Benefits of a Broken Heart

Chapter 15 Chef Time

---Taylor's POV---

My heart won't slow down because of the nervousness making it pound out of my chest.. It's to the point that I can heart my heartbeat in my ears just echoing as if it's throbbing. Taking these kinds of steps, just throwing myself into the unknown, is like just like throwing myself off a building.. it's scary beyond belief for me and even harder to calm myself. But this is probably the only way this can happen for me, if I want a career in cooking.. so here I am.. My mind is running about what I want to do and how I want to do it, followed by all the possibilities of what could result if I do good or bad. I feel my hearts pace quickening as my phone beeps. I forgot to turn off the sound so I can concentrate on the task at hand. I pull it out quickly as I see Austin sent me a message. 'You got this beautiful.. call me when they offer you the job.' I smile down at the message as I quickly reply. 'Thanks Austin I really needed that right now.' I slipped the phone back into my pocket and letting out a deep breath.. I just think about Austin for a moment calming all my nerves even if it's just a little bit. I notice Devin gestured for me to follow him farther into the kitchen and I do it without hesitation.. this is exactly where I want to be right now anyways.

"Okay Taylor so I just want you to show me over here, what you can do.. I'm not going to give you any specific recipes or anything.. I just want to see if there's any actual talent or anything that we can work with, before we even get the whole hiring process started.. because if I don't think that you can handle it or even come up with anything intricate for us, then there's no way that you're going to be able to handle working here.. I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just being honest from so many years of experience.. So just make something special, that you personally love, with ingredients that we have and we will go from there.. the pantry is here and the freezer is there.. I'll give you a couple minutes to get an idea of what you want to make with what we have.. Then, I will give you 20 minutes.. I'm going to sit here and watch you the entire time and I'm going to just observe how you work in this area and with everything around you.. to see if you use proper techniques or if you need help in any certain areas that maybe we can help you out with, if there is talent there... alright do you understand the rules?" He asked me this as I nod vigorously at him because this is exactly what I was hoping for.. So since they will let me take the reigns of this, to show him what I can do.. then hopefully for my sake, it will be good enough. "Okay Taylor your time is starting now for looking in the pantry and freezer." Devon says bringing me out of my I tense thoughts of what's to come and bringing me back to the present, to finally take this into my own hands and give myself the best shot possible.. I can do this.

I stepped into the pantry, taking a look around and as to be expected, they have a ton of stuff from ingredients and seasonings, to any type of meat... I wander into the freezer, looking at what they have and I think I know what I want to do.. I'm pretty sure I have everything here for that.. So I guess here goes nothing.. I have to try to clear my head so I don't think too much into it.. or I might mess this up.

"Ok Taylor.. you ready?" I bite my lip as I vigorously nod at him. He smiles and glances at Dominic who is also smiling my way. "Ok... here's your 20 minutes to impress.. don't think too much into this.. just be you and do what you love and I'm sure everything will work out.. now.. three...... two...... one...... go." Devon states to me as I quickly flip around, grabbing the sauté pans I need along with cutting boards and knives.. setting them to the side.

I booked it around the kitchen almost looking like a chicken with my head cut off as I observe all the ingredients making sure I remember the recipe just right so I'm not missing anything.. I think I have the right idea, so I collect everything that I need as quickly as I can.. the seasonings fill my arms, so I have to drop these off first, before getting the fresh and frozen ingredients.. I quickly put everything I need on the counter as I dice the veggies up and throw it all together into one pan with the protein into the other.. I'm just trying to ignore the feeling of being watched, no matter how much I hate being stared at.. I'm going to try to make it look as nice and professional as possible.

I add the seasoning to both pans. I keep cooking as best as I can, getting through this without over cooking the protein or veggies.. I just can't help the nervousness that's now consuming my whole body, as I try to ignore the prying eyes.. I keep going and I'm almost done as I hear from Devon. "5 minutes hun." I nod and give him a thumbs up, as some type of communication, because what else is there to say.. I'm quiet if I don't know you so this is how our communication is going to be, until I get to know them better and hopefully that doesn't effect getting this job with them.. just because I'm scared right now. Hopefully they are understanding.. but there is only one way to find out. I turn off everything before turning to look around to see exactly what I needed.

I turn around grabbing two plates as I put the protein on the plates along with the veggies on the side, while drizzling the sauce over top, making it look as beautiful as possible. I set the plates up on the counter for them as I let out a deep breathe before he smiles across at me and says softly, "Times up." His smile gets bigger as they both walk closer to the counter. I hand them both the necessary utensils to eat this.

I watch the both of them take a couple bites.. One big bite of just the veggies with the sauce, then one with the protein with the sauce and then one with all of it together. They look back and forth from each other to me, not showing any signs if they like it or not.. I know it's at least good enough to consume, because they haven't spit it out.. which is a good thing and good enough for the moment.. but that's not what I'm here for.. I want to be good enough for the job.

I feel my heart beating so hard that it might just jump straight out of my chest like the monster from Alien.. I hate this anticipation building up inside of me.. I feel like I'm going to pass out if they don't give me some sign of how they feel and soon.. Devon takes Dominic to the side, far enough away that I can hear they are whispering, but I can't tell what they are saying at all. I keep breathing, to myself trying to calm my heart because this stressful step is done with.. It's over and I don't have to worry about this part of things.. but now waiting to hear if it was good enough is the next step.. but they better hurry up before my heart explodes from stress or I just straight pass out.

I let out another deep breath as I watch them turn around and inch closer to me with stoic looks on their faces. I send them a small smile out of nervousness not really knowing what else to do because what do I say? I'm on their time schedule right now.. so I will let them do what they want so they don't think I'm a b*tch. Devon clears his throat as he starts. "Ok.. Taylor.. I have to say the sauce was a little to sweet for my liking, but I loved the acidity you added with the lemon juice.. it really tones it back from where it could have been.. The veggies were fantastic, perfectly cooked and I have to say the fish was the piece of resistance.. it worked so well bringing everything together.. The fish was cooked to masterchef perfection and to say I'm impressed is a complete understatement.. how old are you?" He asks me as I swallow the lump in my throat before squeaking out, "22." feelings everything hit me like a brick wall.. they loved my food, they actually loved my food. This is crazy.

He nods at me as he asks again. "Where do you see this going? What do you want for a future? 5 to 10 years from now?" He asks me as I let out another breath before responding. "I'm at the school here to learn as much as I can about the culinary arts because it's what I love to do and has been since I was 5.. I have cooked with my mother and grand parents for a very long time.. and I finally got the guts to leave home, my safety blanket, just this year to try to pursue this.. because I have reached my peak of what I can do at home and with the college there.. I want to have my own restaurant some day but I wouldn't be getting it there so I moved.. but if I can't have that, then I would love to learn as much as I can about cooking, especially under professional chefs.. hence why I'm here now." I try to explain the best I can as Devon nods and asks. "Well don't you think your schooling and a job would be too much for you at the moment?" I shake my head without hesitation and the suprise on their faces makes me smile.

"I can handle way more than anyone could anticipate for one thing.. but I only have a couple classes a week because I was looking for a full-time job and wanted to make sure I could handle it as well.. I know how much I can handle and I swear if you guys gave me the chance to prove it, then I don't think you would regret this." I try to negotiate with them as they both look back and forth between each other then answer.

"No reason to try to negotiate.. we can see your obvious love and passion for this.. you have some great talent already and I think it's something that could turn extraordinary if you nourish your talent properly.. but the only way to do that is to work within that environment.. schooling can teach you a lot but until you really do it for yourself it might not have the full impact that you deserve.. so because I'm a man who loves the culinary arts as well and wants to see anyone with the same drive as myself succeed.. I want to congratulate you on your new full-time job Taylor.. welcome to the Masala team.." Devon states as I feel the air being sucked from my lungs.. I squeal in excitement as I jump around in a circle.

"Thank you thank you thank you!!! you won't regret this thank you!" I say to them as they both smile and nod at me. "Alright follow me to the office and we will get your information needed to make you official with us." He says as I vigorously nod my head bwfore following him to thw office to take care of all the paperwork.