In the high-stakes world of haute cuisine, one rising sous chef is about to learn that not all knives stay in the kitchen.
Opening Paragraph Prompt
Ariela had always been more comfortable behind the line than in front of it. As the sous chef at La Flamme Noire, the most exclusive restaurant in the city, her focus was precision, innovation, and letting the food speak for itself. But lately, it wasn’t just the food getting attention. Patrons whispered about the new dish with the lavender reduction. Critics praised the perfect balance of her basil-infused risotto. And the owners had started lingering in the kitchen longer—watching her work with admiration that didn’t go unnoticed.
Especially not by Executive Chef Marcus Duvall.
Once the darling of the culinary elite, Marcus now found himself eclipsed by a woman he once considered an assistant. His compliments had turned cold. His jokes sharper. And his control over the kitchen? Slipping. As his envy simmers into fury, Marcus plots to remind Ariela that in his kitchen, there’s no room for two stars.
But ambition has a flavor of its own. And Ariela isn’t done cooking yet.
❓3 Questions to Stir Creative Thought:
- What ethical line might Marcus cross to sabotage Ariela—and how far is too far?
- How does Ariela respond when her trust is betrayed in the one place she thought she was safe?
- Can ambition be both a weapon and a shield? How does Ariela’s drive evolve as the story unfolds?