Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 62- Lunch and a Surprise

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

In the dining room of Hell's Kitchen, there is a single table set up with five placemats. Gordon is sitting at one of the settings, deep in thought with his face set in a disgruntled expression. When he notices us, he beams, his earlier look almost completely wiped from his face. He waves us over.

"Welcome back, Chefs! Did you have a good time?"

"We sure did, Chef!" Dave replies giddily as he pulls out a chair to the right of Ramsay. When he sits, he waves into the red kitchen. I look over as I take a seat on Ramsay's other side and see Bella wiggle her fingers back at Dave before getting back to her pans. Kalyani sits next to Dave and Abel sits at my other side.

"The red team should be out with our food in a few minutes. In the meantime, tell me how your laser tag adventures went," Gordon requests as he looks around the table waiting for someone to start.

"Well, we were the final four competitors even going against a big group of teenagers, so that was neat," Kalyani begins. "But Abel and (Y/N) got the win."

"So Abel and (Y/N) were a pair?" He raises an eyebrow suspiciously. "Were you and Dave a pair too?"

Dave and Kalyani nod at the same time.

"Honestly, Abel did all the work. I just followed along." I shrug, remembering my abysmal accuracy score.

Abel gives me an incredulous look.

"You were better than I could have hoped for in a partner. You listen well and you were smart about what our next move should be. Just because I've had practice shooting doesn't mean you didn't put in equal effort."

I notice Ramsay narrow his eyes as Abel compliments me. I dip my head, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Dave purses his lips. "Abel's right, you know. A team is only as strong as the weakest member, and you guys won, so you must be pretty strong! And with your bum legs too!"

"What's wrong with your legs?" Gordon turns towards me with a worried look.

"It's nothing Chef, just exhausted after all I went through yesterday. I should be fine by tomorrow," I blow off his concern, hoping he doesn't think I'll slow down tomorrow's service. A hurt expression flashes across his features before he composes himself. I feel a pang in my chest at having made him feel slighted.

A moment later, Bella and Red approach the table with bowls of salad.

"First course, Caesar salad!" Bella announces as she puts her plates in front of Kalyani and Dave. She kisses the top of Dave's head before she runs back into the kitchen with a grin. Red drops off Gordon, Abel, and my salad and follows Bella back to the kitchen whilst avoiding Gordon's eyes. Maybe she thinks he'll start critiquing her salad, but he picks up his fork and starts eating.

We follow his cue and eat our salad. A few minutes later, Bella and Red return with plates of New York strip steaks and set them in front of us.

I chow down on my steak, soothing my ravenous belly. Though I didn't run, my body still had to do a lot of work to carry around the vest and gun for an hour, so I'm starving.

Lastly, dessert is brought out. This time Taylor and Gina carry out slices of strawberry cheesecake to us. Taylor squeezes my shoulder after she lays my plate down and I smile at her. She mouths 'miss you' to me and I nod solemnly.

The cheesecake is delicious and fresh, I finish my slice off before everyone else but Dave. Abel pushes his slice towards me. I turn to him with a questioning look.