Gemotions

The steam from the simmering sauce felt scalding on her face as she stirred furiously. "Amateurish… predictable…" the critic had written. Chef Isabella cursed under her breath. The words were a brand, searing themselves into her memory. She slammed the ladle down, causing the sauce to splatter across the pristine white surface. She wiped it away with a force that almost tore the cloth. She slammed the pan back onto the burner, the metal rattling against the flames. Her hands were shaking. She felt a need to break something.