A Recipe for Rivalry

by Olivia Quint

  “You know, growing up,” I began in a low voice, “all I had was my mum. She was the reason I got into cooking. No one ever looked at us twice, never spared us a second thought. Mum fought hard to make every opportunity I had possible. Somehow, she even scrounged up enough to pay for my formal training.” Chloe’s crying had stopped in the meantime, but she kept resting her head on me as she paid attention to my life’s story.

  “I started going to cooking shows, then on to national contests. It was during one of those contests that I met Chef Didier as a judge. He was so impressed with my skills that he invited me to study under him, and I couldn’t refuse. He even took care of all of my travel and living arrangements here in Paris. I was to be his apprentice for a while, and then when I’d earned enough, I’d finally have enough money to bring my mum over too. I just know she’d have loved it here...”

  “I’m so sorry...” Chloe said, finally looking up at me. My thumb moved on instinct to wipe the tears from her beautiful face.

  “When I heard of mum’s death, I just lost all interest in cooking. What was the point in carrying on if I had no one left to do it for? She was all the motivation I had.”

  “How did you keep going, then?” Chloe asked, snuggling against me.

  “I kept thinking about her day after day...” I sighed. “I thought about what she’d want me to do. I realized then that she’d have wanted me to continue following my dream, not for her, but for myself. It took me some time to get my head back together, but I found my motivation again in the end. That’s why I believe you can do this too, Chloe, and as much as I hate admitting it, I really feel you’ll be the one to win this!”

  Chloe’s breathing had finally steadied, and she seemed much calmer than when I’d found her. I made a move to stand up, but she then clutched at my shirt.

  “Could you stay... at least until I fall asleep?” she asked expectantly.

  “Sure, love.” I sank back onto the sofa and stroked her hair until I felt her dozing off.

  Moments later, I lost my own battle with exhaustion and felt my eyes close too.

  Chloe

  Dawn caught me waking to the sound of gentle breathing, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. The firm yet comfortable shoulder I was resting my head on brought me quickly to my senses. I looked up to see Michael yawning and smiling at me.

  “Hey... it’s about time we woke up. Sleep well?” he said in greeting. I let him go so he could finally stand up.

  “I’m sorry for making you spend the night like this...” I replied, yet Michael just laughed as he straightened up his clothes.

  “I’m just happy I could be there for you, love. So, can I expect to see you at your stall again later?” He rolled up his sleeves, and his muscular forearms distracted me for a moment. This drew another warm smile from him. “I really hope you’ll rejoin the fight, Chloe. It wouldn’t be a competition without you,” and having said that, he winked and left the apartment.

  His life’s story played again in my head, and I realized he was entirely right. I should keep pushing on just for me, and there was still hope that my dreams would come true. I was going to hold myself to that.

  As I took a shower and prepared to face another day, the memory of Michael being there, so close to me, kept me daydreaming of... other things. I didn’t feel intimidated around him more.

  Was I starting to really like him that way?

  Chapter Six

  Michael

  There’s that tiny inner voice everyone has, telling us what’s right and wrong. I’d been listening to mine a whole lot more since meeting Chloe.

  Chef Didier had decided to give us full creative freedom over our menus after a month of working the stalls. Finally, we were free to prepare whatever we wanted – whatever would help us win.

  So far, I was still well ahead of Chloe, but she seemed to be inching steadily closer by the day. After everything that had happened between us, she was resolute in seeing her dream become a reality.

  Just then, though, I had something else on my mind.

  “Good day, ma’am, is everything all right?” I asked one of my customers. That particular middle-aged lady had become a regular of mine, and we’d talked quite a bit over the last few weeks. She told me she loved my dishes, mainly because my cooking reminded her of her son’s. Apparently, he was also a chef, which made him travel around the world a lot. The lady’s husband had passed away a few years prior, so her son was all the family she had left. Despite all that, she was usually very cheerful, but that day, her mood was visibly off.

  “Good morning, Michael, though I must’ve asked you to call me Caroline half a dozen times already,” she insisted, managing a smile. “Today is actually the fourth anniversary of my husband’s death...”

  “I’m so sorry, Caroline, I had no idea,” I replied gently.

  “No, don’t worry about it,” she said, patting the chair beside hers, motioning me to sit. “It’s just that... I usually spend this day with my son. Unfortunately, his career really took off this year, so I might not see him for another few months. My birthday is on the 29th, too, which means I’ll be spending another anniversary all alone again. I’m sorry, Michael, I shouldn’t bother you with such things...”

  “Not at all, ma’am,” I protested, then added with a smile, “today’s meal is on the house, and I’ll also wrap up something for you to eat later. It’s the least I can do! Whereabouts do you live?”

  “Actually, just around the corner, that’s why I always come around. Why do you ask?” she replied, looking at me inquisitively.

  Chloe

  Finding myself suddenly alone in front of the Génie, I wondered why Michael could’ve closed early. He was always the first to come and the last one to leave. However, that day something different happened – he’d apparently left with an older woman. Thinking nothing of it, I decided to use his absence to my advantage and even the score between us.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be waiting for me to get back, love!” his voice drew my attention after a while, just as I was serving my last customer.

  “I wanted to know whether you were okay, that’s all,” I replied, crouching to shutter my stall for the night. I was just getting back up when I found Michael standing in front of me, blocking my way with his arms crossed on his chest.

  “I made you a promise, Miss Wester, didn’t I?” It took me a moment to remember what he was talking about.

  “I promised to give you a real tour of Paris! I’ve kept wondering why you’ve stayed so long in this city and yet visited hardly anything. Well, I’m going to change all of that right now!” he declared triumphantly.

  Michael

  Chloe’s excitement at going out with me around Paris was palpable. I barely had time to knock on her door before she ran out to me, an enchanting smile gracing her face.

  “Shall we, then?” I asked. Her reply was tangling her arm with mine as I led the way out into the crisp evening air.

  We walked all the way down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, our first stop. At nighttime, it was an absolute marvel to behold, and Chloe’s gasp confirmed my opinion. The illumination from the recessed lights made it look positively monolithic in the massive Charles de Gaulle square. I looked over to Chloe and pushed her mouth closed with a finger. As we laughed and took a seat on a nearby bench, I taught her a little history.

  “The Triumphal Arch of the Star, as it’s known in English, was built on Napoleon’s orders. Its construction started in 1806 to mark his military victory at Austerlitz. Just casting its foundation took two whole years all by itself!” Looking over to Chloe, I could tell she didn’t need the history bits. She only admired its beauty, just as I admired hers.

  “So, where are we off to next?” she asked, hopping to her feet again. She was so cute when she got all excited like that.

  “Oh, I have quite a few ideas we could try... before we see the Tower, that is!”

  Chloe

  Good
food and Paris are two things that go together like Chardonnay wine and Gruyère cheese.

  Michael took me on a gourmet tour of Montmartre’s many different food stalls, and we had such a fantastic time. The myriad of flavors and tastes had been exquisitely balanced, causing my taste buds to shudder and quake. With my sense of taste already overwhelmed, it was surprising that my eyes could follow suit!

  Taking a digestive stroll down Boulevard des Batignolles, we turned left on Rue de Miromesnil toward the Seine. This led us right past the Grand Palais and its superbly colonnaded frontispiece. After that, it was only a matter of crossing the Alexandre III bridge with its exquisite art nouveau street lamps and taking a walk down the south bank of the river toward Jardins du Trocadéro. It was only then that I could appreciate the majesty of Paris’ most iconic landmark.

  To say that the Eiffel Tower is massive would be doing it a disservice. Seeing it up close for the first time was beyond anything I could have imagined. Every frame of its gigantic metal sculpture was set aglow by artful illumination. It seemed almost alive, like it had a soul of its own – and a beautiful one at that!

  Even Michael, who kept going on and on about its architectural significance, looked downright statuesque with the moon’s reflection and electric lights gently caressing his features. Whether I let myself admit it or not, that thing between us was starting to be more than just a crush, more than just me “liking” him. It was actually fast becoming something a whole lot more...

  Michael walked me home that night, too, as had become traditional of him by then. That time, though, he held my hand the entire way. I don’t think he noticed when he started doing it, but I wasn’t prepared for him to let go just yet. It got increasingly colder as we reached my place, and I knew Danielle was out of town for another glamorous event... So, I decided to take my chances.

  “Uhm... I wouldn’t mind if you stayed over again, you know,” I started, suddenly struggling with my words. Michael flashed me a warm smile as he placed his hand on the small of my back.

  “I’m sorry, love, but I have to go home now,” he said as he drew me into a tight hug. I couldn’t raise any objections to that. After what seemed like a long time, I decided to let go of him before the chill got through his light jacket.

  I was just turning toward my building when I got pulled back into his arms. Michael then kissed me gently, wordlessly, his left hand making its way to my face, while his right held me close to him.

  It was the best kiss I’d ever had. My body replied to his touch eagerly, and my arms wrapped around his neck as through a will of their own. After a good long while, his soft lips parted from mine, and I looked into his deep brown eyes before noticing the night had got several shades darker in the meantime.

  I thus urged him to go home, and with an ecstatic grin on my face, I finally stepped inside the apartment building. As I waited for the elevator, my knees still felt weak after Michael’s unexpectedly pleasant goodnight.

  Chapter Seven

  Chloe

  The restaurant air usually kept a lingering sweet bouquet of exotic spices that easily made one’s mouth water. One might not have been hungry in the moment, but the urge to at least try something would inevitably surface.

  That day, however, my mouth was entirely parched. Our competition was only too quickly drawing to a close, and just then, we only had a single day left. We’d not been allowed to glance at each other’s accounts, but I still had the sickening feeling that Michael was miles ahead, with no possible way for me to ever catch up to him anymore.

  Chef Didier always seemed to have something to do that kept him permanently on his feet. That day, it was a lengthy phone call, during which I heard him mention the name Bisset a lot. Michael and I waited for him to finish and then handed over our ledgers for him to mule over.

  “Fletcher...” he started. “I can see a clear upward trajectory for you, it seems something has changed for the better. Good work, indeed!”

  The Chef was right, something had changed. Michael’s mood had shot through the roof those last few days, and I loved it when he said it was all thanks to me.

  Nevertheless, we tried keeping things professional between us, for the sake of our competition. On the last leg of our clash, things had become increasingly difficult. I longed to taste Michael’s sweet lips again, and I was confident he felt the same way, but we were still rivals at the end of the day. I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way of my life-long dream. If there was a way to share that opportunity with him, I’d have jumped on it immediately, but I didn’t see how that could possibly happen. I still have to win!

  “Chloe, très bon, this is incredible! You’ve made remarkable progress of late. Tell me, how are you bringing in so many customers all of a sudden?”

  “Well, I tried a bit of everything initially, but nothing seemed to really stick,” I started. “Thus, I decided to explore a little. I personally went and researched many successful restaurants and cafés around Paris. While they were all unique, all of them had one thing in common – they catered to a very particular clientele. Therefore, I found a way to make my own style known by putting a “piece of myself” in every dish I prepared. I pushed my creativity to the limits and stopped preparing generic meals that others have perfected.”

  “I’m so proud to see how far you’ve come, Chloe!” He adjusted his weight on the chair and leaned in closer toward us. “Both of you are nearly tied by this point, actually. It’s been a real pleasure to watch you grow as chefs in your own unique ways. After this weekend, your final day will start! I’d advise you both to relax and rest your creative muscles as best you can until then. Next Monday, the 29th, marks the official end of your competition. We shall meet again the day after that, to see which one of you will get to live their dream. Bonne chance!”

  Michael

  “I really wish this wasn’t a competition...” Chloe mused as we remained alone in the Génie. Chef Didier had left us again in a hurry, as usual, but his words still lingered in the air. “I wish the prize wasn’t just for one of us, Michael. I wish for so many things...”

  “I understand full well how you feel, love,” I said, squeezing her hands in mine. “I don’t know how this will end, but I do know I’ve become a better chef and a better person because of it. We have one more day to be rivals, but for now, I want us to enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out to show you one of my favorite places in Paris.” I leaned back into my seat for emphasis before continuing.

  “We’ll be visiting the Musée d’Orsay!”

  Chloe

  Michael had been right, as always – Musée d’Orsay was nothing short of amazing!

  He once again took on the mantle of my personal tour guide. After a leisurely stroll through the main hall, he led me to his favorite exhibit in all of France: Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s enchanting masterpiece Bal du moulin de la Galette. That vibrant painting made me reminisce about our own visit to the bustling district of Montmartre. I felt it was the greatest tribute to the concept of joie de vivre I’d ever seen.

  “You know what, love?” Michael asked as we resumed our walk past the artworks. “Coming here reminded me that we, too, create art in our own way. The dishes we make, the way we present them to people, the joy we bring them – it’s art, all of it! You and I both have an extraordinary gift for making others happy. After coming this far, you’ve no reason not to believe in yourself and your dream.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “What I’m trying to say is, whatever happens next week won’t change how I feel about you. And... I hope it won’t change how you feel about me, either.”

  “It won’t, don’t worry,” I promised Michael and then hugged him. Danielle would’ve been over the moon to see us that way.

  Danielle... Oh, shiiit!

  “Michael, I just realized that I forgot to pick up my keys when I left home earlier, and Danielle is out of town again until tomorrow... I’m locked out of my apartment!”

  I could only see
one solution to that predicament, so I had to ask. “You’ve got two bedrooms, though... is there any chance I could stay with you just until she gets back? I won’t be a bother, I promise!”

  “It’s all right, love, it would be my pleasure to have you over for tonight!” Michael winked conspiratorially.

  Chapter Eight

  Chloe

  I remembered the last time I looked at those same windows, but from the backseat of a sedan parked outside his building.

  Unlike the messy apartment I was sharing with Danielle, everything was perfectly ordered in Michael’s pad. It was funny, but I felt like his place was actually waiting for that second person to come into his life. Michael stepped in behind me and locked the door.

  “I know you’re not hungry anymore, but would you like something to drink?” he asked, always the gracious host.

  “No, I’m fine, thank you,” I started, then remembered there was actually something I really needed. “Could I maybe get a spare change of clothes? I didn’t come with anything but the ones on my back, after all...” My predicament made him chuckle.

  “Don’t worry, I think I might have some things your size!” Michael disappeared into another room for a moment, then came back with a sports shirt – hockey, I surmised – and a pair of boxers. “Would these do?” he asked me, smiling.

  I nodded as I took them from him, slightly embarrassed. I then went into the room he’d come out of and closed the door behind me. I took off the casual dress I was wearing, along with my bra, leaving only my underwear on. Dressing in his clothes, I noticed his T-shirt smelled of his perfume – a mélange of heavy rain and damp wood that I found utterly intoxicating. I looked around the room, and it was obviously the bedroom he slept in. There was a large bed pressed against the opposite wall, neatly made with navy sheets, a large wardrobe next to it, and a corner bookcase filled with books on world cuisine. As I walked around the room, I heard a knock on the door before Michael’s head popped in timidly.