***

"Not applicable!" Alina passes the form to her left and goes for the next.

"Are you sure ? Your brother recommended him !" The second judge asks Alina.

Alina stops her work "My brother ? He recommended someone other than Fred ?"

"Yes ! His secretary submitted this form yesterday at the last moment. I was shocked too."

Alina takes the form back "Ben Arnold ? Working for two years. Hardly two semi-famous supporting role. In both roles he dies in the end ?"

The second judge shrugs. "If Alan sir recommended him , then why not give him a chance ? We can always reject !"

***

Ben waits with a nervous face as the participants are being called one by one for tasting. Already thirty participants went in and sixteen came out. 

Which means out of twenty , fourteen participants are selected for the show. Is there any chance for him in the remaining six ?

"Next Sebastian Depp , Ricky D. , Juliette louis , Ben Arnold !"

Ben jerks up. Did he hear his name ? He is shortlisted?

"All four of you stand in line. You will enter in the mentioned order."

Ben stands behind Juliette with a deep breath.

Soon their line starts to move forward and in the blink of an eye both Sebastian and Ricky came out rejected. 

Juliette went in with a big smile and didn't come out when the butler asked him to serve his food on the plate.

Only five remaining seats. Ben takes his plate nervously. He also tries to give his best smile but crying after all night , his smile hardly matched with his swollen eyes.

Alina looks at the awkward boy named Ben Arnold. The boy looks like a deer in the headlight, serving pasta.

"aglio olio ? Isn't it too simple for a cooking competition? What was the thought process?" Alina asks with a loud voice. She told her brother that she was expecting an Italian dish last night. Did he ?

"I planned to make a traditional chinese chicken soup initially. B.. but that needed fermentation of rice. And with limited time , I couldn't ferment the rice.

That's why I made a simple dish which I could complete in time. A complete simple dish tastes better than an incomplete complex dish."

"That's a wise decision made by you , Mr. Ben." One of the judges looks pretty impressed with Ben's answer.

"Let's taste it." Though Alina is  suspicious of the choice, she can't wait to eat the food. The food really looks delicious. She serves small portions to each of the judges then takes her first bite of the spaghetti.

"Congratulations! You are in !" Alina smiles after having her second bite. She is tired of talentless people making their way to the top piggy backing her brother. But this boy has talent. At least in cooking.

"I loved it. This is perfect. Not overdone, not experimented. As an Italian, I am proud of you." Another judge smiles at Ben.

Other two judges also nod in agreement.Ben bows to them will a small thank you and walks towards the selected seat.

"Congratulations!" Juliette smiles at him. "I saw you in Imperial love. I even cried when you died."

Ben looks at Juliette shocked. His face turns red slowly "T..thank you."

***

"The boy you sent , he is a good cook ! I thought he would be another useless interest of yours."

Alan puts down his laptop, hearing Alina's words. "he is not my interest."

"Huh ! He is not. Yet, you helped him in cheating. You asked me what dish I wanted and then ratted it to him."

"What ?" Alan chuckles.

"He made aglio olio ! A good Italian dish !"

Alan gives a poker face to Alina "did he ? But I haven't said anything to him. I don't even have his contact number."

"Then why did you submit his form ?"

"Well, the director of Fred's new drama was kind of a dick to him. And treated him really bad in front of my eyes. So, I thought I owe him one."

"Wait , he is in that ongoing drama ? How come I haven't seen him ?"

"His scene was cut in final editing. The assistant director said he prepared for that role really hard and shot that for three days."

"Bloody hell !" Alina scoffs. "He would get his payment, right ?"

"He would. I even asked him double payment but he refused. That's why the cooking show..."

"He cooks good. He will go far !" Alina nods but then her eyes lit up "wait ! I have an idea.. why don't you release some bts and cut scenes of that drama. That will be better than nothing ... And if he appears in cut scenes, my show will draw attention too."

Alan frowns. "You mean.. you will release your participants list after... "

"You will release the cut scenes. Then when the audience will search for Ben's whereabouts, they will come to know about Ben's upcomming project - The Celebrity chef !"

"What if nobody searches ?"

Alina smiles "oh they would. When. Show goes hit , even a prop used in the show gets famous."

Alan leans back on his chair after Alina leaves. A new notification has popped on his phone few minutes ago. He click on it.

"Thank you all for the suggestions yesterday. I made pasta for the competition and I passed the first audition."

Alan clicks on comments.

The competition must be easy.

@user2348

Why didn't you choose something tough ?

Alan was reading comments when another post came through.

"Those who asked me why I choose Pasta. Actually I have a secret to tell and I also need suggestions on that. 

Yesterday, I decided to make a traditional chinese dish but when I was buying groceries, I saw my boyfriend having a date with another man. I called my boyfriend right then and there and saw him lying to me.

So I had a break down and couldn't make anything till early morning. That's why I made pasta as someone commented a good Italian dish will do.

My humble thanks to that person. Now, coming to the suggestions I haven't faced my bf yet and I have a feeling he will lie to me if I ask. What should I do ?

@Pee in the sea

You mean your boyfriend cheated on you ? Boy break up ! Why are you even asking for suggestions!

There is only one comment as the post is recent. Alan waits for more comments with a serious face.

@walmart bag

Don't confront him. My ex. Was like that too. If you confront him, he will lie and then Gaslight you for doubting.

Behave normal. Then follow him for few days and catch him in the act.

@petty pottah

Break up ! Once a cheater , always a cheater.

@I am a human 

Check his phone.

Alan reads two or three more comments. He can't believe people giving stupid comments like follow him. That's why you shouldn't share your personal life in social media.

Alan shakes his head before clicking few words on his keyboard. He locks his phone after posting the comment.

"Focus on your work. Don't waste your time on someone who doesn't value you."