Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 16- Communication Relay

Friday, June 28th, 2013

"Come on! Hurry up! Wake up everyone!" shouts the familiar voice of Christina from the common area of the dorms.

Groaning emits from about half the beds around me. The red team did not take well to having 2/3rds of its members up on the execution block last night. The emotional toll it took on us is clearly evident in the fact that it takes us quite some time to exit the bedrooms.

"Chef Ramsay has a challenge prepared for you all, you don't want to keep him waiting! Get dressed fast and come on down." Christina claps her hands then heads downstairs.

After donning our chef jackets, we scurry down the stairs and line up in front of the kitchens. Ramsay stands at the very front, looking as lively and energetic as he always does.

"Good morning, everyone. After yesterday's complete failure at communication, I thought I'd give you all an opportunity to redeem yourself. This will also be your challenge for today. I'll just go ahead and let you know, you do not want to lose this one." He watches us carefully.

"Yes, Chef!" we collectively shout.

"Excellent. For today's challenge, you will be preparing our standard menu," he claps his hands together before raising a finger in the air and continuing, "but only one of you will be in the kitchen at a time. Each of you will have five minutes. Blue team, two of you will have to go twice. I'm going to need one rack of lamb, one risotto, one scallop, one salmon and one medium rare filet, got it?"

"Yes, Chef!" we affirm.

"Then quickly decide who will be going first on your team. You will have thirty seconds now to decide your order of chefs, and then fifteen seconds when you trade off to communicate what needs to be done next in your dishes. Keep everything organized! Ready?" he pauses for a moment before shouting, "GO!"

Red team forms a circle and deliberate on our order of chefs. We settle on Kalyani, Gail, Gina, Taylor, Bella, myself, Red and finally Cindy. With places decided, Kalyani rushes into the kitchen.

Watching Kalyani work is almost like watching a perfectly concordant ballet dance. She swiftly organizes everything, preps the meats and starts up the ovens. She was definitely the correct person to pick to go first. Hopefully, her meticulous organization will keep us all on track.

Ramsay is heading up the kitchens, watching each of the teams work. Most of the red and blue team members are lined up directly outside the kitchens, either watching their teammates silently or shouting what they think to be helpful comments.

I take this time to covertly make my way closer to Ramsay. I have no way of talking to him or getting his attention but dammit, I can't help my desire to be near him.

When I arrive at his side, his eyes flash towards me for a second, then back to the kitchens. A slow burn starts in my cheeks. The corner of his lips twitch in the ghost of a smile, but since the cameras are on and rolling, he keeps his eyes ahead and focused.

In no time, Gail, Gina, and Taylor have traded off in the kitchen. Bella is in there now, working on the risotto. She also keeps an eye on the rack of lamb that Taylor had started previously.

"Next!" shouts Ramsay, spurring Bella away from the stove. I run into the kitchen and meet up with her.

"Alright, risotto is on, put the lamb in the oven. Don't forget to start the filet, I have the skillet warm for you already," Bella states, being cooperative for once.

"Sounds good, thanks," I respond while tying an apron around myself.

"Chat time is over, your five minutes start now," Ramsay booms over the kitchen chatter.