Finding Lika

The Seven Challenges

Henry unceremoniously dropped the plate on one of the kitchen work table.

Chef Kitori eyed the unfinished dish of Smoked Chicken California Roll, studying what supposed to be the dotted sweet soy sauce garnish. The chef swiped on one of the dots and gave it a taste–oyster sauce. Impossible.

The chef went back all the way towards the kitchen and grabbed paper sheets hanging on the wall before making his way back to Henry and gave it to him.

"It's the requisition form list for tonight's event. All ingredients we used is listed in there. Tonight, we do not use oyster sauce," he explained as Henry turn over the page, eyes scanning the ingredient lists.

Chef Kitori turned to the working staff member of his kitchen, and with an authoritative voice spoke. "Everyone. Stop what you're doing and empty your pockets. Now."

Henry frowned, following just behind the chef as they circled around the kitchen. Chef Kitori's eyes were dagger as he observed everyone. Scanning for any sign of nervousness or fear. His reputation was on the line.

Along their search, there was a young man carrying a bottle of dark liquid that turned out to be cough syrup. Aside from that, there was no one carrying anything resembling what had garnished Annika's dish this evening.

Eventually, Chef Kitori proved that he or his team had nothing to do with the incident that evening, while at the same time reinforced the fact that someone on purposely tried to harm his fiancee.

"My sous chef did the sushi under my observation and I was the one doing the sweet soy sauce garnish specifically for Miss Mendez' meal. This," Chef Kitori nudged the long, white sushi plate with distaste, "Someone else wiped the garnish I made and replaced it with oyster sauce. Not me. Not my staff."

"Do you see anyone around the dish before it was served?" asked Henry.

"Me, my sous chef, a waiter. We even took precautions and make sure Miss Denali had a last quality check before food is served."

Lika.

Henry's heart went up to his throat.

***

Henry Kingsley's study room had never felt more cold, even before with its glistening chrome accent that lined the dark wallpaper ever so tastefully, and the sleek obsidian glass desk sitting neatly in the center of the room.

Lika stared at Henry dumbfounded; bile made its way up her throat.

Henry ran his hand on his dark curls, a bitter laugh escaped him. He rubbed his tense jaw, shaking his head at her. Lika's eyes stung the moment she saw the arctic in his usually gentle blue eyes.

"Don't," he warned.

"You don't believe that," Lika choked, her eyes pleading, "I would never–"

"Save it!" Henry snapped, his eyes both fiery and cold, "Do you not realize what you've done? You almost killed my bride before I even marry her!"

Lika's shoulders shook as she cried, unable to hold her feelings back. There was no sympathy in Henry's gaze when he looked at her.

"Un-fucking-believable," he cussed, angrily  took out his frustration at a pile of books sitting on top of his desk and threw them all in one swipe of his strong hands across the floor. Lika flinched. The pain in her chest and stomach multiplied as he turned his body away from her, opting instead to look at the clear window overlooking the mini forest he had in his home.

He hated it when Lika cried. A part of Henry would always drawn to comfort her. But this time, she was out of line. She and Annika didn't always see eye to eye–this Henry noticed. But it never even crossed his mind that Lika would do something so despicable.