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Ray laughs and nods his head. “It’s my school. I can do what I want, when I want. Just think of it this way, you’re on a scholarship, and you must maintain high marks to keep it. It’s not often I do something like this, so I’m telling you now, I expect great things from you. I’m welcoming you into my school without knowing your skill level, or even tasting your food, because I trust Bradley.”
I’m trembling and don’t even bother to fight back the tears forming in my eyes. “I won’t let either of you down, I swear,” I say. “I’m going to work harder than anyone you’ve ever seen.”
“I believe you,” he says with a smile. “Now dry those tears, and go celebrate. This is a special moment for you, and you deserve to go have some fun with it.”
I gather all the paperwork and get to my feet. “I’ll be here bright and early every day once classes start,” I say. “You can definitely count on me.”
“Good,” says Ray. “Get those info sheets back to me as soon as you can so I can get you set up in the system and order your supplies.”
We shake hands again and he politely walks me to my car. I slide in before patiently waiting for him to go back inside before I start screaming.
I can’t believe this just happened. I just got in one of the most prestigious culinary schools in this country… for free! I’m stunned he let me in right there on the spot, without even asking me to cook something to showcase my skills. I’m not sure what Bradley said to him to make Ray have so much faith in me and my abilities, but I’m eternally grateful.
No matter what, I can’t jeopardize Bradley’s reputation by letting him down, and I certainly can’t risk embarrassing myself.
I drive back to the hotel in a complete daze. Despite how crappy things have been lately, this bit of good news almost makes everything worth it. Ray is right, I deserve to celebrate.
I park the car and practically skip over to the bar inside the lobby to order some well-deserved room service. My meal’s price is a hefty one, but I don’t care about any of that right now. This is my moment and I’m going to enjoy it no matter the cost. The folder is clutched in my hands and I can’t wait to get upstairs and start going through it.
I kick the door to the room closed behind me, slipping off my shoes as I plop down on the bed just as the hotel phone starts to ring.
That was fast. Room service must be calling to let me know my order will be up soon or that there is a problem with my order.
“Hello?”
Chapter 30
ASHER
I check my phone for the hundredth time, but there’s still no word from Nathan. Even though my world is falling apart all around me, I still mustered up the strength to go to work, sitting through one boring meeting after the next. Contracts and business deals used to consume every waking moment of my life, but right now I want nothing more than to be out looking for Jade. I can’t even pretend to care about the proposals being presented.
Nathan said he would find her, and I should just trust that he will. He’s never let me down before. I stare off into space, oblivious to the fact that my name is being called and all my colleagues are staring at me.
“Huh, what?”
“The projections,” says Joe, waving a thick stack of papers at me. “We’re still waiting on you to sign off on everything so we can move forward. Have you had a chance to go over the documents yet? We were hoping to get this squared away today.”
I flip through the huge stack of papers in front of me and my mind draws a blank. Usually, I have things highlighted, with several pages of my own notes to go over, but this is the first time I’ve laid eyes on these documents, and there’s no telling what kind of deal has been contracted.
Is it a front-loaded deal, or will there be installments? Have the inspections been completed for us to get the necessary permits? The honest answer is, I have no clue, therefore I don’t know where to start with my line of questioning.
“Um,” I begin. “I haven’t looked at these just yet, but I will. Things have been a little hectic lately, but I’ll be back on top of everything soon.”
Joe looks around the room, and I see the nervous glances being exchanged between everyone.
They’re starting to doubt me, and to be honest, I would too.
“I’m more than happy to hand this off to someone else if they want it,” I say. “It’s not mandatory that I be the one to review it.”
