Page 29 of A Recipe for Romance

“Drew and I did develop a relationship over the course of the show,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “But I want to make it clear that my performance in the competition was based entirely on my skills as a chef. I worked hard for every dish I created, and I stand by my win. Drew was always professional, and the integrity of the competition was never compromised.”

The room was quiet, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I’m proud of the relationship we’ve built,” Kelsi continued, her gaze sweeping the room. “We’re not ashamed of it, and we don’t plan to hide it. We just hope that people can see that our connection doesn’t diminish the hard work or the passion we’ve both put into our careers.”

When she finished, she stepped back slightly, letting Drew take his turn. He approached the microphone, his usual calm and authoritative demeanor shining through.

“Kelsi’s win was well-earned,” Drew said, his voice firm but measured. “I want to emphasize that the judging process was impartial, and her success was based entirely on her abilities as a chef. I’m incredibly proud of her, both as a colleague and as someone I care about deeply.”

He paused, letting the sincerity of his words sink in. “We understand the concerns, and we’re committed to maintaining the integrity of the show and the culinary world. But I want to make it clear—our relationship does not define Kelsi’s talent, and it won’t take away from the achievements she’s made.”

With that, Drew stepped back, and Zak returned to the podium, fielding questions from the press.

Kelsi felt a wave of relief wash over her as the press conference continued. The hardest part was over—they had spoken their truth, and now it was up to the world to accept it.

As the cameras clicked and questions flew, Kelsi caught Drew’s eye. He gave her a subtle smile, one that told her they had done the right thing.

No matter what came next, they had faced this challenge head-on, together. And that made all the difference.

Chapter 19: Drew

The sound of the pressconference still echoed in Drew’s ears as he and Kelsi exited the building together, the hum of the media circus fading behind them. The weight of the day had started to lift, but Drew could still feel the tension in his muscles. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden light over the city, and for the first time in hours, Drew felt like he could breathe.

Kelsi walked beside him, her hand brushing against his, and for a moment they just walked in silence, both absorbing everything that had just unfolded. Drew glanced over at her, admiring the way she held herself with grace and strength, even in the face of such intense scrutiny.

“You were incredible in there,” he said, his voice low but full of admiration.

Kelsi smiled, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. “I was just trying not to pass out,” she admitted with a laugh. “But thank you. You weren’t so bad yourself.”

Drew chuckled, but his expression quickly grew serious again. “I know today was hard, but I’m so proud of you, Kelsi. You handled it better than I ever could’ve hoped. I mean it.”

Kelsi stopped walking, turning to face him fully. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Drew. We’re in this together, right?”

Drew nodded, the warmth of her words sinking in. “Always.”

For a moment, they just stood there, letting the city bustle around them, the press and the cameras left behind. Kelsi stepped closer, resting her forehead against his chest, and Drew wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

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