Alpha Culinary Love

Kang paced the kitchen, glancing nervously at Jiyeon, who was still meticulously adjusting garnishes on each plate like she was handling a high-stakes game of chess. Her movements were precise, her brow furrowed in concentration as if the fate of the world hinged on the symmetry of the kimchi garnish. Yura, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, gave Kang a knowing look, silently communicating what they both knew needed to happen.

Jiyeon was in

full Chef Mode

the kind of mode that didn't allow for breaks, relaxation, or anything resembling human needs like sleep or food.

Kang whispered out of the side of his mouth to Yura, "We need to get her out of here. If she keeps going like this, she's going to collapse before the dinner even starts."

Yura nodded, her eyes never leaving Jiyeon. "She won't leave willingly. We'll have to drag her out."

Kang raised an eyebrow. "You think you can drag her anywhere? I've seen Jiyeon take down grown men with a look when she's in this state."

Yura smirked, pushing herself off the counter. "Watch and learn."

Kang stepped back, arms folding over his chest, a bemused expression spreading across his face. "Oh, this should be good."

Yura approached Jiyeon slowly, like someone trying to coax a wild animal into a cage. "Hey, babe," she said casually, her voice deliberately soft.

Jiyeon didn't look up, her focus still entirely on the precise placement of the gochujang drizzle on the lobster jeon. "Hmm?"

Yura tilted her head, a sweet smile on her lips. "You've been at this for hours. Don't you think it's time for a little break?"

Jiyeon paused for exactly one second, just long enough to give Yura a sidelong glance. "A break? We've got three hours before the guests start arriving, and I'm

not

about to take my foot off the gas now. If I leave, Kang's going to try to sneak in some last-minute 'artistic flair'—" She shot a glare at Kang, who raised his hands innocently. "—and I'll come back to find gold flakes on everything."

Yura chuckled, stepping closer until she was right beside Jiyeon, her hand resting lightly on Jiyeon's shoulder. "Come on. You're running on fumes, and even

you

know you can't keep going like this without a break. Just a short one."

Jiyeon shook her head, her eyes never leaving the plate she was working on. "No time for breaks. Not when we're this close."

Kang, sensing Yura's approach wasn't working, chimed in from behind her. "Chef, you do realize that if you collapse in the middle of this dinner, we'll have to explain to a room full of VIPs why the head chef is passed out next to the lobster."

Jiyeon huffed but kept working. "I'm not going to collapse."

"Oh, sure, because everyone knows you can function on nothing but stubbornness and rage," Kang replied sarcastically. "Totally sustainable."

Yura leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low, seductive murmur. "If you come with me for just ten minutes, I'll make it worth your while." Experience tales at empire

That made Jiyeon pause.

Her fingers hovered over the plate, her brow furrowed as if she was weighing the pros and cons of stepping away from the kitchen. "Worth my while how?" she asked suspiciously, not turning to look at Yura.

Yura's lips curved into a sly smile. "Let's just say I've got a few ideas that don't involve food."

Kang, standing behind them, made an exaggerated gagging sound. "Oh god, do I have to be here for this?"

Jiyeon rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched as if she was trying not to smile. "Subtle, Yura. Really subtle."

Yura pressed closer, her voice a soft purr. "Come on. Just ten minutes. Kang can handle things for that long without ruining everything. Right, Kang?"

Kang blinked, suddenly feeling the weight of their expectations shift onto his shoulders. "Uh, yeah, sure. Ten minutes. I won't turn the kitchen into a disaster zone. Probably."

Jiyeon sighed, finally stepping back from the plate she'd been obsessing over. She looked from Yura to Kang, her expression torn between exasperation and resignation. "You're both impossible, you know that?"

Yura grinned, leaning in to brush a quick kiss on Jiyeon's cheek. "We're

your

impossible people."

Kang, still standing off to the side, clapped his hands together. "Great. Now that we've established that, how about you go get some air, Chef? I'll hold down the fort. Worst case scenario, I burn everything to the ground and we have to order takeout."

Jiyeon shot him a look so sharp it could've sliced through steel. "Touch anything, and I'll make sure your next meal consists of nothing but raw potatoes."

Kang grinned, giving her a mock salute. "Message received, Chef."

Yura tugged at Jiyeon's hand, pulling her toward the door. "Come on, before you change your mind."

With one last look at the plates, Jiyeon allowed herself to be led out of the kitchen, though her gaze lingered on the dishes as if she was leaving a part of her soul behind.

Once they were outside the bustling kitchen, Yura guided her toward a small outdoor seating area behind The Rose Manor, where the air was fresh and the distant hum of the city faded into the background. Jiyeon took a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as she felt the cool breeze brush against her skin.

Yura sat down beside her, watching her with a satisfied smile. "See? Doesn't this feel better than standing in a hot kitchen for hours?"

Jiyeon leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment. "I guess. But I still think Kang's going to ruin something in there."

Yura chuckled. "He's more competent than you give him credit for. He's not going to let your kitchen go up in flames."

Jiyeon opened one eye, a skeptical look on her face. "I don't know about that. He's got a weird obsession with 'pizzazz.' I swear, if I come back and there's a fog machine set up, I'm going to lose it."

Yura laughed, her eyes sparkling. "I think you could use a little fog machine fun in your life. You're way too serious sometimes."

Jiyeon snorted, shaking her head. "You know I can't afford to be anything but serious right now. This dinner... it's everything. It's my chance to show people what I can do. I can't mess it up."

Yura's expression softened as she reached out to take Jiyeon's hand. "You're not going to mess it up. You're the best chef I know, and this menu is incredible. No one's going to walk away from tonight thinking anything less."

Jiyeon looked down at their intertwined fingers, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're too confident in me."

"No," Yura said softly, her voice firm. "I'm just seeing what's right in front of me."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the sounds of the world around them fading into the background as Jiyeon finally allowed herself to relax. The tension that had been gripping her for days slowly unwound, and she leaned her head back, letting the cool air soothe her frazzled nerves.

"You really are a pain, you know that?" Jiyeon murmured, a teasing note in her voice.

Yura smirked. "Oh, I know. But you love me anyway."

Jiyeon sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."

They both laughed, the sound light and easy, cutting through the weight of the upcoming event.

But before Jiyeon could get too comfortable, the door to the outdoor area swung open, and Kang stuck his head out, his face a picture of mock panic. "Uh, Chef? We've got a situation."

Jiyeon shot up from her chair, her eyes wide. "What happened?"

Kang held up his hands, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Just kidding. Everything's fine. I just figured you'd had enough of a break by now."

Jiyeon glared at him, but Yura laughed, shaking her head. "He's impossible."

Kang gave a little bow. "At your service."

Jiyeon let out a long sigh, but the smile on her face betrayed her annoyance. "I'm surrounded by idiots."

Yura stood up, brushing off her pants. "Come on. Let's get back before Kang decides to add

actual

gold flakes to the menu."

Jiyeon groaned, following her inside. "If he does that, I swear I'm locking him in the freezer."