Page 26 of A Recipe for Romance

Chapter 17: Drew

The next morning dawnedgrey and overcast, a stark contrast to the bright future Drew had envisioned for him and Kelsi. He sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of black coffee, his phone vibrating intermittently with texts and notifications. Zak had already arranged a meeting with the network executives for later that afternoon, and as the minutes ticked by, the weight of the day ahead settled heavily on Drew's shoulders.

This wasn’t just about protecting his career or the show—it was about protecting Kelsi, her reputation, her hard-won place in the culinary world. He’d spent years building his name, but for Kelsi, this could be her moment of triumph or her downfall.

The thought gnawed at him.

Drew stood, pacing the length of the kitchen. He glanced at his phone again, his thumb hovering over Kelsi's contact name. He hadn’t heard from her yet this morning, and a part of him wondered if she was feeling the same anxiety he was.

His phone buzzed suddenly, cutting through his thoughts. It was a text from Zak:

“Heads-up. The execs are a little nervous. They’re worried about how this could affect the show. Be ready to reassure them.”

Drew exhaled sharply, tossing the phone onto the counter. He was prepared for that. The culinary world was built on reputation, and Drew had earned his as one of the best. He wasn't about to let anyone reduce their relationship to scandal fodder for tabloid headlines. This was real, and Kelsi was worth every difficult conversation they had ahead of them.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He crossed the room, opening it to find Kelsi standing there, looking slightly windblown but resolute. The familiar pink streaks in her hair were pulled into a loose ponytail, her face serious but soft as she stepped inside.

“Morning,” she said quietly, her gaze meeting his. “Ready?”

Drew nodded, feeling a warmth spread through him at her presence. It never ceased to amaze him how she could calm him with just a look. “As ready as I’ll ever be. You?”

Kelsi shrugged, a small, determined smile on her lips. “Nervous, but... I think we’re doing the right thing. We have to take control of this.”

Drew pulled her into a hug, feeling her relax against him. “We’ll be okay,” he murmured. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

She pulled back, giving him a nod of agreement. “Let’s go see what Zak has cooked up.”

The network officewas buzzing with activity when they arrived. Executives moved quickly through the halls, the faint hum of conversations mixing with the tapping of keyboards and ringing phones. Drew and Kelsi were escorted to a conference room where Zak was waiting, pacing anxiously by the window.

“There you two are,” Zak said with a strained smile as they entered. “Glad you could make it. The execs will be here in a few, but I wanted to touch base first.”

He gestured for them to sit, his expression a mix of seriousness and concern. Drew and Kelsi exchanged a glance before sitting down at the long table.

“What’s the vibe?” Drew asked, leaning forward slightly.

Zak sighed, running a hand through his hair. “They’re nervous, Drew. The show’s doing well, but they’re worried about potential backlash. You two being together... it’s a narrative that’s easy for the media to twist, and they’re afraid it could damage the show’s reputation. But I’ve got your back. We just need to present this in the right way.”

Kelsi nodded, her face calm but determined. “We won’t let them make this something it’s not. We’re not a scandal, Zak. We’re two people who fell for each other while doing what we love. The viewers will understand that.”

Zak smiled at her resolve. “Exactly. That’s the angle we need to push. But be prepared—they’ll ask hard questions. They’ll want to know every detail of when this started, and they’ll try to make sure it doesn’t impact how the audience sees the show’s credibility.”

Drew felt the tension in his chest tighten. He knew this was going to be a balancing act, but seeing the seriousness on Zak’s face drove home how delicate this situation was. Their relationship couldn’t just be about them anymore—not with so many eyes watching.

A moment later, the door opened, and a small group of network executives filed in. Drew recognized them from past meetings—serious, sharp-eyed professionals who controlled the direction of the show. They exchanged polite greetings before taking their seats around the table.

The head of the group, a middle-aged woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a sharp gaze, spoke first. “Thank you both for coming. Zak has briefed us, and we appreciate your willingness to discuss the situation openly.”

Drew felt Kelsi’s hand brush against his under the table, a small gesture of solidarity that gave him strength. He met the woman’s gaze directly. “We want to be transparent. We understand the concerns, but we believe we can handle this in a way that won’t harm the show or our reputations.”

The woman nodded, flipping through a folder in front of her. “We’ve been monitoring the social media response closely, and while there’s been speculation, it hasn’t hit the mainstream media yet. But it’s only a matter of time. We need to get ahead of this. We need to ensure that the audience knows the relationship was built on mutual respect, and that it had no impact on the competition or Kelsi’s win.”

Kelsi straightened in her seat. “I understand that. And I’m fully prepared to explain that my performance in the competition had nothing to do with our relationship. I’ve worked hard to prove myself as a chef, and I’m not going to let anyone undermine that.”

Drew nodded in agreement. “We kept everything professional on set. There was no favoritism—Kelsi earned her win, and I want that to be clear.”

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