Chapter 7

In the kitchen, I see the chef has already started cooking. He looks up at me and smiles kindly, and motions me to come forward.

"You are the new girl, right? I am James," he says.

He is quite handsome, I think to myself. He has a strong jawline and a neatly trimmed beard that adds a rugged charm. There's a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he smiles at me.

"Yes. My name is Sylvia. Rosemary asked me to come help you," I inform him.

"Great to have you on board, Sylvia," James replies, his voice warm and welcoming. "Rosemary mentioned that you have some kitchen experience. That's fantastic! We can definitely use an extra hand today."

He gestures toward the stove, and I see something boiling in a big pot. "We're preparing a special menu for tonight's event, and things are starting to get busy. Let me show you what needs to be done."

We work side by side for a bit, and I notice James is pretty skilled in cooking.

"What are the things you can cook, Sylvia?" he asks me as he throws some spices into the pot.

Herbs and potions...

I am almost tempted to tell him about that but stop myself. "Just some basic stuff," I reply vaguely, trying not to give away the secret of my unique culinary abilities.

Just then, Molina enters the scene.

Oh, great.

She sees me and glares, but her eyes soften as she sees James next to me.

She approaches him with a flirtatious smile, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers, ignoring me completely.

"Hey, James," Molina says with a coy tone. "Need any help in here?"

James chuckles politely, maintaining his friendly demeanor. "Thanks, Molina, but Sylvia is already helping me today. We are almost done cooking here."

Molina's smile fades, replaced by a spiteful expression. She disregards my presence and directs her negativity toward me. "I don't know why Rosemary bothered bringing in someone like her. She's probably just getting in the way," Molina snidely remarks, attempting to undermine me.

I feel anger flicker inside me but stay silent. James, however, interjects firmly, defending my presence.

"Actually, she is doing great, Molina," James responds calmly. "Sylvia has been a great help."

"I would still be careful. She ruined an entire batch of laundry, so don't let her ruin everyone's lunch," she sneers.

That's it, I can't take it anymore. "You know it wasn't my fault, Molina," I say determinedly.

Molina narrows her eyes at me. "What are you trying to say, Sylvia?"

"I am saying that you know I wasn't responsible for the ruined clothes. I know what your best friend Amelia did," I say through gritted teeth. 

"What does Amelia have to do with anything?" Molina says dismissively. "Are you accusing her of something?"

The tension in the kitchen rises as Molina dismisses my words, her tone filled with skepticism. Sensing the need for clarification, I take a deep breath and respond firmly, determined to confront the situation.

"Yes, Molina, I am accusing Amelia," I assert, my voice steady despite the growing anger. "She tampered with the laundry batch to make me look bad. You know this, don't you, Molina? Why don't you tell me the truth?" The words spilled out of my mouth before I could stop them. 

Molina's eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly regains her composure, her defensive walls rising. "That's quite an accusation, Sylvia. Do you have any evidence to support your claims?"

My heart races as I realize I've said too much. I couldn't mention Daisy's name, so I retracted quickly. "I suppose I can't prove it. But don't think I'm stupid, Molina."

"Alright, girls. Let's not fight. We are all here to work together, not against," James says.

Molina nods at him, then looks at me with fire in her eyes. "Watch your back, girl. This isn't over yet." With that, she storms out of the kitchen.

"Wow...what did you do to Molina to hate you this much?" James asks me after a moment.

"Nothing! I didn't do anything to her. I don't know why she hates me so much," I say, sadness enveloping me.

James looks at me with concern, his eyes filled with empathy. He places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Don't let her get to you, Sylvia," he says, his voice filled with sincerity. "Sometimes, people's actions and attitudes are a reflection of their own insecurities and issues. It's not your fault. Just focus on doing your best, and let your work speak for itself."

I pause for a moment, considering how much I should reveal about myself. But I didn't want to look like I was hiding something either, so I decided to give him a vague answer.

"I come from a small town on the outskirts of the city," I answer. "I am here because...I needed a job. There were no more positions left in my last pack."

James nods, accepting my answer. "That's great, Sylvia. I'm glad you decided to join our pack. I have a feeling you'll fit right in."

I am not too sure about that.

A man suddenly enters, interrupting our conversation. "Is lunch ready? Alpha Xavier wanted me to check."

James smiles at him. "Sure is. I will have someone send it over right away. He suddenly looks at me. "Oh, Sylvia. Why don't you deliver the food to the Alpha?"

You've got to be kidding me. What's with people today wanting me to deliver things to Alpha Xavier? "Um...I'm not sure I should," I reply hesitantly.

James observes my sudden change in demeanor and raises an eyebrow in mild curiosity.

A smile forms on James' face. "That's the spirit, Sylvia. Take the tray of food to the dining hall, and Alpha Xavier will appreciate your effort."

I nod, trying not to show that I am dying inside. "Thank you, James. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly."

With the tray of food in my hands, I head towards the dining hall, my mind racing with thoughts about the encounter that awaits me with Alpha Xavier.

Again.

As I make my way toward the dining hall, my heart pounding with nervous anticipation, I sense a sudden disturbance behind me. Before I can react, my feet tangle with something, and I feel myself losing balance.

I hear laughter behind me, so I lift my head to look at the culprits.

Molina, Amelia, and some other girl I didn't recognize right away.

Molina made me trip on purpose, and I couldn't keep the tray steady. It fell with a loud crash, and all eyes turned to see what happened. The room went quiet.

I felt so embarrassed, and I was frustrated with Molina for always trying to bring me down. I tried to stay calm and took a deep breath. "Did you really have to do that, Molina?" I said, disappointed.

Molina smirks, enjoying the attention she is getting. "Oops, Sylvia! It's not my fault you are so clumsy," she replies, mocking me.

James hurries over, looking concerned and annoyed. "Are you okay, Sylvia?" he asks with genuine worry in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I assure him, although my frustration is clear. It seems like accidents keep happening around me.

"I will go prepare another tray for the Alpha. Why don't you go get cleaned up, Sylvia? I will have someone else deliver the food," James says and hurries back into the kitchen.

"I will do it!" Molina calls after him.

Bitterness fills my heart. She did this to sabotage me and make me look bad!

But wait, this isn't necessarily a bad thing because now I don't have to be face-to-face with Alpha Xavier again. This is a blessing in disguise!