First Taste - 23 - Wattpad

First Taste

by ron_gcha

First Taste

Table of contents

YOU ARE READING

First Taste

Romance

The hot french baker she hated now knows her secret


Jemma read the message again.
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We didn't even make the shortlist.
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June was one of the judging panel.
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The words refused to change.
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"...Jemma?" She lowered the phone slowly.
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The beach suddenly felt too quiet.
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Adrian noticed her trembling hands. "Is everything alright?"
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" we should head back"
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They left the beach without another word.
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The roar of the waves faded behind them, replaced by the crunch of gravel beneath their shoes. Every step toward the parked car felt heavier than the last. She kept her head down, blinking hard, forcing each breath to stay steady.
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Don't cry.
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She dug her nails into her palms until they hurt, hoping the sting would distract her. It didn't.
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A tear slipped free.
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She wiped it away before he could notice, but another followed. Then another.
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By the time they reached the car, she couldn't stop them anymore.
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The ride back home was silence, untill jemma spoke herself "My friend... she needed this competition."
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adrian stayed silent
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"you must have heard from stacy that we were doing the competiton together this year, she , me and lara, a friedn of mine. Her scholarship was taken away months ago." Jemma's voice cracked. "We thought if we placed well... maybe someone would notice her. Maybe she'd get another chance."
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She held out her phone.
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"They didn't even shortlist us."
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Adrian read the message.
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His brows drew together.
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"...I'm sorry."
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"They didn't even shortlist us," she repeated, almost to herself. "Do you know how hard she worked? We practiced every day., We spent weeks testing recipes,And they didn't even think we deserved the shortlist"
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Neither of them spoke for a while.
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" and worst part is i just found out, june was one of the judge panelist for the shortlist, i am afraid he became bias, we recently went on bad terms"
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Then Jemma laughed again, this time through tears.
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"And now Jeremiah's run off and gotten himself married."
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She covered her face. "Dad is going to lose his mind."
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Tears finally spilled over. "god what do i do"
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She looked at him with red-rimmed eyes."...You probably think we're ridiculous."
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Adrian's expression softened immediately."I don't."
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"But I would."
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She smiled bitterly.
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"If I were you... I'd look at my situation and think we were hopeless."
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He stared at her for a long moment. "...Jemma."
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She couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to listen to my rant."
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"everything will be fine at some point dont worry" Adrian didnt say anythign more except for driving. When they reached he simply wished her a goodnight and left for paris in early morning , knowing none of her mess is his bussiness.
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Jemma barely slept. +

Every time she closed her eyes, she kept getting reminders that they didnt get slected. +

what will stacy say? will lara be alright? Thoughts kept her awake. +

By morning, she gave up trying to rest and left the hotel room early, hoping a walk would clear her mind. +

The hallway was quiet. Until someone stepped out of the elevator. +

June. +

He froze when he saw her. +

"morning" +

Jemma stopped. "We need to talk." +

He sighed. "I figured." +

She crossed her arms. "Why?" +

"What do you mean?" +

"Why mix personal issues with a competition?" Her voice remained calm, but her eyes didn't. "If you were angry with me, fine. But my teammates had nothing to do with it." +

June stared at her. "So that's what this is about." +

"Then what else would it be?" +

He let out a frustrated breath. +

"Jemma, you let this happen to yourself" +

jemma looked at him with her brows crossed clearly anger. +

he continued "we were good and all, sudenly you started becoming goody good with that adrian and god knows what he brainwashed you into and staretd acting weird and all" +

he kept stepping forward to as she kept backing away without showing how scared she was. +

"so whats the actual issue with my team tell me? is it me or stacy" +

june eyes widened " none tbh, i just followed rules and told the flaws abuot you peoples desssert, it was ass-" +

Before he could finish A fist crashed into his jaw. +

June stumbled backward, catching himself against the wall. +

"What the—" +

"Jude!" jemma screamed in shock +

Her eldest brother stood between them, shoulders tense. +

"I don't know what's going on," he said, glaring at June, "but you got some nerves trying to threaten my family in a place i am" +

He took another step forward. "Know your place you dumbfuck" +

"jude wait!" Jemma grabbed his arm. "Stop!" +

June rubbed his jaw, disbelief written across his face. +

"You punched me?" +

"I'll do it again if you keep upsetting her." +

The hallway fell silent. +

After a long moment, June gave a short, humorless laugh. +

"great." He straightened his suit jacket. +

"For the record, I'm not here because of her." +

He looked at Jude instead. "Éclair has a meeting with your father's company this morning. "I'm representing Éclair." +

Jeremiah's expression didnt change. +

If their father found out Jude had punched one of the company's representatives, it would be serious issue +

June glanced at Jemma. "I was trying to explain before your brother decided violence was the better option about a situation he has no idea about." +

He adjusted his cufflinks. "But since we're here..."