CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Shep woke me the next morning and put me in a private car alone. It delivered me to the Thompson Farm where Gretchen and the other crew members were waiting for my arrival.
Aiden was already on the set and ready to start. The bastard had the audacity to smirk when he saw me.
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” Gretchen warned. “Just focus on the competition.”
Eye on the prize!
I was ushered to my station where Mrs. Thompson came over and gave me a quick hug. “Beat that dirty bastard,” she whispered in my ear. I giggled at her language, but then smiled softly at the older woman and promised to do my best. I knew it must be hard for her to have the man who took advantage of her young daughter on her property, and it would be even harder to watch him win the competition and gloat.
I took a deep breath and forced a serene smile on my face as the cameras were turned on and Shep went through his introduction routine. When he introduced the three judges, my stomach began to churn. One of them was Jamie Brown, the show’s original host, now healed after his surgery and surprising everyone with his appearance.
“Tonight, it is my pleasure to taste each contestant’s meal,” Shep continued, “but our three judges will make the difficult decision of selecting the winner.”
Wait… what?
My heart sank. I had been banking on Shep being one of the judges, so I’d at least get one vote. Then he turned and winked at me, and I knew that what he was doing was right.
I needed to win this with my talents, on my merits. I needed to do this on my own.
And he believed that I could.
More than that, I believed I could do it too.
Our instructions were simple, create a menu and prepare it in two hours. My thoughts drifted to my week with Shep; he had been molding me for this moment. All the foods we’d prepared were five-star worthy and made a perfect menu pairing. I was ready, psyched, and determined to beat the smug smile off Aiden’s face.
The two hours felt like they were flying by as I created my roux, stirred my pan sauce, and filleted my fish. Aiden seemed calm, cool, and collected as he worked at his station. My heart pounded as I finally plated my dishes and stepped back just as they called the time.
Jamie and the two Michelin star chefs in white coats approached alongside Shep, and I forced my breathing to calm down as they stepped up to my station.
Shep tasted each dish first but didn’t offer any comments. He simply stood back while the judges took their turns at my creations. I wanted to punch the camera as the black lens stared at me.
I couldn’t stand the silence. I was used to having some input as they tasted, but this competition was different. I would have to wait until they tasted Aiden’s and then worked out their decision behind our backs. It was almost more than I could bear.
My heart raced, and I felt sweat beading up on my forehead. The lights were brutally hot, but they weren’t what stoked the fire inside me. Aiden turned to me, winked, and mouthed “good luck.” I wanted to turn away as rage flowed through my veins at his arrogance. Instead, I smiled sweetly and mouthed “you too.”
The look on his face was priceless, going from arrogant to uncertain in an instant.
He’d expected me to cower, and like all bullies, he didn’t like it when his victim didn’t run and instead fought back.
I stared out at the crowd and saw Lauren, Asher, and Jackson rooting me on. Kennedy was too pregnant to fly, but she had sent her best wishes in the form of flowers, a basket of candy, and a giant teddy bear that wore a chef’s apron and hat. Both my parents came down with the stomach flu and had to cancel their flights at the last minute. Mom cried when she told me they couldn’t come.
Elle stood beside Lauren, but there was no one else there for Aiden. I assumed that someone who spent his life destroying everything he touched wouldn’t have much support. Elle would find out soon enough, I presumed.
“We have come to a decision,” one of the judges announced.
Instead of the soul crushing fear I thought I’d feel in this moment, an immense calm rolled over and through me. I smiled at my friends and then gazed at Shep. After all, they were the only things that really mattered.
The seconds ticked by as Aiden and I both stood in front of the cameras, waiting for one name to be called. The winner. But I’d already won.
I’d stretched my wings and flown. Got shot down and recovered to fly again. I’d learned many lessons and experienced bliss and agony within moments of each other.
The judge handed Shep an envelope, a small square of paper that contained one name. I felt weightless as he opened it, reached in, and pulled out the card.
I closed my eyes, so thankful for every moment, good and bad, I’d experienced these past nine weeks.
“Claire Walker!”
That was my name.
My name.
I opened my eyes, and it was Shep’s face I saw first. Pure joy and pride was stretched across it.
He really said my name!
Adrenaline shot through me, and my calm was replaced with the thrill of victory that could only be described as euphoric.
My body unfroze, and I was suddenly jumping and clapping and running into Shep’s arms. Then I was passed to Lauren, who was sobbing as she bounced up and down. Asher patted me on the back and Jackson let out a loud whoop into the air.
I won, I actually won!
From the corner of my eye, I saw Elle move past us and assumed she was heading to Aiden to comfort him, but I didn’t look back.
“Let’s go tear up this town!” Lauren exclaimed.
I fist bumped her. “I have to film my final one-on-one, then I’m ready.”
Shep was waiting for me to return to the set with open arms. “I knew you could do it,” he said.
“I was worried when you didn’t judge the competition,” I admitted.
He squeezed me harder. “Yes, that was a last minute decision.”
“One that you knew about?” I asked.
“One that I made,” he said sternly. “You needed to win on your own, and I needed you to know you won on your own.”
Play fair, win fair. Big Jake’s words rang in my head. I smiled, savoring the moment.
“Gretchen is waiting for you behind the producer’s trailer,” he said, motioning in her direction. “Get this interview done and then go have fun with your friends.”
I grabbed his arm, panic setting in. “You’re coming too, right?”
“No, not tonight. I’m sure you need some time alone with your friends,” he insisted, then his voice lowered, grew deeper, “But I’ll see you after?”
Desire and longing and something I didn’t want to yet recognize spiraled through me, taking my breath with it. “Yes,” I whispered.
His pupils dilated, and the pull between us grew more intense. “Go.”
I stepped away and winked at him, before heading towards the producer’s trailer for my final shot.
“You’re a dirty little whore,” Aiden said as I turned the corner.
I turned to look over my shoulder, but no one else was around. Refusing to show fear, I continued walking towards the trailer, ignoring his comments. I knew he was bitter about losing.
“You want this cock?” he asked sarcastically and then let out a deep laugh.
“No thanks,” I said cheerfully and kept on going.
He blocked me and smirked. “Oh, everyone is going to know how bad you want this cock when the finale airs,” he warned. I watched his eyes shift back and forth and could smell the alcohol on his breath. He was already starting his pity party, and I wasn’t in the mood to attend.
“Move out of the way, Aiden. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” he sneered. “I was just watching you this morning.” He raised his voice to the pitch of a girl’s. “Yes, I want that cock… give it to me, Aiden.” He laughed and the sound was dirty. “Oh, that tight little pussy of yours will look great on the Internet.”
My heart stopped, and my throat tightened. I remembered Shep’s story about Aiden filming unsuspecting women. “Did you film me?” I asked, my voice shaky and my heart unwilling to beat again until I heard the answer.
“Yup, and it will be a great kicker to the finale airing,” he said with pride.
I pushed him out of my way and ran towards the producer’s trailer. Gretchen opened the door and ushered me inside. I noticed her looking past me and knew she’d seen Aiden.
“You’re as white as a ghost,” she said. My heart was beating again, but too fast. I felt dizzy and sick at the same time. I didn’t know what to do.
Would Aiden really do that to me?
Gretchen gave me a bottle of water and started patting my face with makeup to bring back my color.
I got through the one-on-one without any issues. I felt good about my last filming, especially after what I had endured just moments before the cameras turned on me for the final time. Lauren, Asher, and Jackson were waiting outside their car as I stepped out of the trailer.
“That Aiden is a real piece of work,” Lauren said under her breath.
“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously, hoping he hadn’t announced to my friends that he had a video of me begging for his cock.
“He just came over here and told us that if we thought you were famous now, just wait until after the airing,” Lauren said, rolling her eyes.
Asher looked at me with concern. “What was he talking about, Claire?”
I shook my head and stepped into the car. “Can we talk about this later?”