Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 127- The Finale Part 1/5

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

"(Y/N) and Abel, to the front, please?" Gordon shouts for us from the head of the pass. I hurry over to him, standing at attention next to Abel.

"Are you two ready for your final dinner service? No turning back now," Gordon says, his eyes conveying the gravity of his words as he flits them between us.

"Yes, Chef," we affirm.

"Good, do the honours with me?" Gordon asks, turning to face the dining room. "JP?"

"Oui, Chefs?" JP responds, setting down a wine glass and moving his hands behind his back.

"Say it with me now," Gordon prompts us.

"Please open Hell's Kitchen," we say together.

JP nods, turning curtly on his heel and approaching the entrance's double doors. I watch the patrons enter, my eyes slowly wandering to Gordon, who smiles gently.

"Good luck, you two," Gordon says, motioning for us to take our positions.

Abel and I stand at the head of our kitchens, waiting with eager anticipation for JP to approach with the first of our orders. I flash Abel a smile, and he returns it with a small dip of his head.

JP arrives, handing Abel a ticket before leaning over the pass and handing me mine.

I should have an advantage over Abel considering I've been in the Head Chef position before, thanks to a reward. I push myself to recall everything Gordon had said the first time I was on the pass. Read and re-read the tickets. I'm both the first and last line of defense for my kitchen, and in the end, the customer is depending on me for a great dining experience. And I'm going to make sure every single one of my customers know in their hearts that I deserve to win.

"First table," I peer at the ticket for a third time just in case, "three top, table four. Two lobster rossejat and one quail egg with potato croquettes, time?"

"Ten minutes sound good, everyone?" Shaun shouts to my brigade.

"Ten minutes is fine!" Bella agrees.

"Be sure to tell Shaun when you're five minutes out on that lobster, alright Bella?"

"Yes, Chef!"

I could get used to this new Bella...

"Chef?" JP's hurried voice comes from over my shoulder. I turn and take the next ticket from him with an apologetic smile.

Huh, two lobster and two quail. I can't help feeling like my poor scallops are being shafted. Oh well. As I get the dishes for the upcoming apps set out at the pass, my eyes slip to Gordon, who is pacing the floor of the blue kitchen. He's working with us both, but only as support. I hope I can catch any mistakes that come to the pass before he does.

How can I prove myself to be a more competent chef than Abel? A cursory glance in his direction shows him discussing something with Scott, who is nodding in agreement with his words.

Maybe I can pick up the pace and bolster the quality if I have Taylor floating between stations until dinner service. She will not be doing much on meats until entrees, anyway.

"Taylor, can you come here for a sec?" I ask.

Tay jumps and rushes over. "Yeah, Chef?" Her eyes sparkle as she looks at me.

"Would you mind floating between stations until entrees? I could use a second pair of eyes."

"Of course," Taylor says, nodding furiously. "Anything else?"