Love on the Back Burner

[innitmarvelous_og]

Eva Stark was a renowned 4-star chef, known for her culinary skills and innovative dishes. She was happiest when she was in the kitchen, and she had a passion for cooking that was evident in every dish she created. However, her biggest rival, Loki Laufeyson, was equally talented and always seemed to be one step ahead of her.

Eva and Loki had competed against each other in various culinary competitions, and their rivalry was legendary in the industry. Despite their professional competition, and although they would never admit it to another living soul — they secretly admired each other's skills and talent.

"Oh my gosh!" Eva's sous chef, Darcy, exclaimed one day.

Eva glanced up at her from the carrots she was chopping up, and asked, 'What is it?"

"Oh my gosh," Darcy repeated, walking towards her, "You got a letter from the Commander Chef challenge. They say in order to compete in the competition this year, you must agree to be paired off with another chef, of their choosing for the during of the competition."

"What?!!" Eva said, putting her knife down and wiping her hands, "Let me see that!"

Darcy handed her the letter, and waited for her reaction.

"Oh my gosh, they're totally serious!" Eva exclaimed, "And if I want to enter this, I am going to have to risk being paired off with someone impossible to work with!"

"Yeah, like Chef Loki Laufeyson!" Darcy said, rolling her eyes.

"No way! he powers that be would never pair me off with someone like him. Besides I doubt his high and mighty highness of the culinary world would enter something this. I think he thinks it's for no talents like me!" As she talked, she opened a bottle of water, and took a large drink.

Darcy rolled her eyes, "Oh my gosh, he's so full of himself!"

Eva laughed, "Yes, he is, but thankfully being so full of himself might just save me from having to work with him!" They both laughed at what she'd just said, and then she said, "Okay, time to get back to work. Dinner is not going to make itself!"

Over the next week and a half, Eva put the competition out of her mind, and concentrated on running her restaurant. The time passed by quickly, and soon one morning, she found herself standing in the venue where the contest would take place.

She had arrived in plenty of time to sign in and fill out any remaining paperwork that needed to be filled out. Afterwards the official said to her, "Okay, that does it. If you want, you can go to Room 123 just down the hall, and mingle with the other entrants until we're ready to officially start." Eva didn't know about the mingling part, and she must have looked hesitant because the woman added, "There are refreshments in the room."

"Oh okay, thank you. I guess I will go see what's available."

"Well, I know there's some coffee."

Eva gave her a nod, and started down the hallway towards Room 123. The way had been well marked, and soon she walked through the doorway, where every pair of eyes in the room fell on her as she entered, while her eyes fell on the very last person she had ever expected to see here.

Suppressing a groan and plastering on a smile, she walked over to the table along the wall to see what was available besides the coffee the way had mentioned. She was just about to select a few hors d'oeuvre when a certain someone's shadow fell across her. She knew he was about to make some sort of snarky remark so she decided she'd be the one to strike first.

"Oh, my my my! Look who it is, the overrated Chef Loki."

Loki gave her a condescending smirk then said, "Ha, that is so funny coming from the one whose dishes are always bland and uninspired."

"Which in turn makes that rich coming from the one who always relies on, or should I say one who overuses exotic spices to cover up the fact that his dishes lack flavor," Eva countered.

He gestured, "Well, you know I'd rather use spices than serve a dish that looks like it was made by a toddler."

"Pffft! At least my dishes are easy on the eyes, unlike yours that always look like a mess."

"Well, at least my dishes are memorable, unlike yours that are quickly forgotten no more than a single minute after they've been partaken from."

Eva heard a couple of the other chefs whistle, while a few made comments under their breath such as "Oooo I felt that!" and "Oooo it's getting hot in here cause she just got burned!"

But she wasn't going to let him or them put her down, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the judges think. But I have to say, it's always a pleasure beating you in these competitions. And believe me, Chef Laufeyson, my partner and I are going to beat you!"

Loki arched his eyebrow, "Don't get too confident, Eva. You might be in for a surprise this time."

Eva tilted her head back, her chin in the air when she countered, "Ha, I highly doubt it. But good luck, you'll need it."

"Likewise, Chef Eva. But I'm not worried, my cooking speaks for itself."

When they heard the sound of throat being cleared, all eyes turned to the doorway where the contest's officials stood with a mixture of emotions on their faces ranging from amusement to annoyance. The man with the most serious scowl on his face began, "If you two are quite down with your pre-competition lovefest, I will be happy to announce the theme of today's contest, and who will be partnered off with whom."

Feeling embarrassed by her behavior, she motioned for him to go ahead, as Loki muttered his approval too. The official nodded, and looked at the clipboard in front of him. "Today's contest will consist of two rounds, which are the elimination round, and the final round where the grand prize winners will be determined. You will each be split into teams of two for the first round. You must work together to prepare your assigned themed dish in the allotted time. A team without a dish to present to the judges when the clock reaches zero, will be automatically disqualified from entering Round 2. Does everyone understand so far?"

Everyone in the room nodded, and waited for him to continue.

"Your dishes will be judged on plating, the taste of your dish, and how well you executed your assigned theme. Everybody following still?"

Once more, everyone nodded, and the judge went on, "Okay, let me let everyone know who you'll be working with, and what your theme will be for Round 1."

Eva mentally and literally crossed her fingers, hoping that the universe wouldn't be so cruel to partner her off with—

"Chef Eva Stark?"

"Uh yes?"

"Chef Eva, your partner for the competition will beeeeeeee.... oh, your partner's Chef Loki Laufeyson, and the theme for your dish will be—"

"What?! You have got to be kidding!"