The lights of the Global Culinary Crown arena blazed like miniature suns, casting a blinding, sterile glare over the gleaming stainless-steel stations. The roar of the live audience vibrated through the floorboards, a physical manifestation of the immense pressure pressing down on the fifty elite ch

"Roman!"

Sienna’s voice cracked as she burst through the pantry doors, sprinting back to Station Four as fast as her legs could carry her. She slammed the silver tray down onto the stainless-steel counter.

Roman looked up from wiping down his cutting board, his brow furrowing at the panic in her

The silence in the locker room was suffocating, heavy enough to crush the air from Sienna’s lungs. She stared at Roman, her mind violently rejecting the words he had just spoken.

"He can't do that," Sienna whispered, stepping toward him. "Roman, there are laws. There are grace periods for commerci