###SYSTEM QUEST UNLOCKED
"Serena's a celebrity chef with a Michelin-star ego? And you?" Olivia said, pulling out her phone with a flourish, "You are about to get some professional help."
Charlotte blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I've arranged a little something for you. Well, technically, someone."
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. "Liv…"
"I'm serious! You need a trainer. A coach. A culinary mentor-slash-food whisperer. And don't worry—he comes with excellent qualifications. Culinary institute graduate, ex-private chef for a European royal family—he even has a six-pack."
Charlotte nearly choked. "Wait, what? Did you say six-pack?"
Olivia gave a sly smile. "He's a private chef and a certified personal trainer. Think Gordon Ramsay meets Captain America. You're welcome."
Charlotte crossed her arms. "This isn't a matchmaking service."
"It's not matchmaking," Olivia said innocently. "It's strategic motivation. You need to win this challenge and remind the world—including Alexander Hastings—that you're not just the 'curvy girl with a ring light.' You're dangerous with a spatula."
Charlotte groaned. "You make me sound like a seductive ninja in an apron."
"You are a seductive ninja in an apron."
Before Charlotte could protest, a familiar chime echoed in her mind, followed by a translucent, glowing panel blinking into her vision.
DING!
> SYSTEM QUEST UNLOCKED
> Mission: Host a real-world Healthy Gourmet Experience event.
> Requirements:
> – Live cooking demo featuring healthy dishes
> – Nutrition & lifestyle mini-seminar
> – Interactive Q&A with fans
> – Minimum 100 in-person attendees
>
> Reward:
> – 24-Hour Extreme Fat Burn (warning: may cause dramatic temporary weight loss)
> – Body Curve Enhancement (hello, perfect curve!)
>
> Timer: 7 days to plan and execute
> Accept?
Charlotte stared at the floating text, torn between drooling and groaning. The rewards were undeniably tempting—especially that "perfect curve" buff. She imagined herself gliding into dress and shutting everyone's mouths without saying a word.
But something inside her hesitated.
A softly glowing dialogue appeared:
> Modify Reward?
> You may request to replace cosmetic or fitness-based rewards with skill-based upgrades.
> Caution: Requests are subject to system discretion.
>Your new desired reward is?
Charlotte tried her best to concentrate and pleaded in her heart, "Please let me improve my cooking skills. I want to win! I really want to win!"
> Processing…
>
> Reward updated.
> New reward:
> – Culinary Mastery: Fusion & Innovation Lv.1
> (Unlocks intuitive seasoning sense, enhanced palate accuracy, and creative recipe development)
> Attention!There's no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Always keep in mind that practice makes perfect. Only by practicing more can you upgrade your skill level.
A thrill ran through her. She hadn't even started the challenge, and already she felt stronger. Focused. Hungry—but not for food.
She was hungry to win.
To create.
To dominate.
Just then, Olivia waved a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Earth to apron ninja? You spaced out. Were you fantasizing about the six-pack already?"
Charlotte blinked and laughed. "No—I mean yes—but no. I just gave myself a new quest."
"The what now?"
"Never mind," she muttered, already scrolling through mental to-do lists. "We've got work to do, a real-world Healthy Gourmet Experience event"
Olivia raised a brow. "That's the spirit. I'll call the venue. You work your culinary magic. And tonight, we're doing a full strategy meeting—with wine."
"Oh," Olivia added with a grin as she turned to leave, "and your chef-slash-trainer-slash-distracting eye candy? Marco, he's arriving tomorrow. Don't be late—first impressions matter."
Charlotte groaned, half-excited, half-dreading. "I swear if this guy yells at me in a British accent, I'm throwing quinoa at him."
###Whisks, Wine, and a Viral Countdown
Charlotte's kitchen looked like a war zone.
There were scribbled recipe notes taped to every cabinet door, empty protein bar wrappers on the counter, and a half-melted candle labeled "Zen Garden" futilely battling the scent of roasted garlic and stress.
"Okay," she muttered, balancing a laptop in one hand and a red bell pepper in the other, "the demo dish needs to be dramatic but accessible. Something flashy, photogenic, but healthy…"
Behind her, Olivia sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by ring lights, extension cords, and enough tripod equipment to start a surveillance agency. She was barking into her phone like a publicist on a breakdown clock.
"No, I said Saturday, not Sunday. Yes, she's bringing her own cookware. No, she doesn't need backup dancers. This is not Coachella."
Charlotte peeked over her shoulder. "Wait, should I have backup dancers?"
"NO."
By mid-afternoon, they'd locked down a venue—a trendy greenhouse event space just outside the city, complete with a demo kitchen and an indoor herb garden. Olivia had also convinced three micro-influencers, a dietitian-slash-TikToker, and a local yoga guru to appear for "panel vibes."
And Charlotte? Charlotte had gone feral on Canva.
Her phone buzzed with notifications as her teaser post went live:
> @ChefCharlotteE
> You've tasted the screen—now taste the real thing.
> Join me for my first-ever Healthy Gourmet Experience.
> Live cooking. Food that loves you back. Spice. Sass. Secrets.
> Limited spots. RSVP link in bio.
> #GoodFoodForAll #ChefCharlotteLive #SpatulaRevolution
Attached was a photo of Charlotte in her kitchen, mid-action—flour on her cheek, fire on the stove, a devilish glint in her eyes. She looked powerful. Hungry. Fun.
The post exploded.
And what's more? There are not only promotional posters, but also more dynamic videos.
Charlotte stared at the camera, her palms a little clammy but her voice steady.
"Hey everyone—Chef Charlotte here!" she began, flashing a smile that only slightly betrayed the nerves beneath. "You've seen my dishes online, but now it's time to bring the flavor into real life. I'm hosting my very first Healthy Gourmet Experience this weekend in New York—yes, live, in person, and full of surprises."
She leaned in a little, her tone softening. "If you've ever wanted to taste the recipes you've seen me whip up, ask me your questions about food, health, life… or just want to hang out with fellow flavor-lovers—you're invited. I'd love to see you there."
Click. Upload.
Charlotte held her breath. Then the flood came.
> @BakedAndBuff:
> Just booked my Amtrak ticket. Coming from Philly for this—don't you DARE run out of your lemon-thyme chicken.
> @SavvySaladQueen:
> GIRL. Count me in. Can I sit in the front row? I'll even bring my own folding chair if I have to.
> @MacroMami:
> I'm dragging my boyfriend to this. He thinks healthy food's boring. You're about to change his life.
Charlotte blinked at her phone, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Well damn," she whispered. "Maybe I am ready for this."
She looked up at Olivia, who was scrolling with smug satisfaction. "Told you. People love you. A hundred people? That's child's play."
Charlotte gave a breathless laugh. "God. Let's do this."
"You've got this," Olivia said firmly. "Besides, you've got secret weapons now."
Charlotte arched a brow. "Secret weapons?"
"Marco," Olivia said with a smirk, "and that posture-correcting sports bra I ordered for you. Trust me. Life-changing."