Chapter's song: Kamikaze by Mo ;)

The next morning, I finally got a chance to talk to Andrew after noon. "You're an idiot." He was taking off his chef coat, much like everyone else. They were all going to their designated restaurant. Everyone but me. Thanks to him.

His lips twitched. "I never said I wasn't." Smartass.

Rolling my eyes, I placed both hands on my hips. "Well, thanks to you I am not going to the Japanese restaurant, and I was really excited."

Andy's twitching lips ceased as a full-on smirk played on his face. "Is that so?" He shook his head. "Let me guess, chef Bryan pulled you out?"

My lips were set on a straight line as I glared at him. "Well, if you hadn't announced to everyone that we're a─" I gestured in the air making apostrophes with my hands, "─couple, he wouldn't have pulled me out."

His smirk widened. "And why would he do that?"

Peeved, I took a deep breath. "Apparently, couples can't work together." I brushed a stray of hair out of my face. "I really wanted to team up with Monica and you."

He cracked up. "Sweetie, I don't think he gives a shit about couples!" My eyes narrowed as he tried to sober up. "It's just the fact that you could have a couple that bothers him."

I shook my head. "Yeah, right. Stop making my life more stressful Andy."

"For what is worth, you'll be thanking me by the end of the day," he said in a know-it-all tone.

"Not a chance, Andrew." I sighed heavily. He was stubborn as hell.

His eyes flicked behind me for a second. "You are." He leaned closer to me, invading my personal space.

"You are an idiot." I whispered, taking a step back.

Chuckling, he shrugged. "That's already established, babe."

I was opening my mouth to retort, when a dark voice sounded behind me. "Is everything okay?" My heart flipped. I knew who that rough tone of voice belonged to.

Bryan's gaze was stern as it landed on me for a second. He raised an eyebrow while turning to Andrew.

"All is great, chef." Andy smiled innocently, yet he looked amused. Jerk. "I'll talk to you later, Jess." He trotted away to bump-fist a bunch of guys while I scowled at him.

"Jessica," Bryan glanced at me, "Could you come into my office please?" Nodding, I followed behind him, but before I turned around the corner, I saw Andrew smirking at me. I flipped him off and I heard him burst out laughing before I disappeared down the hall.

Tom was sitting on top of Bryan's desk fixated on his phone. When he heard us approach, he looked up, a small grin drawing on his face. "You found her!"

Knots formed in my stomach. Had I done something wrong? My mind went through a mental list of tasks that I had to do and I couldn't find anything I could have missed.

Tom pushed away from the desk. "I was just telling Bryan that I need an assistant for today's show and he mentioned you didn't have an assigned restaurant for the rest of the week. So, this could work out perfectly. Would you like to come?"

I blinked surprised. "To your show?"

Bryan sat behind his desk, smirking. "Now, Jessica, do not turn into a fan girl, please."

Oh my God.

Juno and I would always fight with Seth for the TV to watch one of Tom's shows. They were set usually in what people could assume was his house. I always dreamed on having a kitchen like his, with all the cool gadgets he uses and the beautiful vintage dishes he sets his food on. It's like Tom's quintessence. And he was asking me to go.

I realized I was totally gaping at the guy, so I shut my mouth and cleared my throat. "I'd love to." Bryan's eyes were amused as he suppressed a smile.

Tom started to type something on his phone. "Awesome. We're leaving in ten." He smiled at me. "Just bring your chef coat and you're all set."

"Okay!" Juno is so going to flip. Oh wait. Juno. Would it be too embarrassing to ask him if I can bring my grandmother with me? Probably. Sorry, Juno.

Biting my lip, I walked out of Bryan's office to get my things, with a wide smile on my face. I almost snort as I recalled what Andrew had said. I wasn't going to thank him for ruining my chance to go to the Japanese restaurant. Not even if this was ten times better.

I wanted to do a happy dance as I grabbed my coat and walked outside the building to meet with Tom. Most of the rest of the students were all gone by now. A black BMW stood at the entrance of the building. The window rolled in. "Hop in!" Tom gestured me with his hands.

I wanted to ask so many questions as Tom started the car. I really wanted to know if they record it on his house, or if was a studio, and what would my obligations be. Hopefully, I wasn't going to be in front of the camera.

Tom didn't seem to be talking much and I did not want him to notice what a groupie I really was, so I calmly gazed through the window trying to keep as quiet as possible.

The car passed several gates and I couldn't but feel disappointed as I saw that we were going into a studio. Deep in my heart, I wanted to keep believing in the magic feeling the show gave. What I did notice was that he'd driven for almost half an hour, meaning that the way back home was meant to be a hassle.

"Today's show is going to be about thanksgiving food," his brown eyes crinkled as I blinked at him. "Thanksgiving is still a month from now but we record all chapters with time so it can get edited and such." We passed through large paneled doors into what appeared to be a warehouse. A lot of people walked past us and my heart almost leaped out of my chest as I saw Bobby Flay walking out of a bright room with his phone glued to his ear.

The fangirl in me was totally winning since I wanted to run to him and ask for an autograph but that would have looked totally unprofessional. Damn it.

Tom greeted a few people before opening the door and gesturing me to follow him inside. My breath caught in my chest as my eyes roamed all over the studio. The room was huge. There was many cameras and people walking around but my eyes were set on the brightest part of the room.

It was my dream kitchen.

Slowly, I made my way to it, admiring the vintage blue cabinets and the little pots filled with herbs lining the wall. Old-fashioned copper pots hung from the ceiling. My hand trailed on the modern electric stove as I noticed how underneath were the beautiful plates Tom takes out in every show. There were at least thirty, all in different sizes and colors. A few chipped. Those were the most beautiful ones, with handmade intricate designs painted on them.

"Cool, huh?" Tom leaned on the counter with a small grin on his face.

"My grandmother is a huge fan of yours." I smiled thinking about Juno here. She wouldn't have stayed quiet and would have probably tackled Bobby Flay to get his autograph. "And this is beautiful." I couldn't admit to him that it was disappointing to see that all the warmness and great homey vibes you get on the program are staged.

"Really? Maybe we could have her sometime," he thought aloud, "Maybe for the Christmas special, a lovely grandma on stage. It could work." I bit my lip suppressing a smile.

I was sure he was picturing a cute, quiet, adorable grandmother sitting by the fake chimney on my right. Juno was all that but definitely not quiet nor manageable.

A young girl approached Tom, carrying a tool-box. Without saying anything, she started to apply makeup to his face. Totally bursting the bubble of my favorite Chef.

This was all staged.

The homey feel. The handsome chef. Probably the food, as well.

Disappointment washed over me. However, I swallowed it all and got to prepare the food Tom asked me to. That was the worst part. He didn't even cook.

He gave me a list of ingredients and I started to cook according to the recipes some guy gave me. Once the show started, Tom would pretend to start cooking and such, but at the end of the show, he would take out my food out of the oven.

It was sad, really. I was glad Juno wasn't here. She would have been truly disappointed as well.

Almost five hours later, I finished cleaning the small kitchen I had to work in. My feet hurt, but the disenchantment beat the exhaustion by far. It was also a lot of work and I had to do it by myself.

I was finishing the last plates, when I heard Bryan's voice beside me. "Did you have fun?"

An instant smile formed in my face. "Sort of," I admitted shyly.

He leaned on the counter, watching me with those impassible eyes of his. "Was it everything that you were expecting to?"

I sighed before shaking my head. I finished washing the last plate, but I could feel his eyes following my every move.

He uncrossed his arms and pushed himself forward. "Are you hungry?"

Nodding, I left the kitchen towel on the counter. "Starving, really."

A lopsided smile tugged up in his face. "Awesome. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."

"Thank you." I was glad he was there. I felt at ease around him. As soon as the thought popped in my head, I frown.

Tom walked in as we were about to leave the set. "Thank you, man." He slapped Bryan playfully on the back. "You didn't need to bring me those papers tonight, though." His gaze turned to me and something flickered on his face before he glanced back at Bryan. "Thank you for all your help, Jessie. You can bring your grandma next time."

Bryan looked at me with an are-you-out-of-your-mind look on his face. I suppressed a smile. "Thank you."

"See you tomorrow, guys!"

Bryan's forceful strides echoed through the night as we crossed the parking lot. "Are you bringing Juno?"

I cracked up. "No! she would definitely shred him to pieces if she was here!" He chuckled. "I might have mentioned something about my grandmother and Tom imagined her as Santa's wife or something." We'd reached the car by now. "I have to be honest," my hand was on the car handle as I looked behind me, towards the warehouse, "It's sad to see that what you see in TV is not real."

Bryan's eyes were piercing as he murmured softly, "Most of this shows aren't. Hell. It's hard to find authentic people all around."

He was right, and as I climbed inside the car, I knew that the guy beside me was anything but fake.

OMG. I'm seriously loving this book.

Have a great week everyone!

Gabs