THE TASTE TEST (#1 STEAMY CHEF SERIES)

◘ twenty-nine ◘🔥

"So why did you disappear?" I crossed one leg over the other, leaning backwards to give myself some distance from Zane. Throughout his story, I'd gotten closer, sympathetic to his plight, wanting to offer him comfort. But despite it all, he had hurt me, he had said all those things, whether or not he meant them. He hadn't earned forgiveness or full-on sympathy yet. "Why did you close everything down?"

Zane chewed on his lower lip as he dipped his chin. "I was ashamed. I told you, this is what I do—run. When something is hard, I turn away. But...this time, it wasn't so much running as it was hiding. I was angry with myself, and needed to rebel against that asshole, somehow."

"Isaac." I sucked my teeth. "A true piece of shit."

The true piece of shit, I didn't say out loud; he was the one maneuvering Zane, sure, but Zane had still consented to it. He'd been the mouthpiece, even if he didn't want to.

"The restaurant isn't closed forever. I'm working on reopening it, because...well," he offered a small smile as he looked up, "it's my life's work. It's everything to me. I can't leave it there, unused, turning to dust, you know? But the book?" He growled, glancing askance. "I want it burned. Removed from everyone's memory. It's not even my book, it's Isaac's."

My heart hurt for him. Abusive producers and agents were a real thing, and I was lucky my own agents weren't like that. Luca looked out for me and never threw me under the bus or forced me into doing anything I didn't want to. And Wendy listened to my suggestions, and only offered input when it came to editing and presentation. My publishing company respected me, and sometimes urged me to write faster, but not to print out what they wanted.

My producers, however...I snarled at the notion of Grace and Archie, high-fiving at my demise. Not that I thought they were out to get me, per se, but they took pleasure in all the drama. Of course they'd want to lift me to the top and then step back to watch me fall, crash and burn, destroying myself based on their advice. Would they massacre one of their own talents for views? Absolutely.

Grace and Archie. Fucking Grace and Archie. Hearing of Zane's plight reminded me I had power. I had options. I didn't need to sit behind those two jerks and let them dictate my show, my career.

Ideas were forming in my head, but I knew Zane needed my attention a little longer.

I studied him, how crumbled he was compared to his normal demeaning demeanor. This wasn't the Zane I'd met that night in his restaurant, embarrassing me before my peers. This wasn't the Zane who tried to show me down on the panel at the Comic Con. And this certainly wasn't the Zane who smirked snidely while watching me squirm in front of a plate of snails and a ratatouille dish.

This was the real Zane. A man with designs and hopes and dreams, and who'd been squashed by some petty shark who wanted to fuck up my life for no reason. Zane had been dragged into a situation where he had no control. All he'd wanted, all he'd needed was a little recognition for his years of hard work. His cooking skills, his lovely restaurant—it was lovely despite my bad experience there—and his true personality underneath all that bullshit.

He was a good man, who'd been dealt a shitty hand. I hated to see him like this; a fellow chef who'd been stomped on and discouraged. He'd been pushed into the negative side of the industry, the one where there were no collaborators, no friends, only enemy chefs you had to be better than.

It wasn't fair. But I also believed he could have done something about it sooner.

"You should have asked for help," I said, shaking my head. "Instead of obeying his fucked up orders, I mean. I realize you didn't have the means to fight him, but...you met me. You interacted with me. I'm Béatrice Balzac, for crying out loud. Billionaire chef, restaurateur, author. You could have told me what you were going through. I have power, I have money, I have a say in this industry. I have two agents, assistants, and an incredible legal team. And I could have helped you, Zane."