Page 99 of Go Cook Yourself

Lots of love, your Rubes.

P.S. My grandparents would have loved you, and they were the best judges of character.

The note leaves me numb. I wanted her to tell me that she was in love with me. Even now, I’m trying to control her emotions. Isn’t that what got us into this situation in the first place, me trying to control her? I shake my head.

“Don’t you dare act like that message meant nothing,” Flora says, poking me again.

I step back, knocking the bowl. It rocks and nearly falls off the countertop, but I grab it and hold it tight.

“That was close,” I gasp, holding the bowl against my chest. “I thought it was a goner.”

“The bowl is not Ruby,” Flora says with a roll of her eyes.

“I know that.”

“Good. Her note was lovely.” I glare at Flora. She shouldn’t have read it. “And she wants to be with you and loves you.”

“It didn’t say either of those things,” I snap, walking to the other side of the room with the bowl still clutched against my chest.

“It said you’re not grumpy, and I’m struggling to believe that right now.”

“What are you doing here, Flora? I have to get on, and forcing me to confront my failures isn’t helping.”

She starts grabbing my keys and my jacket. “You need to come with me. I overheard Clive say he’d do something to Ruby and her family at the competition. They’re livestreaming it. He said he’s certain the family helped with Cookie and he was livid that they ignored him and employed you. He told someone on the phone that he’d destroy Ruby’s reputation in the cookery world and steal her ideas. He aims to terminate the cookery school and take the whole family down. And before you argue, the family asked me to get you, so you’re not really going against Ruby’s wishes.”

“Why didn’t you say?”

I got her into this mess, and I’m the only one who can save her. Not that I know how. I shove my feet in my boots and grab my phone and wallet as I head for the door.

“You’re not going in cum trousers,” Flora says, riffling through my stuff and throwing a pair of jeans at me. “You can change in the car. I’m driving.”

Credits roll onLove Actuallyas I turn the television off. I bet Hugh Grant’s never changed in a car or been caught in cum trousers. Actually, if anyone has, then it’s him. And he’d try and rescue his woman, too, even if it made her angry.

I will not let anything happen to Ruby or the cookery school.

No one hurts my family.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Ruby

“This is your ten-minute warning,” Clive’s lackey shouts. I glance at where my entire family, including Kath and Wicksy, sits. The only people missing are Flora and Garett. Maybe she couldn’t convince him I needed him, or perhaps everything I said yesterday ruined anything he might have felt for me.

I’m still annoyed that he lied, and if we’re to have a future, I need to talk with him about that, but I love him. I’m sure he wanted me to have the things I said I needed, although he went about it the wrong way.

But if he’s not coming, all this deliberating is pointless because it means he doesn’t want me.

“Don’t lose focus, Ruby Cloud,” Clive says over my shoulder. “We can’t have daydreamers working in a kitchen.”

He’s inches away from me, breathing on my neck. He rests his hand on mine. Throughout the competition, he’s perved on the younger women. I couldn’t work for him even if I didn’t know how he treated Garett and Cookie. He’s proved he’s a misogynistic pig over the last couple of hours. The men get different comments, but they’re equally disparaging. When he’s not creeping out the contestants, he’s doing what he can to rampup their anxiety while crushing their confidence. He’s the polar opposite of Garett.

Maybe four months ago, when I was at my lowest with Neil and Viv, I’d have done anything to work for Clive, but I have self-worth and belief in my abilities now. He doesn’t deserve me or my skills.

Suddenly, he snarls next to me. Flora slides into the row with my family, and she’s not alone.

“What the hell is that joker doing here?” Anger radiates from him. Clive might act like nothing can harm him, but it’s clear that Garett lives rent-free in his head. I hide my smirk.

“Five minutes,” Clive roars right next to my ear, and I fake a flinch. He needs to underestimate me and think he’s better than me.

---