Devour Me, Baby(22)

I couldn’t talk Sienna into staying at the hotel and resting, but I put my foot down at the studio and cajoled her into laying on the couch in my dressing room. I needed to take care of something, and I didn’t want her to have to deal with it. After kissing her forehead and whispering how much I loved her, I strode from the room purposefully.

“Jude,” I called to the producer as I reached his office. He looked up and immediately glanced behind me, his face falling when he realized I was alone. As soon as I wasn’t under contract any more, I was going to castrate this motherfucker. But, for the moment, I needed his help. “What do you know about Liz?” I asked as I smoothly sank onto the grey couch along the wall across from his desk.

“The contestant?” he clarified. Something in his tone put me on alert, but I kept my stance and tone casual.

“What’s her story?”

He went through a stack of folders on his desk and then opened one to read from it. It was Liz’s basic bio and resume. It was all pretty standard until he got to her experience. She didn’t have any. It was rare, but not impossible for shows like this to get an inexperienced, but naturally talented new chef. However, Liz didn’t strike me as anything but average. Her dishes had skated by, barely keeping her on the show.

I watched Jude closely, and he shrunk under my scrutiny. A hunch started to form and if I was right, it would make this whole process much easier for me. “She’s been hassling my fiancée. I’d like you and studio council to accompany me while I have a chat with her.”

Jude swallowed hard as relief flitted over his expression before he smoothed it into its usual Botoxed perfection. “Of course.” He stood and led the way from his office, stopping a few doors down to recruit a lawyer to accompany us. The contestants were setting up in the kitchen but scurried off when I told them we needed to speak to Liz alone.

She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled at me, turning my stomach. Her eyes strayed to Jude for a moment, flashing with something I didn’t recognize, before returning to me and my suspicions grew.

“Liz, I understand there has been some contention between you and my fiancée,” I started in a reasonable tone. I was livid inside but knew this would have to be handled delicately.

Her overly made up eyes widened, and she adopted a look of surprise and hurt. “I didn’t want to upset you, Owen. But, she has been rather mean to me.”

I frowned and checked the impulse to roll my eyes. “Chef or Mr. Walker,” I corrected before continuing with my warning. “I’m telling you now to stay away from her and me.” A slight edge of panic flitted over her face and once again, her eyes darted to Jude. “I can’t get you kicked off of the show for your attitude, and I would never let it affect the way I judge you as a contestant.”

She started to smile in a way that I’m sure she considered seductive. Jude cleared his throat and shuffled on his feet. I was confident my instincts were correct and decided to act on them. “However, your relationship with the producer is a conflict of interest and a breach of contract. For that, I can get you kicked off the show.”

Liz gasped and whirled to face Jude. “You said no one would ever find out!” she snapped. “I can’t believe you told him I slept with you to get on the show!”

“He was guessing, you dumb bitch!” Jude shouted as he took a menacing step in her direction. “You were the one who just fucking confirmed it!”

My hands clenched into fists at Jude’s words. I didn’t give a fuck what she’d done, no man should talk to a woman that way. Keeping myself reined in, I pivoted to face the dark-haired, female lawyer who accompanied us. Her face was filled with disgust as she watched the two assholes argue. “They both better be gone before I return for taping or I’m out of here,” I growled. “I don’t give a fuck about my contract.”

She met my gaze and nodded. “Don’t worry, Mr. Walker. They’ll be taken care of.”

I lifted my chin in response and strode from the room. Sienna was curled up on the couch, reading a book, when I arrived back at my dressing room. “Hey, baby,” I greeted her softly as I dropped down beside her and pulled her into my lap. She laid her head on my shoulder and I picked up her left hand, toying with the ring I’d given her.

“Where have you been?” she asked. “You seem really upset.”

I smiled and kissed her forehead. I loved that she knew me so well. “Taking out the trash.” She looked at me with confusion and I just shrugged. “Jude and Liz were screwing, making it very easy to have them both removed from the show.” My mood darkened and I hugged her a little closer. “No one messes with the woman I’m going to marry.”