Page 17 of Culinary Chaos
“You mean your plan of action?” Josef sat down next to her. “What happened?”
“I’m going to suggest termination of Bryant and the current chef they have.” Angelica flicked her gaze to him. “But we’re going to need a backup plan to come in temporarily in order to keep things moving along here.”
“Any suggestions?”
Angelica let out a little sigh, her gaze flicking back to the door. She wished Hope hadn’t left just yet. She wanted to see what she was made of, if she would be able to find solutions—creative ones—when they needed it the most. But she wasn’t here for that any longer. Which left Angelica in charge of this part of the process.
Perhaps it was because Hope didn’t understand everything that was going into this show.
It was just one more reason that Hope wasn’t the right person for this job.
“Angelica?”
“I’ll call in a favor for the hotel management. I can probably have someone in place before we start filming. As for the chef…” That was a bit outside of her normal contacts, which was why she’d wanted to partner with someone who knew more about that realm than she did. And she was saddled with Hope Lawrence, celebrity chef who had a daytime cooking show, owned a couple restaurants she probably barely visited, and got this job because her husband was an assistant director. If Angelica had any other choice, she would have taken it.
“You might want to talk to Hope about that,” Josef said.
“I will.” Though she didn’t want to. Angelica crossed her arms and stared down at the table. “They’re filming interviews tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
Angelica already knew that. But she was asking just to confirm that Josef knew it. They would do the backstory interviews on the owners and staff, collect more information, and start actual filming. The thought of that sent jitters through Angelica’s body. She’d worked on this side of the business before, she’d opened her own hotels to filming decades ago, butshe’d never much been one for being on the screen—though she had on occasion.
The directors and producers had all said she was a natural behind the camera. Angelica had just treated it like it wasn’t there.
“They won’t survive after we leave,” Angelica whispered, flicking her gaze to Josef. “Or if they do, then they have more gumption than I can determine.”
“Maybe we should do a follow-up episode next season on all the places we visit this year.” Josef’s dark eyes locked on hers. “You and Hope can go back and visit, and it’ll add a second connection.”
“If we make it to a second season,” Angelica mumbled, not quite sure she wanted to say that out loud, but also needing it to be in the room. Because that was her fear, every second of last night and today. That somehow they wouldn’t make it beyond the first season. That as soon as they started filming the first full episode everything would fall apart in seconds.
“Don’t let anyone else hear you talk like that.” Josef eyed her. “You knew this was a risk when you were approached for the project.”
“A calculated one.” Angelica pursed her lips, eyeing him back directly. “You said you could make it happen.”
“And I have, for this season.” Josef leaned over the table toward her. “Just make sure you’re not the reason it fails, and we’ll have a second season, even if we have to find a new chef to work with you.”
Angelica’s heart sped up. She’d never seen Josef look so serious before.
“I know how you work, Ange. And I know what a hard-ass you can be, but this isn’t your world anymore. It’s mine. Don’t fuck it up.” Josef pointed at her before sliding back.
Angelica nearly trembled, but she didn’t. She held her ground. She and Josef had become decent friends for a while there, at least decent work acquaintances. He came to her when he had a filming project, and she would bend over backward to make sure he had what he needed to get his project done.
She’d never thought she’d be on this side of the camera back then. But now? How would this change their work life? Would she ruin yet another business connection while trying to do something new?
That was always the risk, wasn’t it?
“I’m not the only one who can fuck things up, Josef.” She eyed him carefully, not backing down. She hated threats, even ones that were founded. And she wasn’t going to let him get under her skin. She just had to remember that she didn’t have any friends here, and like she’d told Hope, she wouldn’t ever have friends here. This was work and nothing else. “Next week will show us if this will truly work or not.”
“I know it will.” Josef shook his head slightly and stood up. “It’ll show me if you were really ready for this or not. I fought for you, Ange. Don’t make me regret my decisions.”
He walked away, leaving Angelica alone in the conference room. She leaned back in the chair, sighing heavily. The weight on her shoulders was so much. Didn’t he see that? Even if he did, he wouldn’t care. He wasn’t there to care about her, he was there to care about the show, and nothing else. And in all fairness, that was exactly why she was there.
She had to make this work.
She never failed at anything.
Standing up sharply, Angelica walked quickly away from the table and out of the room. She walked directly toward the restaurant and kitchen, knowing that was exactly where she would find Hope. Angelica stepped into the kitchen and froze.
