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Chapter One
“We’ll pull this out of the oven. As you can see, the cheese is golden in color and bubbling nicely.” Celebrity Chef Astrid Conway placed the oven-proof dish on the ceramic pot holder. “This dish is perfect for a cold winter’s night. Nothing like the comfort of a cheesy pasta dish to put a smile on your face. And warm your belly.”
Astrid smiled and winked at the camera while waiting for the green light above it to extinguish, her shoulders slumping and the smile slipping when it did.
“And we’re out. Good job everyone.” Basil, her show’s director clapped and smiled before coming over to where Astrid stood. “I told my wife I wouldn’t sample your dish today, but damn, this smells good.”
He went to grab one of the forks sitting on the plates that had been set up as part of the shot.
Astrid quickly lifted the dish away seconds before he dug the fork in. “Nope, not happening, Basil. This dish is going down to the homeless shelter. I promised I’d bring them something that they could add to their meal today. Not to mention I don’t want to be on the receiving end of another text message from Nancy saying that I’ve spoiled your appetite again.” Astrid smiled. She and Basil had this discussion at least three times a week while filming her show.
Basil let the fork drop to the counter with a clatter. “You’re no fun, but as you’re taking it to the shelter, I’ll forgive you this once.” He winked.
Astrid rolled her eyes. “So very generous of you. You know I do this with at least three of the meals I make.”
“I know. Just teasing you, kid. Good job today, by the way. Enjoy your day off tomorrow, and I’ll see you Wednesday.”
Astrid nodded. “Yep, see you then.”
Placing the dish back in the oven to keep warm, Astrid headed to her dressing room to change out of her clothes and take the heavy makeup she wore off. The second the door closed, Astrid leaned against it and dropped her head forward. She was exhausted. She needed more than a day off, but the show's filming schedule didn’t allow for it.
“Three more weeks. I have to get through three more weeks, and then the season is done.” It wasn’t unusual for her to talk out loud. From the second her first cooking video had gone viral, talking about what she had happening in her life, what she needed to get through, was as natural as breathing. Thinking to herself had become second nature.
Peeling herself away from the door, she headed to the make-up table. Her make-up artist had laid out everything she needed to go from television star Astrid Conway to regular Astrid.
As much as she loved cooking and was so very grateful for all that it had given her, part of her just wanted to be able to cook for people in a restaurant. Yes, the hours would be brutal, but she could be hidden in the kitchen, and no one ever needed to see her do her thing.
Unfortunately, her life was what it was and she shouldn’t be wishing for things to be opposite to what she had. Fame was fleeting, and she needed to make the most of what was happening to her right now. Take it. Run with it and build up a good reputation and a nice nest egg so that when the show finished, she could live without financial stress and then she could go work in a restaurant kitchen. Be the anonymous chef in the back—although she feared that would never happen. Not after being in the spotlight for so many years.
Would it be so bad as to be the reason people came to the restaurant?
In some respects no, but in others yes, because of the expectations that people would always have of her.
Now wasn’t the time to think about the future. Or what might or might not be. Astrid had always lived in the present, and that was what she needed to do right this moment.
Fifteen minutes later, she headed out of her dressing room when her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and smiled when she saw a message from her PR goddess, Penni. Astrid would’ve been lost without Penni’s help over the last few months.
Penni:
Hey lady! Just checking in. How did today’s show go? You haven’t forgotten that you’re needed at House of Pans tomorrow for your product launch.
Astrid inwardly groaned. She hadn’t forgotten, but she hadn’t allowed herself to think too much about it. At least when she was filming her show, if she made a mistake, they could do a re-take. When she was doing an in-person event, her nerves got the better of her and she stumbled over her words more times than she liked to admit.
Astrid:
I’m trying not to think too much about it, but yes, I know I’ve got to be there.
Penni:
You’ve got this and Knox is going to look after Logan for me, so I’ll be there as well.
Astrid smiled at that message. She’d met Penni’s Navy SEAL husband only once. He’d intimidated her, but she also swooned a little at his handsomeness. Penni was one lucky lady. Knox only had eyes for his wife and vice versa.
One day she’d love to be the center of someone’s world. The one person they couldn’t live without. But she’d have to go out and meet a guy that wasn’t looking at her as a meal ticket or a way to get his influencer career off the ground. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone on a date.
She shot off an acknowledgement to Penni, pocketed her phone, and felt the vibration of Penni’s return message. She’d read it later. What she needed to do was get the food to the shelter, then she could go home, put her feet up, and wallow in the latest episode of her favorite sitcom. It may have finished a few years ago, but thanks to streaming services, she could binge watch the series over and over to her heart’s content. The perfect way to decompress after a heavy day of shooting and get herself relaxed before her big event the next day.
An endless cycle and as much as she may mentally complain about it, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
