Elvira stepped in front of the stove with a pan in hand. Is this a restaurant or hotel? she thought, glancing around at the swirling chaos around her. She had never seen a kitchen in such disarray.

“Hey,” a girl around Elvira’s age, who seemed to be a waitress, greeted her with a pleasant smile. This was the first time Elvira had seen a genuine smile in this place. Everyone else smiled as if they were forced to.

“Hi,” Elvira replied, adjusting her hair into a bun, and returning a soft smile.

“I’m Hazel Riley,” the girl introduced herself, placing a tray down in front of Elvira.

“Oh! I’m—” Before Elvira could finish, Hazel interrupted her.

“I know! You’re Elvira Pearce, the new assistant head chef. Your room number is 1029, right next to mine. I wanted to meet you yesterday, but you weren’t in your room, I guess,” Hazel said with excitement, clearly the talkative one of the staff. Everyone else was focused on their tasks.

Talk about an icebreaker, Elvira thought.

“Can I call you El?” Hazel asked with a bright smile. Elvira suddenly felt proud of her decision to come here and meet nice people.

“Of course,” Elvira replied, her nerves slowly calming as she placed the pan on the stove and poured sunflower oil into it.

“So what are you making, El?” Hazel asked curiously, watching the oil heat up.

“I don’t know. What are the orders?” Elvira looked around, noticing her team was already busy preparing dishes of all kinds.

“What? You don’t know?” Hazel’s eyes widened. “CEO Adkin is here, and everyone’s cooking to impress him. Believe me, he’s the rudest, coldest man you’ll ever meet.” Hazel’s words instantly filled Elvira with dread.

What have I gotten myself into? Elvira thought.

“What do you mean?” Elvira stuttered.

“Make your best dish, and he’ll taste it. If he likes it, you’ll get no compliment—he’s that type. But if he doesn’t...” Hazel’s voice trailed off, leaving the rest to Elvira’s imagination.

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“Pardon?”

“If your dish is below his standards, he’ll fire you on the spot. In other words, silence is a win. If he says anything, brace yourself.” Hazel clarified, making Elvira’s stomach drop.

“Then why aren’t you attending to him? Won’t he fire you too?” Elvira asked, her confusion growing.

“Nope, I’m just a waitress. I know how to serve, so I’m stress-free. If you’re good at what you do, just have some courage and go for it.” Hazel winked, flashing a supportive smile.

Courage? Great, just what I lack right now.

“What should I make?” Panic began to rise in Elvira’s chest. All her recipes were slipping from her mind.

“Relax! What’s your specialty?” Hazel asked, sensing Elvira’s growing anxiety.

“Umm, I don’t know... Panicking?” Elvira muttered, biting her nails and nervously tapping her foot.

“I can see that,” Hazel chuckled. “But in terms of cooking? What’s your best dish?”

“Lobster Malay Curry,” Elvira finally said, an idea sparking. “How much time do I have?”

Hazel glanced around, knowing they had barely 40 minutes. But telling her that will only make things worse. She quickly retrieved a lobster from the fridge.

“Let’s just get started. I’ll help,” Hazel said, ignoring Elvira’s question. Their eyes met, and Elvira nodded, trusting her new friend.

The kitchen was soon filled with the aroma of simmering lobster in coconut milk, mixed with the delicate fragrance of Elvira’s signature spices. Everyone was curious about the dish, but Hazel smiled, knowing they were on the right track.

Hazel carefully placed the dish on a tray and stood tall, preparing to serve it with grace.

“Thank you, Hazel,” Elvira said, gratitude in her eyes.

“No worries, I got you,” Hazel replied, walking off.

Elvira sensed a deep connection forming between them, but the looming pressure of the CEO’s judgment still hung over her.

The head chef, Ned, approached Elvira with a smile. “What was that delightful aroma? It took over the entire kitchen!” he praised her.

“Thank you! It’s Lobster Malay Curry,” Elvira responded, though her heart was still racing. What if I get fired on my first day?

After what felt like forever—though it was only 30 minutes—Hazel returned, moving quickly but gracefully.

“El?” Hazel called, waving her over.

“The CEO is asking for you,” she announced, and the entire kitchen fell silent. Elvira was the only one called.

“It’ll be fine,” Ned reassured her, noticing the pale look on her face.

With trembling legs, Elvira followed Hazel, her head hanging low. She was dying to see the CEO, but if he was going to fire her, I’d rather never see his face and hate him forever.

“Look up,” Hazel whispered, nudging her gently.

“Miss Pearce, would you care to explain the ingredients in this dish?” the CEO’s deep voice demanded. His tone sent a chill through her, making her heart race.

Wait... That voice. No way. Elvira’s eyes shot up, locking onto the man in front of her.

“You!” she yelped, nearly digging her own grave with the outburst. The man she had met the other day wasn’t a random stranger—he was the CEO of the hotel.

Oh, God, this is a nightmare. She remembered everything: jumping into his arms, the public confrontation, calling him an asshole.

Great. I’m definitely fired.