Chapter 3 The Competition

The next morning, Quinn woke with sweat dampened on his face, which is almost a regular thing that happens to him every day, a recurring sensation that had plagued him for months.

Looking at the clock, he understood it was time for him to begin his day and be ready for work. After finishing his morning routine, Quinn left the mansion, his mind set on the busy day ahead.

When Quinn arrived at work, he parked his car in the parking lot and went inside the company's main building, heading to the grand hall.

As he stepped into the grand hall where the cooking competition would shortly begin, he took a moment to study the surroundings.

The large area was vibrating with excitement as staff members hustled around, making sure that every detail was flawless for the approaching event.

As minutes passed, the much-anticipated cooking competition began. The skilled chefs took their positions; culinary tools were ready, eager to be used as a demonstration of the chefs' abilities and originality in the kitchen.

Each station was furnished with a variety of ingredients, giving the participants a plethora of options and challenges.

Quinn took a seat among the watchers, his keen eye riveted on the cooks as they began to work their magic. The clinking of pans and the sizzling of ingredients filled the air, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

He looked at the cooking tensely, and his employees around him kept nodding, feeling pleased with what the chefs were doing, but Quinn had this dissatisfactory look on his face.

"Liana, eliminate the chef at the far end," Quinn stated, and Lina arched her eyebrows in bewilderment.

"Si, sir, she's leading from my own perspective and everyone's perspective." Quinn's lip slowly twitched as he gave her a glance, wearing a cold demeanor.

"This is my company, and I will rule it however I like. She might be leading from your own perspective and everyone's perspective, but she's not from my own perspective, and moreover, your opinion does not count the same as others, so zip it up and learn to do your job properly," he said, stating his words one by one in a cold demeanor as he looked into her eyes, and she nodded.

Quinn watched as the cooking continued and saw the lady at the far end stop as two women approached her.

She looked at Quinn with misty eyes, who just gazed at her blankly.

Minutes later, the competition concluded, and Quinn tasted their meals. As he was going to declare the winner, a young lady ran in, followed by two security guards.

"I am Rosy. Sorry, I'm late," Rosy murmured, attempting to regain her breath.

"And who is this crazy lady?" Quinn asked with a frown, pointing to the lady.

"I apologize, sir, but she is..." Liana began, but her words trailed off as Quinn's penetrating eyes met hers.

"Speak up, Liana; I can't hear you," Quinn said with anger purely shown in his voice.

Liana took a long breath to calm her anxieties before proceeding.

"She is one of the contestants. We hadn't finished the list previously," she said.

"You're telling me that we have an unexpected participant in the competition?" Quinn questioned, his tone mixed with astonishment and annoyance.

"Yes, sir... I apologize for the oversight; I should have made sure everything was in order before the event started. I am sorry, sir," Liana apologized, staring at the floor.

Quinn turned to Rosy, his brow furrowed in disapproval.

"You're disqualified," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Rosy's eyes widened in shock and desperation.

"Please, sir... Give me a chance to prove myself," she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion.

Liana, sensing the tension between them, stepped forward in Rosy's defense.

"Sir, her portfolio speaks for itself; she is more than capable, and I believe she could be a valuable addition to the competition." Liana said, and Quinn's gaze shifted to her, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her with a mixture of frustration and incredulity.

"Do I need to remind you who's in charge here? Since when did you start making decisions on my behalf?" His deadly glare pierced through Liana, causing her to flinch.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly stifling as the weight of Quinn's words settled upon them. Rosy, realizing that her fate rested solely in his hands, continued to plead her case, but her efforts seemed futile.

In a decisive move, Quinn called for security to take Rosy out of the building. As the guards approached Rosy, her face turned pale, a mixture of shock and disappointment washing over her.

Liana, feeling helpless and guilty, could only watch as the scene unfolded. Quinn's unyielding decision left no room for negotiation, and the reality of Rosy's dismissal hung heavy in the air.

As soon as Rosy left, Quinn revealed the winner and presented the winner with a gift.

"So as the competition ended, the winner would do a live stream cooking a new recipe, and if he win, he would be part of this company," Quinn stated, and the winner smiled.

After everything was completed, Quinn exited the hall and went directly to his office. When he arrived at his office, he checked his phone and noticed a message from Girlie.

"I am so angry today," he read.

"What happened?" he responded to her messages, but she wasn't online.

He dropped his phone on the table. He nodded when Liana entered and told him his next schedule before leaving. Quinn was preparing for his next appointment when his phone rang. Recognizing it as a call from the guy he had asked to monitor the mysterious number, he instantly picked it up.

"Have you tracked the number?" he asked.

"Yes, I did. I have sent you the location, you may check it," the person answered.

"Okay," he said, and then hung up.

As he walked out of the office, he checked his message app and saw the location. He was leaving the company when Liana spotted him and called him, but he ignored her and rushed into his car, driving at full speed to the place.

To be continued.