Page 96 of Culinary Chaos

She spent most of the day down there, and she only came up to the main reception area when it was time for dinner, and her stomach loudly told her that she hadn’t been snacking on food that she was cooking all day and if she didn’t eat soon she was likely to throw something at the next person who spoke to her.

Angelica stood at the main reception desk, her curled locks trailing down her back and over her shoulders, the gold-hued lighting setting off all the tones of it like a beacon calling to her. Hope paused in her step, still not sure which way to go. Angelica bent her head to look at something, then she nodded toward Henry and made him come over and look.

Rex stood to the side behind the three cameras that were aimed in Angelica’s direction. Hope smoothed her hands over her shirt, missing the chef’s coat that she’d become so used to wearing while they were filming. But since she wasn’t cooking that day, Ansel had stuck her in a loose mustard yellow V-neck shirt with a dark black jacket and black slacks. She almost looked halfway professional. It was much colder here than it was in the kitchens, and goosebumps ran along her arms and her abdomen.

When she looked up again, Angelica was eyeing her curiously, still focused on whatever she was saying to Henry. Hope’s breath left her in an instant. Her stomach twisted into knots as she stood there in silence, her knees going weak. How was she supposed to stay standing? But she still couldn’t tear her gaze away.

At least not until Rex looked at her. Hope shuddered, locking her gaze on her husband and then locking her gaze back on Angelica. She went back and forth, fear racing through her to match the chill she’d experienced before. What the hell was going on with her?

Hope found herself walking forward, straight toward Angelica. She ignored Rex, ignored the curious glances he was giving her, ignored the wave of his hand to get a camera on her face as she approached.

“Hello,” Hope said, leaning over the reception counter to get a better view of Angelica. She couldn’t stop looking at her.

“Was there something you needed?” Angelica asked, her voice precise and to the point.

“Dinner.” Hope wetted her lips.

“Don’t know what to do when you’re not cooking?” Angelica’s lips pressed together and pushed to the slide slightly.

There was a tease in there, right? Or was Hope making that up?

“A chef without a kitchen is always lost,” Hope replied, trying to play off what she thought she’d heard in Angelica’s voice. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Why would you ask that?” Angelica’s terseness was unexpected.

“I just thought… dinner, Ange. That’s it.”

That light tease she’d thought she’d seen there vanished in an instant. Angelica’s lips pursed tightly, and she straightened her back to her full height. “Is there some business you’d like to discuss?”

Hope stilled. “Uh… no.”

“Something about the renovation, then?”

“No.” Hope furrowed her brow.

Angelica crossed her arms, looking intently at her. “Then why would you need me for dinner?”

“I just thought…” Hope trailed off, stunned. So they really were back to this. “Right.” She looked to Rex. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the briefing and for the reveal.” Hope crossed her arms as her shoulders fell. She stepped away from the reception desk and immediately started toward the elevator. She had to escape.

“Hope!” Rex ran after her, catching her just as she was about to step into the elevator. “What’s going on?”

Hope sniffled, her eyes already watering. She could barely control herself. “I feel like I should ask you that. You spent all day with her.”

“Hope…” Rex shook his head at her. “Didn’t Kyle talk to you?”

“Talk to me? About what?”

Rex sighed heavily, annoyed. Hope couldn’t stand it anymore. She just wanted to go back into hiding. This hotel fix needed to end as soon as possible. She was about to turn whenthe elevator dinged its arrival, but Rex’s hand on her upper arm kept her in place.

“Kyle, Josef, Angelica and I had a meeting last night to discuss ratings. We need more arguments from the two of you. We need more tension, more drama.” Rex stared down into her eyes. “That’s what she’s doing.”

“No, she’s not.” Hope shook her head in denial. “That wasn’t a manufactured argument, Rex. That was…” She glanced behind him to the reception desk, finding Angelica still looking at her. “I don’t know what that was.”

“Kyle was supposed to talk to you, but you have to find a way to fight for the camera and then figure out how to get along off-camera.”

Hope frowned deeply. “That makes no sense.”

“Drama sells. This isn’t some daytime cooking show. It’s reality tv, and we need high stakes. You and Ange are the ones who are going to create that. And Mountain View proved you need some help with it, so Kyle and I were charged by Josef with helping you to make drama.”