sweet and bad for me.”

“That’s what you have me for.” Rex was back standing next to her, lacing their fingers together as he planted a kiss onto her cheek. As amusing as his comment was, she wasn’t in the mood for it. And he knew that because of her lack of reaction. Rex kissed her again, but this time it wasn’t in a teasing manner. “I’ll let you be for now.”

“Don’t let anyone in here, would you? I need the quiet.”

“Done,” he answered, a sad smile on his lips. “And for the record, Hope, I know you can do this. I don’t need anyone to tell me otherwise.”