The Broken Vow

4

Author's note: Thank you so much for the amazing response on the last chapter. Can we please try to get 85 votes on this chapter?

         

Aahana Agnihotri 

Cook & Connect

That was the activity I had reluctantly chosen to participate in for the day. Only because it was the kind of event my parents would surely deem beneath them. They were probably busy schmoozing with clients and impressing investors at the golfing event. My mother tried to come into my room last night, but I didn't open the door. I didn't know what she wanted to talk to me about, probably to berate me for something. She eventually gave up and left me alone.

The moment I entered the hotel's conference room, I was tempted to turn right back around, because surrounded by a gaggle of giggling women, was the man who had apparently vowed to ruin my vibe everytime we interacted. Quietly, I began to retreat.

"Aahana Ma'am," a voice called out, loud enough to draw the attention of nearly everyone in the room. "Are you going to be joining us today?"

Glancing over, I found Adarsh staring right at me, an infuriating smirk playing on his lips. There was no way I was leaving– my pride wouldn't allow it.

Squaring my shoulders, I turned to the woman who had addressed me. "Yes."

"Wonderful! Thank you so much for being here, ma'am. I really hope you like it," she chirped, handing me a crisp white apron. I slipped it on, my yellow dress a striking contrast against the stark fabric. The other participants, already adorned in their own aprons, greeted me with wide smiles and polite nods.

Nodding in return, I moved to stand in the center of the room as the event coordinator took the microphone. "Welcome, everyone, to our Corporate Cook-Off Challenge!" she announced cheerfully. "Today, you'll be working in pairs to create a three-course meal. The twist? Each pair will be cooking a different cuisine from around the world. You'll find your cuisines, the recipe cards and ingredients on your workstations. If you have any questions or need help, please wave one of the hotel staff down."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. I, however, felt a knot of dread forming in the pit of my stomach. Pair work. Why did it always have to be pair work? The idea of making small talk with any of these people was positively torturous.

"In the pocket of your apron, you'll find a colored piece of paper," the coordinator continued. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a blue chit. Of course. With my luck being what it was lately, I knew exactly who I would be paired with. Sure enough, Adarsh Khanna strode towards me, his blue chit held aloft.

"If I didn't know better, I would think you are stalking me," he quipped, a teasing lilt to his voice.

My jaw clenched as I glared at him. "I think you seem to forget that I'm your employer, and you can't speak to me like that."

"Your father is my employer," he corrected like the know-it-all he thought he was. "You don't even come to the office."

As we approached our designated cooking station, Adarsh bumped his shoulder against mine. "Ready, partner?"

Shaking my head, I picked up the recipe card, desperate to finish this stupid event so I could be anywhere else. Literally anywhere else. Adarsh leaned in close, close enough that I could smell his subtle cologne and feel his warm breath tickling the side of my neck. I took a subtle step to the side, but it did nothing to alleviate the palpable tension between us.

Scanning the card, I spoke up. "We should begin with the tiramisu since it needs time to set. Then we can work on the pasta dough as it needs to rest. The Caprese salad and Alfredo sauce can be done last."