Chapter 107: I gave you a chance
Jaden stared at Tim with visible irritation.
"Did you seriously walk up to the workstation without washing your hands?"
Tim’s face immediately drained of color.
"I... I was worried about you, Chef."
"And that made you forget the most basic rule in the kitchen?"
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Jaden’s gaze hardened.
"Clean hands come before cooking. Every single time."
"I’m... I’m sorry."
"Step away."
Tim lowered his head. "Chef, I can fix—"
"I said step away."
Tim swallowed hard before silently retreating.
He had only wanted to prove himself. More than anything, he hoped earning Jaden’s approval would eventually lead to a recommendation from the renowned chef.
Instead, he had embarrassed himself in front of the entire brigade.
None of the other chefs dared move.
If Tim, one of the senior members of the team, had been dismissed so easily, what chance did the rest of them have?
Jaden pressed two fingers against his forehead and exhaled in frustration.
"For heaven’s sake..." he muttered. "Is there really no one here who can follow basic instructions?"
The kitchen fell completely silent.
No one dared answer.
Just as Jaden was about to force himself back to work despite the pain, a calm voice rose from the back of the room.
"Let me help you."
His brows furrowed. Slowly, he turned toward the speaker.
Standing there was Clara. She calmly walked to the sink, thoroughly washed her hands, dried them, and stepped behind the counter.
Meeting Jaden’s gaze without hesitation, she asked, "Tell me one thing first."
Jaden stared at her, surprised.
"How much time do we have?"
Everyone stared at Clara in stunned silence.
The first to recover was Tim. He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "There’s no way a newcomer like you can recreate Chef Jaden’s signature cake."
He turned to Jaden immediately.
"Chef, please let me assist you instead. We can’t risk having the guests criticize your work because of her."
Jaden remained silent. His eyes stayed fixed on Clara.
It wasn’t just her willingness to step forward that caught his attention—it was the confidence in her voice. She hadn’t hesitated for a second, even after learning the cake was one of his award-winning creations.
Most people would have backed away.
She had stepped forward.
He knew trusting an inexperienced helper with his signature recipe was a huge gamble.
But then again... Adrian had personally recommended her.
Jaden had known Adrian long enough to understand one thing. His friend never vouched for someone without a reason.
Beside Clara, Lily frowned at Tim.
"How can you say that when you’ve never even seen her cook?"
Tim shot her an irritated look.
"And have you?"
"I have."
Lily folded her arms confidently.
"You’d be surprised what she’s capable of."
She still remembered the countless disasters Clara had somehow transformed into delicious meals.
If anyone could pull off a miracle under pressure, it was Clara.
Tim scoffed.
"I’m thinking about the restaurant’s reputation. This is a high-profile wedding, not a practice session."
He glanced around the kitchen.
"If this cake goes wrong, people won’t blame her."
"They’ll blame Chef Jaden."
Several members of the kitchen brigade nodded in agreement.
"Tim’s right."
"We know what he’s capable of."
"But this girl..." another chef said, looking Clara up and down. "We don’t even know whether she can cook."
"Entrusting the wedding cake to a complete stranger is like smashing our own heads against a wall."
Clara listened quietly without interrupting.
Honestly...
They weren’t wrong. None of them knew her.
There was no reason for them to trust a stranger with something this important.
At the same time, they also had no idea what she was capable of.
Taking a slow breath, Clara met Jaden’s gaze.
"I understand everyone’s concerns," she said calmly. "If I were in your place, I’d probably feel the same way."
She paused before continuing.
"So I won’t argue or try to convince anyone."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"In the end, the decision belongs to Chef Jaden."
The entire kitchen fell silent as every pair of eyes shifted toward Jaden, waiting for his answer.
Jaden stood in silence, weighing his options.
His gaze dropped to his injured hand. The burn had already turned an angry shade of red, and every attempt to grip something sent a sharp sting shooting through his fingers.
He slowly looked around the kitchen.
The atmosphere was tense.
Apart from Tim, not a single member of his brigade had stepped forward to take responsibility. They all stood there watching, waiting for someone else to make the first move.
That alone told him everything he needed to know.
For years, he had trained them, corrected them, and shared every bit of knowledge he could. Yet when it truly mattered, fear had rooted them to the spot.
Pathetic.
His eyes shifted to Tim.
Even after working beside him for years, Tim had forgotten the most basic rule in the kitchen—wash your hands before touching the ingredients.
That wasn’t just carelessness. It was a lack of discipline.
Jaden let out a quiet breath.
"You."
Every head in the kitchen snapped toward him.
Tim’s eyes lit up instantly. A smug smile spread across his face as he shot Clara a triumphant look before confidently stepping forward.
"I knew you’d—"
"You’re not helping me." The words landed like a slap.
Tim froze mid-step. The color drained from his face. "C-Chef..."
"I gave you a chance," Jaden said evenly. "You failed before we even started."
The kitchen fell into complete silence. No one dared speak.
Jaden turned his attention away from Tim and looked directly at Clara.
"You." Their eyes met.
"Come here."
Clara blinked in surprise before walking toward the workstation. The rest of the staff exchanged stunned glances.
"Chef..." one of them began cautiously. "Are you sure about this?"
Jaden didn’t even look at him. "I know exactly what I’m doing."
His voice was calm but carried unquestionable authority.
"If I’m going to place my trust in someone today, I’d rather choose the person who had the courage to step forward than those who were too afraid to try."
Everyone pursed their lips and lowered their head.
His gaze remained fixed on Clara.
"For the first time in a long while," he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "I don’t regret taking a chance."
***
Time slipped by as Jaden guided Clara through every step of the recipe.
Despite the throbbing pain in his injured hand, he stood beside her, giving precise instructions while Clara carried them out flawlessly.
"Fold it gently."
She nodded and did exactly as he instructed.
"Not too much. The batter needs air."
"I know."
Jaden raised an eyebrow. "You know?"
Clara simply smiled. "Keep going."
As the preparation continued, surprise gradually replaced the skepticism in Jaden’s eyes.
Clara didn’t cook like someone who had just entered a professional kitchen.
Every movement was smooth and deliberate. She measured ingredients without hesitation, adjusted the heat instinctively, and followed his instructions with remarkable precision.
She wasn’t just good. She was experienced.
Jaden found himself giving fewer and fewer instructions as the process went on.
Meanwhile, the rest of the kitchen staff watched in stunned silence.
The same people who had questioned Clara only minutes ago were now exchanging astonished glances.
"I didn’t expect this..." one chef whispered.
"Look at how calmly she’s handling everything," another replied. "She hasn’t panicked even once."
"And her timing is incredible."
A pastry chef standing nearby nodded in agreement.
"Honestly, I don’t think Tim could’ve kept up like this."
Another added quietly, "He may be Chef Jaden’s senior apprentice, but he forgot the most basic kitchen rule today."
Someone else looked at Clara in admiration.
"Do you notice how they’re working?"
"What about it?"
"They hardly need to speak. Chef Jaden gives one instruction, and she already knows what to do next."
"It almost feels like they’ve worked together for years."
"Exactly."
The chef smiled. "They’re completely in sync."
Even Jaden couldn’t deny it. Working with Clara felt... effortless.
She understood his pace, anticipated the next step, and never once disrupted his rhythm.
It was as if she could read the recipe in his mind.
On the other side of the kitchen, Tim silently clenched his fists.
Every compliment directed at Clara felt like a slap across his face.
He had spent years working under Jaden. Years trying to earn his recognition.
Yet today... Jaden had placed his trust in a complete stranger instead of him.
Tim’s jaw tightened as he watched Clara effortlessly earn the admiration of the entire kitchen.
His eyes darkened with resentment.
No... I won’t let her steal the place I’ve worked so hard for.
A cold smile slowly spread across his face.
Let’s see how long your confidence lasts.
Tim may have lost this round to Clara, but he had no intention of letting her enjoy the victory so easily. Defeat wasn’t something he accepted gracefully, and he was already determined to find another opportunity to bring her down.