Page 28 of A Recipe for Romance

Kelsi let out a long breath. “Honestly? I don’t know. I’m trying to stay focused, but it’s hard when everyone’s questioning if I deserve this.”

“Hey,” Zak’s voice turned serious. “You do deserve this, Kelsi. Don’t let a bunch of online trolls make you doubt yourself. You earned your spot, and you earned that win. Drew knows it, the producers know it, and I know it.”

Kelsi’s heart swelled at his words. “Thanks, Zak. I needed to hear that.”

“Of course,” he replied. “And listen, the press conference is going to go fine. I’ve been through enough of these to know that if we control the narrative, people will respect you for owning your truth. Just be honest. That’s what your followers love about you, right?”

Kelsi smiled, feeling a little of the weight lift. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Damn straight I am,” Zak quipped. “And don’t worry about Drew. He’s been through tougher stuff. You two have got this.”

“Thanks, Zak. Really.”

After the call ended, Kelsi felt steadier. She set her phone down, stood up, and crossed to the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her—stronger than she felt, but maybe that was okay. She could do this. For herself, for her career, and for Drew.

She took a deep breath, smoothing down her hair, then picked up her phone again. This time, she typed out a response to Drew.

“I’m okay. Just nerves. But we’ve got this. See you at the conference?”

A moment later, his reply buzzed through.

“Always. We’re a team, remember?”

The words calmed her, as they always did when they came from Drew. They’d made the choice to face this together, and no matter what came next, they would stand by each other.

Later that afternoon, the studio lobby was a sea of reporters, cameras, and producers prepping for the press conference. Kelsi arrived early, the nerves settling back in as soon as she stepped through the doors.

She spotted Drew standing off to the side, talking with Zak and a few other executives. Even from a distance, his presence grounded her. The calm, confident way he carried himself, even under pressure, reminded her why she had fallen for him in the first place.

He caught sight of her and excused himself from the conversation, making his way over. As he approached, his eyes softened, and without a word, he took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.

Kelsi shrugged, feeling the familiar warmth of his touch steady her. “Nervous. But better now that you’re here.”

Drew smiled, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. “We’ve got this. Just be honest. No one can take that from you.”

Kelsi nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. She couldn’t have asked for a better partner in this—someone who not only understood the pressure but also shared it with her.

Just then, a producer approached, clipboard in hand. “We’re ready to start, if you both are.”

Drew looked at Kelsi, his expression serious but encouraging. “Are you ready?”

She took a deep breath, feeling the nerves flutter again, but this time, they didn’t overwhelm her. She nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

The producer led them to a small stage set up at the front of the room, where a podium and microphones were waiting. The buzz of reporters filled the air as they took their seats, cameras flashing and pens poised to capture every word.

Zak stepped up first, addressing the crowd with his usual charm and professionalism. He explained the nature of the press conference, laying the groundwork for the announcement.

“Thank you all for being here today,” Zak began. “As many of you know, there’s been some speculation about the relationship between Chef Drew Carlson and Kelsi Martinez, winner of the latest season ofCulinary Crescendo.Today, we’d like to address those rumors openly and honestly.”

He gestured for Drew and Kelsi to step forward. Kelsi’s heart pounded as she approached the podium, Drew by her side. She could feel the weight of the room on her, the eyes of the press, the cameras, all waiting for her to speak.

Drew gave her a small nod of encouragement, and with that, Kelsi stepped up to the microphone.

“Hi, everyone,” she began, her voice a little shaky but clear. “First, I want to say thank you for all the support throughout this competition. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud of the work I’ve done. But I know there’s been a lot of questions about my relationship with Chef Carlson, and I’d like to address that directly.”

She glanced at Drew, who gave her a soft, reassuring smile. Then she turned back to the crowd.

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