FALLING FOR THE MARRIED BILLIONAIRE.

INTO THE BADLANDS.

Beth, what the f**k are you doing here? "

This time, Ethan whispered as he dashed over to where Beth stood, taking her by the arm.

" What are you doing? " He asked again.

" Ethan... " She whispered back, her breathing heavy as she tried to recover from the shock, " You're hurting my arm. " Beth quickly revised over to where the security cameras hooked, as there was only one and luckily for her it was stationed further out the room, giving her safety to relay out her mission.

" I'm sorry. " He immediately let go of her arm, " What are you doing in here? " Ethan glanced around and, as he perceived that Beth was up to no good. He glanced at the already open basket, " Why is it open? " He asked.

Beth bit her lower lip and placed both hands on her waist. She wasn't sure of what would happen if Ethan found out what she was up to. The possibility of her entire plan being jeopardized still tormented her. She ran her fingers through her hair severely while avoiding Ethan's gaze. The salt and the creamy mix still sat a few meters away from the basket.

Ethan shook his head impatiently, " You've got to speak up. " He took her shoulders, hostage now, " Do you realize that in a few minutes, the finals are starting? everything has to be in order! "

Ethan adjusted his stance the instant he realized that he raised his voice.

" So what the f**k are you doing here with... " He glanced at the salt and the open mix bottle, " With salt? what the f**k is this? "

Her breathing got even heavier and unstable, her heartbeat pounded so loud that she feared he might hear it.

" Beth! " Ethan shook her slightly hard, " Say something! "

" Okay! okay... " Beth succumbed, " I'll talk, just let go of me. "

Ethan once again took his hands off her, " I'm sorry. " He mumbled, " Now tell me, what's happening? "

Beth swallowed saliva as he hurriedly scanned around to make sure they were alone.

" I came in here to pour salt into this mix. "

Ethan squinted, " What? "

" It's exactly as I said Ethan, " Beth replied.

" I don't understand you. " Ethan was perplexed, " Why would you pour salt__

" Do I need to spell it out? " Beth was getting irritated and agitated.

" Well, apparently you do. I'm in charge here__

Beth rolled her eyes in disgust, " Oh please Ethan, now is not the time to do this. "

" Now is a perfect time, " Ethan corrected, " I'm in charge of this and I have to make sure everything goes smoothly. "

" f**k! " Beth huffed.

" Beth__

" Fine! Since you want me to spell it out for you, I will. " She pinched, " There's someone who made it to the finals, I don't want her to win. "

Ethan got even more confused, " Why? " He arched a brow.

" Holy s**t Ethan! It's because I don't want her to work here. "

" And I'm still asking why " Ethan wanted to know.

" I... I just cannot let her work here. "

" So you're sabotaging her? " It was now just beginning to make sense to Ethan.

" Yes, " Beth angrily admitted, " That is exactly what I'm doing, you finally got it, Ethan. "

" Don't f*****g make jokes right now. " Ethan was in a state of duality, whether to delve deep into what Beth claimed and to make sense of the scenario.

" Well? " She stopped pacing and stared at Ethan, " Are you gonna get out of my way or are you gonna report me to your brother? " She purposefully asked in a mocking tone.

Ethan fell for it, " What do you mean? " His voice became deeper.

" You heard me, " Beth smirked, " I just need to know where I stand and WHERE you stand as well. " She realized quickly that she had to play her cards right.

Ethan sighed, " Beth... you know this is wrong. If you told me about this sooner__

" You wouldn't have done anything. " Beth replied, " Let's just be honest, you wouldn't have been ABLE to help me. "

Beth decided to hit the nail on an open wound. She had gotten Ethan right where she wanted him and she was willing to use it against him.

" This... this is wrong. "

" Just tell me if you're gonna get me fired right now. " Beth was time-conscious.

Ethan was panicking and it was visible, his ears had begun to twitch and his nose sweated. He tapped his fingers on the table a lot and was stuttering.

" Who is she and what did she do? "

" I don't have the time to lecture you about who did what. "

" You have to tell me something, you can't just walk in here and do things without informing me. "

" Oh my gosh, " Beth whispered in frustration. She knew that the only way she would have her way was to play his game better than him.

" Her name is Lori, " Beth hurriedly said.

" Lori? " Ethan arched a brow as he wondered where he'd heard the name.

" How come you're in charge but you don't even know the names of the finalists? " Beth grabbed her opportunity as she got an opening.

" Well... I__

" Are you sure you're in charge? Or did you send Johnny to do your bidding? " Beth could tell she was getting to Ethan.

" Holy s**t, Beth. " Ethan felt the impact of Beth's words more because she was saying the truth, he did send Johnny to do his bidding.

" Ethan c'mon, I don't have much time. It's not like she's gonna know that it's in here. "

" Oh f**k, " Ethan shook his head reluctantly, he instantly ran a series of choices in his head. Would he let the woman he was screwing break the rules, or for once in his life, do the job and apparently the right thing? " Fine. " Ethan breathed lightly as he made his decision.

Beth heaved a sigh of relief.

" You've got less than a minute, " He turned around rapidly, " I have to make sure nobody comes in here, so be quick. " He ran out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lori's heart resumed. It was a fast thud as the whistle signaled them to open their baskets. The key basket ingredient which had to be incorporated into the meal was yogurt and she had a meal in mind, her macaroni salami and fried chicken recipe.

As her trembling hands flung her basket open, she began fetching out her recipe one by one. She knew that time was important and that she needed to properly utilize it. Lori was watchful of both time and preparation.

As a personal rule she initiated for herself, she opened the creamy mix and poured a small portion into her mouth. She had to know what it takes like before introducing it to her meal.

" What the f... "

Lori stared at the creamy mix in shock as the taste filled the space in her mouth. She had the urge to throw up but fought back.

Lori was briefly thrown into confusion and terror when she observed her competition. They'd already commenced cooking. Her head instantly was light, her vision went blurry and her thoughts were heavy.

She needed to focus, she needed to think sharply and act fast. Her eyes hurriedly searched her environment for the last time, and alas, she had an idea.

* * * * * * * * * *

" Excuse me, " Her voice was husky and faint, " Can I make another creamy mix? " She gestured at the man who supervised them.

" What happened to the one you were given? " He asked her.

Lori moved past her fear and uncertainty, " I can't use it, it's too salty. "

A minor uproar ensued, and the man appeared triggered. He moved over to her and took the creamy mix from her.

" This mix was manufactured by our top chefs and has been used to win multiple competitions. "

Lori followed the man's gaze and observed the cameras. How could she forget that they were live on air?

" Have a taste, sir. " Lori said calmly.

It was like she had placed a halt on the competition, all eyes were now on her. While some thought that she was being dramatic, some were concerned about their meal, this was because they'd already put the creamy mix in their food without knowing what it tasted like.

The man repeated Lori's action and poured a small portion into his palm and his mouth.

" What the f**k! " He spat the portion out and repeatedly wiped his tongue with his fingers. " How did it get so salty? "

Lori arched a brow and made an irritated face, " Sir, " She called him back to order, " Can I make another creamy mix? "

The man was thrown out of balance. He gestured to the other contestants who had the look of fear and hopelessness in their eyes.

" Don't worry, it... it uh... " He picked up Lori's creamy mix bottle and tossed it into a nearby garbage can, " This sample is still under observation. They... must have coincidentally mixed this with the others. "

Lori was aware of his lies, it was to distract the other contestants and relax them, and it worked.

The man turned to her, " You can make another one, and you have an additional thirty minutes. "

Without hesitation, Lori went to work.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lori spotted liquid milk, which was also processed by the company, and she took it. Immediately after she opened it, she made sure to taste it. She couldn't afford to fall victim. She poured the liquid into a bowl and added sour cream and powdered cream to the mix, one tablespoon of sugar was added and everything was whisked together. When she got the desired feel from it, she refrigerated it.

Lori needed two sauces, one with sausages and one without sausages. She got to work, turned on the gas, poured olive oil into two different pans, and added bay leaves and onions to both pans. She threw the sausages inside one pan and ginger and garlic into both pans and stirred both.

Roughly blended fresh ball peppers were added to the pans, she sprinkled in curry masala( A mixture of curry, thyme, and rosemary ground pepper, and chicken seasoning to mix, and stirred.

She fetched her creamy mix from the refrigerator and added it to her macaroni. She made sure to stir the mix until it was everywhere. Lori did the same with the sauce with sausage. She proceeded to add shredded cheddar cheese inside the macaroni and placed it in the oven.

The other mix was added inside a pot with a little water and chicken, stirred, and sent to the fire. When the chicken reached a mixture of tender and rigid, when the flavors had soaked the chicken, she threw it inside the deep fryer to fry.

Soon enough, the macaroni came out of the oven and she began plating. The chicken was placed beautifully on top of the macaroni and the chicken broth was kept on a smaller plate as a chicken dip. She sliced fresh parsley and spread it on top of her meal. She finished before stoppage time. Lori watched in satisfaction as her food was carted away to the 'Mystery' judges.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As Ethan walked into the office, Beth took him by the hand and pulled him closer to her. He knew why she wanted help, but what he wasn't sure of was why. He made sure to wear his dark shades so she wouldn't see that his eyes were red as a result of smoking. He was high, Ethan was always high, that was how he got by.

" Ethan! Ethan... " Beth was frantic.

" Beth calm down. " Ethan summoned the strength to look normal.

" I didn't know she was gonna taste it... you have to make sure she doesn't get hired. "

" f**k, '' here he was thinking that he had concluded his favors for the day, '' That's not within my power. " Beth wasn't making things easy for him.

" Help me, Ethan! Lori Hart, you can't let her win. " Bett pulled his hands further as she made her demands.

Even with his glasses on him, Ethan narrowed his eyes, " Lori Hart? "

" Please, choose any of the other contestants! Tell your brother, I know he's one of the mystery judges and his influence would matter a lot. " She inhaled deeply, " Your influence would matter a lot. "

Ethan wasn't thinking clearly, he just needed to get past Beth.

" Of course, anything for you Beth. "Ethan knew thatit would be almost impossible get through to beth, He was able to muster a smile, " Consider it done. " That was the icing on the cake, he would deal with her outburst later.

Beth smiled, that was when he knew he had won.

" Thank you, Ethan. "

" Anything for you. " Ethan smiled again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As two men in suits entered the room, Lori jerked. In one of them, hands were a dish properly covered.

" In our hand is a chef whose dish had met high taste and becomes one of us. "

One of the men said with a broad smile, " First of all we loved all the dishes, but only one we loved best. "

Lori's heart was on her hands, she hasn't been this scared and happy at the same time.

" We'll let our very own, Our CEO, Mr. Pierce Boseman__

" Please call me Pierce, Tom. "

A man walked in smiling, he, for some reason made her heartbeat stop.

" The winning dish is... "

The man opened the dish and it was hers.

Lori fell to her knees, "Yes!!! " Her voice filled the air.

The man came to her aide, he stood above her and stretched his hands to her in a very familiar way.

" Congratulations! " He smiled, " Do you need help, miss? "