Chapter 2 Triumph In The Spotlight

"And the winner is Lila!" The anchor's voice rang out in the mighty hall filled with expectant and ready people. The spectators in the hall had mixed feelings; while some were genuinely happy that their beloved Lila and her spectacular team won the cooking contest, others murmured, unable to comprehend how a young newcomer like Lila could actually win a contest that popular, rich, and multi-talented people also competed in.

"She is such a determined and devoted chef," an old man in the crowd said.

"Being relentless led her here," another woman told her daughter.

"You can also become like her and excel in whatever you lay your hands on," the woman continued.

"Such a beauty with inexplicable brains," a young lady told her friend.

"Look at her! She could compete with models and actresses in terms of looks and body, yet her cooking skills are so great. I really admire her and want to be a great chef like her in the near future," the other young lady replied, smiles all over her face.

Despite the good comments from some of the crowd, netizens also had something to say.

"I bet she slept with one of the judges," one lady said, nudging her best friend's arm.

"Looks a lot like it, my dear. Her beauty and body are what she used to win this cooking contest," her friend retorted, anger on her face.

Where Lila was standing, she was in a total daze and didn't even realize what was going on around her until Danielle, her best friend, co-chef, and assistant, pinched her to jolt her back to reality.

The other four people in her team were jubilating loudly behind her. She suddenly realized that she had just been announced the winner of the Gifted Hands cooking contest, a contest that was the talk of the town.

She beamed a wide smile at the thought of becoming the winner, suddenly in an enviable position that even the most renowned chef in all of Texas envied. She was proud of herself and turned around to jubilate with her team.

She received hugs and soft kisses from the members of her team, who kept giving great compliments. Suddenly, the anchor's voice rang out again.

"Our amiable and beautiful winner here would surely have something to say to our spectators," he said, smiling at Lila's team.

Danielle noticed how reluctant Lila was when she tried to take the microphone to give a speech. She pushed her forward and whispered in her ear, "Make the entire team proud, girlfriend."

Lila smiled in fear and excitement and moved towards the podium.

The normal jubilating procedures were done, and it was time for the presentation of awards and certificates. She received a glass award from Axel, the CEO of the Roberts Group, organizers of the yearly cooking contest, The Gifted Hands.

The anchor handed her a microphone and asked, "How do you feel being our champion, Lila?"

Lila smiled broadly at him and said, "Anyone in this position would surely feel happy and elated!"

"Surely! If I were you, I would roll on the floor with sparks of emotion. Do you have anything to say to the spectators, Chef Lila?"

"Yes, obviously! I'm so happy and grateful to everyone who made it a point of duty to watch the contest here in this hall," she paused and looked at the camera, continuing, "Thank you to everyone who is also watching from their homes and comfort spaces. This wouldn't have been possible without you all." She sighed dejectedly and continued, "This award is dedicated to my late mom, Elizabeth. She motivated me to be dedicated and devoted to whichever course I chose until death's cold hands snatched her from me, and I was never able to see her again."

The crowd murmured as Lila paused to wipe her tears. Some felt genuinely sorry for her, while others thought she was just bluffing to get the media and reporters on her side. Besides the nice words and even the scornful sentences, she looked up, smiled, and continued.

"Special thanks to my soul sister, best friend, and co-chef, Danielle. She has been supportive, encouraging, and devoted to this dream since day one. And to all my team members, I love you and sincerely appreciate you. Thank you for your help, patience, prayers, encouragement, and great ideas throughout the course of the competition. From the registration process to each level on the good days and even on bad days, you all stood by me and made sure I didn't lack a shoulder to lean on. Even when I felt like giving up, you all held up my hand and kept encouraging me not to give up. Thank you all." She dropped the microphone and went back to meet her team members.

"And that's a wonderful speech from our award-winning chef, Chef Lila. I must say, she looks really gorgeous. She could be a wife material," the anchor said.

"That's a wrap for the seventh edition of our great cooking contest, The Gifted Hands, which has our winner, Chef Lila. To other contestants, there's always next year. Until we meet again next year, my name remains Jackson Green," the anchor concluded his speech.

****

Backstage, the whole team was singing praises of Lila. "Team leader is such a humble and kind lady. I can't believe she mentioned us in her speech," Cora, one of the team members, said.

"She even has plans for us to go on vacation with her after receiving her prize," Kelvin, the only male in the team, said happily. Lila looked dotingly at her team members and beamed with happiness. Her world seemed to be falling into place, and she approached a world where things fell into good places for her. Besides, the people around her were really supportive and hardworking. She snapped out of her dazed state when Danielle called out her name loudly.

"Huh?" She looked clueless, not having an idea of what had been discussed while she was lost in thought.

"I said we should treat everyone to dinner, or what do you think?" Danielle said sweetly as the other members of the team looked at her expectantly.

"Errr, yes, no problem!" Lila agreed.

"What time will you all be ready?" she asked.

"8 pm," Cassandra, a quiet and reserved member of the team, spoke up.

"I support Cassandra," Jennifer, another member of the group, said.

"So, see you all by 8 at Ninfa's on Navigation," she said sweetly as all members of the team screamed in jubilation and teased and rejoiced with her.

****

Danielle discarded the other group members and took Lila to a quiet place.

"Look at you, the winner of the most powerful cooking contest, looking so sweet and radiant. I'm so happy for you, Lila," Danielle said with all sincerity.

"I'm happy for us, Danielle. This award is a joint effort. It wouldn't have been possible without you beside me, cheering me on and encouraging me day and night. You even resigned from your teaching job just to join my team and be there for me," Lila said, appreciating her best friend with all her heart.

Danielle was about to say something when suddenly her phone started ringing. She looked at the caller ID, and Lila smiled.

Danielle conversed with the person on the phone for a few minutes before finally dropping the call.

"What did he say?" Lila asked happily.

"Guess what?" Danielle teased.

"Well, let me remind you, young lady. It seems like you've forgotten already. I'm only good in the kitchen and not good at guessing," Lila said, teasing back.

"Okay, you won. Daniel got us a spa coupon, and the date is tomorrow," Danielle smiled as she talked.

"Wow, your twin brother can be extra at times," Lila said happily, carefully remembering how Daniel had been doting on her since she became Danielle's best friend. He guarded her like his younger sister and always made sure she lacked nothing.

"A spa coupon is exactly what we need at a time like this, to relax and let go of the rigors and stress we passed through in the last few days," Lila said, smiling happily.

"My brother is one in a million," Danielle smiled happily.

"Just like me!" she continued.

"Enough of the self-appraisal. I want to go home, take a shower, and prepare for tonight's dinner. See you later tonight, and please remember to bring your twin brother Daniel along with you. He is part of our team."

Lila stood up and left the competition area to go home. When she got home, she took a shower and set an alarm for 7 pm.

***

After handing over the award to the winner of the cooking contest coldly, Axel beckoned to Brian coldly, gave him some instructions, and the latter went outside only to return in a jiffy to inform his boss that the car was ready.

They got into the car and drove to the outskirts of the town in about two hours. Axel entered a building and passed through the hallway with several burly men bowing to greet him as he passed by.

A short man with a shallow hairline and a wide scar on his face, whom he later referred to as Peter, suddenly came forward to greet Axel.

"Did you get him?" Axel said, staring coldly at his phone.

"Yes, sir. He's in the inner room. He kept on shouting and disturbing the peace of the building. But we didn't do anything to him; we just left him there since you haven't given any orders specifying what should be done about him," the short man said respectfully.

"Okay, take me to where he is," Axel said, still looking at his phone.

The short man led the way, and Axel followed him. After a few strides, he looked at a fidgeting Brian and called out to him.

"I thought we were in this together," Axel said