She wheeled the cart and the ruined cake up to the judging zone and into place between two of her competitors. She hoped nearly punching out a judge didn’t disqualify their team.
The three judges stood in a tight group near their table, whispering furiously. Once in a while Victor threw his arms about in the grand gestures she recognized from working with him. He usually did that when he felt threatened. They were joined by several other people in suits.
The contestants gathered in a small group, waiting it out. Sammy reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
She was on the edge, and one kind word would send her over.
Her heartbeat rang loud in her ears. In front of them, the group of judges broke rank and gathered at the back of their table. Over to the right, the announcer stood at the podium waiting for his cue. The female judge walked over and whispered something in his ear.
“Okay, folks,” the announcer said, his voice echoing in the now silent room. “I’m being told that the editors ofLa Patisserieand the judges will need to have a private conference. We will reconvene in thirty minutes. We are asking everyone to vacate the room.”
Robin and Sammy followed the other teams into the lobby area.
“Robin.” Sammy reached out to her. She let him take her hand. “I’m so sorry. I never should have let him get under my skin.”
She blinked hard. Tried for a teasing tone. “My cakes aren’t safe around you, are they?”
His face fell. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a sous chef.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not looking for one.” Robin wanted to say more to reassure him, but just then the husband-and-wife team came over to them.
“You sure know how to liven up a baking contest,” the husband said and lightly punched Sammy on the shoulder.
Sammy shrugged, a half smile on his face.
“I’m not sure taking out one of the judges will improve your chances,” his wife teased.
“I thought it was worth a shot,” Sammy said.
“And what a shot!” The man laughed, and he and his wife wandered off.
Sammy’s face instantly sobered, and he turned to her again. “Talk to me.”
“I feel like my chances for being recognized for my work have been turned into a joke.” Robin’s stomach sat like a stone inside.
Sammy opened his mouth, but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the ballroom doors opening. Someone with a clipboard and a headset called, “Come on back in. The judges have made their decisions.”
They all filed into the ballroom and stood in a loose semicircle around the front of the room.
“It has come to the attention of the owners of this competition that Victor LaVigne had a previous business relationship with one of the contestants.” A murmur swept through the crowd. “They have decided that this means he is unable to be impartial. He has been asked to resign as judge.”
People started shouting questions, but the announcer held up his hand for quiet. “Because the rules state that the competition will be judged by a three-person team, we will need to postpone the judging until tomorrow morning when the young bakers are set to arrive. Another approved chef will be arriving then and will take Victor’s position.”
“What about the Fox team?” someone called. Robin didn’t see who it was.
“The Fox team will not be eliminated for their unconventional approach to creating an ancient ruins.” The crowd exploded in laughter. Heat burned at Robin’s ears. “We will see all of you back here tomorrow at eight a.m. for the announcement of the winners.”
The crowd began breaking up. Several contestants came to shake their hands, but the rock still sat in Robin’s gut. She saw Victor send a glare at Sammy and then exit through a side door.
Sammy reached for her hand again, but she pulled away.
“I’m sorry, Sam. I just need to be alone.”
In the elevator up to her room, she stared at her reflection in the polished walls. A streak of frosting still smudged her cheek, and flour dusted down her apron.
So much for showing the world what she could do.
* * *
