DANGEROUS AFFAIR

Chef Gab

"Good morning Zoey," Anabel said as she walked into her office.

"Morning boss, you look... Uhm... Pretty" Zoey replied as she closed the door behind them and turned to look at Anabel. She had quickly picked up some files and followed Anabel the moment she walked in.

"You don't have to be polite about it. I know my face doesn't look okay. Terry already told me this morning. Though, I was hoping the makeup would hide it. Is it still swollen up?" Anabel clarified as she pressed into her face and checked in her compact powder's mirror while Zoey took her seat.

"No it isn't and I was not being polite. You really look good, swollen face or not." Zoey insisted politely with a smile.

"Thank you, Zoey," Anabel replied and smiled back as she returned the powder into the drawer.

"You are welcome boss," Zoey said still smiling.

"Boss? Really?" Anabel asked.

Zoey is Anabel's manager and friend. Before her, Anabel had had several managers, but none was able to live up to her expectation. She had to drop them when there was little change or no improvement at all. Anabel had even lost hope when one of her chef colleagues recommended Zoey. At first, she was reluctant but when two other people vouched for Zoey, she decided to give her a chance. Zoey was put on probation for three months and she exceeded Anabel's expectations. Anabel was really impressed. It's been five years already and Anabel remains impressed still.

"What? Are you not my boss, boss?" Zoey repeated playfully. Over the years, Zoey and Anabel have grown close and now have more of a friendship than a 'boss and worker' relationship. Though once in a while, Zoey loves playing around like this, she would keep calling Anabel's boss till she stops her. Today is one of those days.

"I can't even deal with this side of you. Did you later send the file last night?" Anabel asked. She isn't privy to this side of her manager and she knows trying to stop her was a waste of time, hence, the reason she moved on.

"Yes, I did. Along with your schedule for the day? Did you not get it?" Zoey asked, concerned.

"I must have. I was so tired, I could not even check my mail. Let me check it now or do you have them there with you?" Anabel asked as she started to work on her laptop to check the mail.

"Yes... I think so... It's not here. A minute please." Zoey said as she quickly checked through the files she brought in but it wasn't there. She then excused herself to get it and walked in a minute later with the files.

"Here it is," Zoey said handing out some files to Anabel.

"Okay, thanks. Looks like I have tons of meetings today. I'm scared already." Anabel said playfully as she looked through the pages. She was indeed scared.

"Don't be please," Zoey replied playfully as well.

"Have you checked in with chef Gab? Is he still coming in today?" Anabel asked as she circled some things on the file.

"Yes, I called his office yesterday and he personally confirmed the meeting."

"That means 10:00am is settled then," Anabel replied and then heaved a sigh of relief.

"Yes, but you have a meeting now, with the staff," Zoey said pointing out to the conference room opposite the office.

"Okay then, let's go. Are you sure my face looks okay?" Anabel worriedly inquired again.

"You look perfect," Zoey assured her.

As they stepped into the conference room, Anabel felt the air-conditioning, cold air blasted her, keeping her at ease as she sat and looked around her workers in the room. Not everyone was present as it was still very early but the number was remarkable. She sat still for a moment before whispering some words to Zoey who was sitting next to her.

"Good morning everyone, hope you all had a nice night's rest?" Anabel said cheerfully, smiling as she talked.

"We have no time to waste so I would go straight to the point. 'Cook with bel' is in six days and we still have a lot of grounds to cover if we want to meet up and do extremely well. We are known for our quality content and our viewers and followers expect nothing less but the best whenever our show airs..." Anabel took a brief pause as one of the workers who just arrived was trying to catch up but was distracting her in the process.

"Please have your seat Dave" Anabel kindly said.

"Thank you, Anabel"

"So to achieve this, all hands have to be on deck. And in the light of this, I've come to realize that I've been doing a lot of work as a lone force which is not supposed to be. We are a team and we can only get this right as a team, a united front. Therefore, I'm opening the floor for ideas on how to give our best for the upcoming show. If you have any idea to be best selves, anyone at all now is the time to let us on." Anabel urged them.

Anabel was greatly amazed at the huge turnout from her employees, she never knew they had it in them all this while, the reason why she took all the work upon herself. She was thankful she followed her husband's advice. The meeting ended on a good note, the time spent, an hour and a half was not a waste. Ideas were given, plans drawn, and actions about to be taken. If done correctly, the show's next episode was about to be the best one yet.

Anabel and Zoey were the first to leave the meeting as it was almost 10am and they had to prepare for the next meeting with chef Gab. It wasn't long after they got back to Anabel's office that Zoey was notified of Gab's arrival. Gab was immediately urged into the show's arena where the meeting would be held.

Anabel not wanting to delay the chef, tried to get up when a wave of weakness surged again. Knocking over her phone and some files on the table, she quickly caught herself before she pitched face-first onto the floor. That was the third time in less than twenty-four hours. She might have to resort to Terry's advice about getting some rest which was obviously needed presently. But right now, all she wanted to do was see to the meeting with chef Gab.

"Are you okay?" Zoey asked as she opened the door and saw Anabel bent over, sorting out the scattered files.

"Yes, I'm fine" Anabel replied with a smile. Zoey didn't have the time to dwell on it so she helped her with the files and they joined Gab afterward.

"Good morning Gab. I'm so glad you honored my invitation" Anabel greeted cheerfully all smiles.

"Morning bel. I'm glad you chose me" Gab replied. Gab is one of the prominent chefs in the industry, he and Anabel go well back. They met in culinary school, though Gab was two years ahead of her. They have been friends since then, and even after he graduated and left, they still stayed in touch. Gab works part-time as a cookbook author and also the only person that calls Anabel 'bel', he gave her the name the first time they met, and even though, Anabel didn't agree initially, she later grew to love and even named her show after it.

"So let's get straight to business. You'd be the host, there will be three judges and four contestants" Anabel explained as they work around the kitchen

"Sounds interesting. How many rounds?" Gab asked

"Three rounds, Appetizer, main dish, and dessert" Anabel clarified

"Zoey will fill you in on how it's done. But you don't have to follow every step, I want things to be a little different so if you have any idea on how to spice things up, please do not hesitate. Zoey?" Anabel explained and then turned to Zoey to take over.

"Well, my boss has already filled you in on all the important parts. I have the schedule here but there have been some changes, so I'll go and handle that part now. By the time you are done here, I should be through as well." Zoey explained while Gab and Anabel listened attentively.

"Alright, thank you Zoey" Gab appreciated

"You're welcome. Anabel?" Zoey replied and turned to Anabel, finally dropping 'boss'.

"Alright, you can go. We will continue here." Anabel dismissed her and she continued with Gab while Zoey left.

"Tell me more about the rounds"

"Of course. Like I said earlier, it would be a three-round contest, consisting of 'Appetizer, Main course, and dessert'. For each round, the four contestants are to write any dish they would like to prepare on paper and then dropped in a bowl. The host then juggles the bowl and picks..." Anabel explained thoroughly while showing Gab the bowl and other things as she explained.

"So, the decision lies with me," Gab said smiling.

"Yes, whatever dish is on the paper you pick is what they'll prepare" Anabel affirmed.

"Okay, good. You may proceed"

"The pantry and refrigerator will be stocked with a wide variety of ingredients along with specialized tools and equipment for their use. And lastly, each chef will be assigned to his or her station with their names displayed. Anabel explained further while they go sound each station.

"I'm so proud of you bel, this is so amazing"

"Thanks, Gab."

"What about the selection and disqualification? How is it done?"

"Okay, that depends on the judges. They judge based on the meal presentation, taste, ingredients used. A chef gets disqualified each round and the last chef standing wins." Anabel said as she led the way to the judges' station

"Beautiful. I think I'm more than informed and ready." Gab said while Anabel smiled excitedly.

"That's good. But if you have any questions at all, please let me know. I won't be around as I would be hosting another show on that day and I really want this to turn out amazing" Anabel said as a worried look clouded the initial excitement.

"Yeah, Zoey mentioned that. You have nothing to worry about, it won't flop. You can trust me on that" Gab asserted

"I know, I trust you. How are you doing? Wife? Girlfriend?" Anabel asked as she sat on one of the judges' chairs and then signaled Gab to the same.

"None at the moment" Gab replied as he also turned his chair to face Anabel and sat.

"I don't believe you," Anabel mumbled rolling her eyes too.

"I'm serious." Gab insisted, smiling brightly.

"So you're saying you are not seeing anyone presently, the Gab I know is never single" Anabel insisted too. Gab was a force to reckon with in culinary school when it comes to women. He never hides the number of ladies he rolls with. He is good-looking with a nice body physique and also intelligent so ladies swarm around him. But now that he is saying there's no one, Anabel finds it difficult to believe

"Well, I guess he changed then" Gab asserted, smiling.

"You are really serious!!!" Anabel exclaimed, finally realizing he was being serious.

"Yeah. I'm ready for the right person so enough of these relationships that never last" Gab clarified, revealing the reason why he is taking his time.

"Okay then. I hope you get what you're looking for, and soon" Anabel said smiling while holding his arm.

"Thanks, and enough about me, how is your Terry and my little Ethan?" Gab asked turning the focus from himself.

"Ethan is no so little anymore, at least that's what he claims..."