Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 119- The Final Challenge

Sunday, July 21st, 2013

"So what do we do about Janice? Is what she's done illegal?" Abel asks from the back seat.

I cock my head, wondering how Gordon could know about what happened before realizing they probably had time to discuss everything while I was getting ready.

"Illegal? Probably. Should we say anything about it? I don't think so," Gordon says thoughtfully.

"I was thinking the same thing," Abel agrees. "There are only two days left and now that we have evidence of what she's been planning while she has no evidence of anything on our end, we're better off hoping she stays quiet to protect herself."

"What about her blabbing to the sound team?" I ask nervously.

"It's Janice's job to seek dirt on people. The sound team has heard much worse speculation, I'm sure." Gordon shrugs.

"If you say so..." I try to let his words soothe me, but with everything reaching a tipping point soon, it is difficult for anything to calm me down.

"Where are we headed?" Abel asks, rubbing my shoulders over the seat.

"We're headed out to eat at a place very near and dear to me," Gordon says with a smile. I squint at him. Surely we won't be spending our second-to-last day eating then going to sleep. He's never let off any of the other finalists that easily.

"Right," Abel says, squeezing my shoulders once. It seems he doesn't believe Gordon either.

"What's it called?" I ask.

"Guess, you know me well enough," Gordon responds, tipping his head toward me with a wry smile.

I think for a second before I realize exactly where he's taking us. "Restaurant Gordon Ramsay," I say, awe slipping into my voice. Gordon's very first restaurant that has had three Michelin stars for the last twelve years, and we're going to eat there. Anticipation runs through me, mixing with anxiety. Thankfully, Abel's rubbing my shoulders keeps tension from building.

"What about after we eat, will you come back with us?" I ask hopefully.

"I'll find a way to see you before the night is over, love. But I can't come right away with all the suspicion on us. I'll see about sneaking in through the back," Gordon says with a wink. "We're almost there."

We pull past the entrance of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and I'm stunned by how small it looks.

"How many tables do you have in there?" I ask as we pull into a surprisingly empty parking lot behind a wrought-iron gate to the side of the brown brick building.

"Fourteen tables, forty-four seats," he responds proudly. "Twenty-five staff for the dining room and twenty-five staff in the kitchen."

"So at any given time you have more staff than you have patrons?" Abel inquires.

"Indeed," Gordon says, nodding.

"How many seats are there at Gordon Ramsay's London Cuisine?" I ask.

"I'd say you could pack one hundred and fifty people in if they don't mind sitting close," Gordon says as he pulls into a parking spot. "Here are your mics, before I forget." Gordon pulls a small black box from his pants pocket and unsnaps it, taking out our mics. I begrudgingly take mine from his palm and clip it to the front of my shirt.

"So you'll be entrusting us with a restaurant three times the size of your first restaurant for our first restaurant?" Abel asks, both disbelief and awe in his tone.

"Indeed, my good man. I'm sure either of you can handle it, and I'll be there to help guide you if needed. I love your saying 'first' restaurant. If you do well, undoubtedly I'll want either of you to take on more responsibility. Now, ready to eat?" Gordon opens the door of the car and gestures outside.