Soul Sweet (19 page)

Chapter Twelve

Misha shifted on top of the bed and groaned groggily as the sound of knocking roused her. “I just wanted a little catnap.” With a weary sigh, she got up and walked to the door. She opened it and blinked in shock when she saw Serene, Ava and Josie.

“Surprise!”

Misha’s mouth fell open as they laughed at her reaction. “Oh, my goodness. What are you guys doing here?” She hugged each of them as they stepped inside her hotel room. She wagged her finger at her sister. “I just talked to you and you didn’t say a word about this.”

Serene giggled. “What would be the fun in that? We all wanted to be here for your big win tonight.”

Misha shut the door and followed the women into the tiny sitting area with an exaggerated sigh. “
Possible
win.”

Ava gave her another tight squeeze. “You’re always so modest. We’ve missed your voice of reason since you’ve been out here.”

“I can’t believe you all came.” Misha shook her head in amazement. “I can’t believe all of you kept this under wraps.”

Josie gave her an apologetic shrug. “Your sister was adamant we keep our trip here secret.” She gestured around the space Misha had been living in for the past few weeks. “This is a nice suite.”

“Yes, it is.” Ava plopped down on her bed. “And to think I was feeling sorry for you being cramped up in a hotel room. Your room is much bigger than the one we’ve got to share overnight.”

“When did you guys get in?” Misha asked, conscious of her rumpled appearance. She’d left Cameron only a few hours before, got in and crashed.

“An hour ago.” Serene opened the mini bar, took out a bottle of water then closed it. “I called this room.”

Ava wiggled her phone. “And then I called your cell”—Misha nodded as Ava’s gaze drifted over Cameron’s oversized sweatshirt and the black leggings she wore—“before we came by here.”

“You did?” Misha crossed her arms under her breasts and the movement brought a tantalising whiff of Cameron’s scent up to her nose.

“Where were you so early in the morning?” Serene opened a bottle of water, checking out her attire like her friends.

“I was having coffee.”

It wasn’t a lie. She’d woken up to Cameron kissing her cheek with a cup of coffee in his hand.

Ava chuckled. “Damn, would you look at the smile, ladies?”

“What?” Misha blinked, not even realising she had grinned.

“Yeah.” Serene took a sip as she put one hand on her hip. “You don’t get
that
kinda smile from Starbucks.”

Josie sat down and waved her hand. “Hey, I smile every time I get a good cup of java.” Her friend peered at her closer. “But I have to agree with them, you look like you had more than a stellar cup of Joe.”

“You were with Chef Sexy, weren’t you?” Serene squealed. “Did he bring you coffee in bed?”

“Oooh, girl, details!” Ava looked at Serene. “You were right, she’s got it bad for this guy.”

“Totally understandable. He’s gorgeous.” Josie sighed. “He always makes me chuckle with his one-liner cracks on the show. It’s not fair—he can cook too.”

Misha smiled, thinking about how he always got her to laugh. “Cameron is funny.”

“But we’re not talking about his sense of humour right now.” Ava wagged her finger at her. “So, were you with him?”

“Yes, and that’s all I’m going to say.” Misha shook her head and held up her hands as her friends booed her. “Look, let me take a quick shower. I don’t have much time to spend with you guys before the show, but I want you to see some of the cool sights here in the city.”

“Sounds great, but I need some
coffee.
” Josie fell back dramatically in her chair with her hand over her heart and Serene and Ava snickered. She shrugged at Misha’s sardonic glare. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

“C’mon, guys.” Josie moved towards the door. “Let’s let her get dressed.”

“Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be ready.”

“Twenty minutes?” Ava got up from the bed, glanced at her watch and back at Misha with a sceptical look. “Really?”

Misha nodded. “Twenty-five minutes, tops.” She walked past Josie, opened the door and turned around. “You know I can move fast when I need to. What room are you guys in?”

Ava and Josie stepped into the hallway. “All right. Come down to room four ten when you’re ready to go. You coming, Serene?”

“In a minute. I need to talk to my sister first.”

Misha waved goodbye to her friends, closed the door and pivoted to face Serene who’d moved to sit on her bed. “You’re going to make it take me longer than twenty-five minutes to get ready.” She moved past her sister to her suitcase.

Her sister sighed. “I’ll talk fast. I know you spoke to Kaden.”

Misha paused. “How did he sound?”

“Distracted. Sad. He sounded a mess.” Serene shook her head. “He called me last night. I can’t believe it.”

“I know. I can’t either.” Misha pulled out a pair of tights. “Neither one of them ever hinted at the fact their marriage was in trouble.”

“Mom and Dad are going to flip when they hear about this. They’re always talking about how perfect those two are for each other.”

“I know.” Misha laid the sweater dress she’d picked out to wear on the bed. “I’m just hoping they can work it out somehow.”

“Would you forgive your husband if you found out he’d had an affair?” Serene asked, following her into the bathroom.

“I don’t know what I’d do.” Misha turned on the shower. “It would depend on the circumstances.”

Serene scoffed. “What circumstances? He fucked up, literally. I love our brother, but I’m not sure if I was in Aimee’s place I could stay with him. Forgive, yes, eventually, but try to repair the damage in the marriage as a result of his infidelity afterward? I don’t know.”

Misha stuffed her hair beneath a shower cap. “Don’t say that to him.”

“I wouldn’t, but I’m telling you.” Serene sighed again. “Let’s go to see him together when you get done winning this thing.”

Misha directed her sister out of the bathroom. “I could lose. Jackson’s no punk in the kitchen.”

“Too bad it isn’t all left up to Cameron. We both know you’d win hands down.” Serene giggled. “
His
hands all up and down.”

“Hush!” Misha started closing the bathroom door, ignoring the rush of heat her sister’s words evoked and the erotic flashbacks of Cameron touching her. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Toodles.” Serene wiggled her fingers with one hand and blew her a kiss with the other as Misha shut the bathroom door.

* * * *

Four hours later, Misha waved to her sister and friends already seated in the
Celeb Chef
audience. She made her way towards her station, greeted her crew and gave the necessary pep talk for the upcoming showdown. Misha smiled as they applauded her, trying to mentally quell the butterflies in her stomach. She glanced over at the judges’ table, but none of them had taken their seats yet. Her cell vibrated in her pocket and she stepped off to the side to read the new text from Cameron.

Don’t be nervous. You’re an amazing chef.

Smiling, Misha replied.

You’re biased. Make sure you judge fairly and thank you.

Cameron’s response came back ultra-fast.

I will be fair. I am biased, but I will not be swayed by how sweet you taste tonight, I promise.

Misha’s heart pounded against her chest as she read his words. More than anything, she wanted the show to be over. The stress of competing along with wanting to see Cameron was wearing thin on her. She wished they were back on the boat, in that comfy bed with the waves slowly rocking them as they held one another. It had been the idyllic getaway, private, separate from real life complications.

“Hello, Misha.”

She whirled around to see Shawn Rill. “Good evening, Mr Rill.”

He smiled at her, looking every bit the multi-million dollar media executive he was in a dark suit. “May I have a word?”

What the hell?
“Of course, Mr Rill.”

“Won’t take long. Come with me, there’s an office right off to the side here.”

Misha followed him inside the small room, curious as to what he had to say. She’d barely seen or spoken to him since the show had begun.

“I know there isn’t much time.” Shawn leaned against the table. “How are you? I imagine nervous?”

“I do have some butterflies.”

Shawn nodded. “Who wouldn’t? Winning
Celeb Chef
would transform your life, open doors, present new opportunities and, of course, there’s the cash prize.”

“Being a part of the show has been an amazing experience,” Misha said, choosing her words carefully.

“Indeed. We appreciate contestants that understand that and value it.
Celeb Chef
has been one of the few reality programmes to escape tabloid gossip backlash.”

Misha forced herself to nod coolly as he continued.

“I’d like to keep it that way. I trust you saw Vivian’s interview?”

“I did.”

“Well, that interview stirred up some negative publicity when she mentioned a possible connection, other than professional, between you and Cameron Banner. There is concern amongst the producers of this show that a win for you could only incite more curiosity behind the validity of her innocent comment.” Shawn rubbed his moustache. “I would prefer to avoid any future fallout that could possibly impact the show in a negative way.”

“I understand.” Misha sensed there was more as he stared at her.

“The runner-up for
Celeb Chef
is compensated well. If you lost tonight, you would walk away with fifty thousand dollars and no doubt endorsement deals to triple that amount. That’s a nice chunk of change to take and start your own restaurant.”

“It would be, if I were to lose tonight.”

Shawn shrugged. “Win or lose, you’d still walk away from this thing with more options than you had before. Think about it. The media would have a field day if you won. Allegations of possible favouritism could drag the show down. If Jackson won, the spotlight focused on you and Cameron would be averted.”

Misha frowned. “Are you saying you’re hoping I lose to save the show from any more bad press about an alleged relationship between me and Cameron?”

“Alleged?” Shawn snorted. “Cameron didn’t deny it is the truth.”

“Excuse me?” Misha felt the blood in her veins run cold at the very thought of Cameron discussing anything about them with the weasel of a man in front of her.

Shawn lifted his hand. “Look, he doesn’t want any bad publicity either. Think about saving you and Cameron any further embarrassment in the media. Go out there. Give us a good show and if Jackson were to win tonight, just remember there are no real losers in the finale.”

Misha remained silent as he glanced at his watch.

“The show’s about to start. We’ll talk again afterwards, okay?”

“Okay.” Misha waited until he’d walked out of the room to slump against the wall in shock, her mind racing.

She didn’t want to believe that Cameron would share any details about them with Shawn.

Cameron didn’t deny it is the truth.

Shawn’s words rang sharply in her head. She couldn’t believe he actually wanted her to lose on purpose.

And you’re considering it.

Tears clouded her vision as her cellphone beeped. She knew Cameron had gone out of his way to make sure they’d never been seen together in any compromising situations. As much as she wanted to win, she also didn’t want to be the reason behind a PR nightmare for him.

You’re worried about him?

Misha knew her concern was ludicrous in light of what Shawn had just told her, but she wasn’t going to jump to any conclusions until she’d spoken with Cameron. She took her phone out of her pants pocket and groaned when she saw another message from Cameron.

I wanted to see you before the show.

Her fingers trembled as she typed in her reply.

I’m sorry. We’ll talk after.

She hit ‘Send’ on her text and cursed. Her hand tightened around the phone as she shook her head. Shawn cared about
Celeb Chef
, not her or Cameron, she knew that. It pained her to think that Cameron might have said anything, but she wouldn’t believe he had until she had heard him confirm it was the truth. Right now she needed to focus on the show that was starting in just a few minutes, because no matter what she wasn’t going to purposely lose for anyone.

Blowing out a breath, Misha exited the small office then walked over to her station in a daze. She looked out into the crowd but couldn’t see her sister or friends under the glare of the lights. Her gaze drifted over to the judges’ table, locked with Cameron’s and her heart twisted when he gave her the slightest of nods with a hint of a smile before she looked away. Shannon came out and Misha put her game face on, smiling brightly as the show began. She barely listened to Shannon greeting everyone and revealing the mystery ingredient to be Dungeness crab.

Moments later, Misha immersed herself into preparing the dishes she’d decided upon seconds after Shannon had told her and Jackson to get underway. No stranger to working with crab, she should’ve felt confident, but she was distracted as she worked. The allotted time flew by and Misha couldn’t believe it was over as Shannon counted the last few seconds left in the competition and she added the final flourishes to her three courses. She stepped back, mentally and physically exhausted when at last the bell rang.

Think about saving you and Cameron any further embarrassment.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Shawn’s words or his proposal. Misha listened in a bit of a daze as the other judges commented on the dishes she and Jackson had prepared. Her heartbeat roared in her ears when Cameron started to speak. It felt good to finally be able to freely look at him. He commanded attention, handsome beneath the lights as he praised her presentation and inventive use of the crab in her cream cheese tarts. The audience approved of his remarks and applause erupted in the studio as his gaze locked with hers. She could see a question in his eyes as Shannon announced a commercial break before the winner would be revealed.

Misha closed her eyes for a brief moment, struggling not to become overwhelmed by what had happened and what was to come once Shannon announced the results of the show. She’d done her best, despite what Shawn had wanted her to do.