He stands at the center of it all, commanding the room without even trying. His sleeves are rolled up to his forearms, and his hands are gesturing as he discusses some final details with the director. Even from far away, I can see his intensity and the way he owns every space he walks into.

And then, as if sensing me, he looks up. The moment his eyes land on mine, his expression changes. His sharp, businesslike exterior softens, and his lips twitch like he wants to smile but fights it.

“I’m taking a break.” He announces, then yanks off his mic pack like he runs the damn network.

The crew groans. “But Chef, we just started this take—”

“Then, we’ll start over.” Vic replies, already walking toward us.

Ari tilts her head, eyes wide with curiosity. “Wait… can Daddy just stop like that?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Nope, but he does it anyway.”

When Vic finally reaches us, he immediately wraps his arms around the girls. Syd squeals as he lifts her up and presses a kiss to her temple before doing the same to Ari. And as soon as he sets them down, his focus is on me.

He lifts an eyebrow, then drags his eyes over me in a slow, appreciative perusal before he smirks. “And what about you, Kerry? You need a hug too?”

I scoff. “Oh please, you don’t pay me enough for that.”

His smile deepens, and I hate that I suddenly feel hot under his gaze. Thankfully, Vicky appears, pulling all of us into a warm embrace. “Well, aren’t y’all a sight to behold?” She beams, kissing Syd and Ari’s foreheads.

Then, Vic briefly steps away to resolve an issue, allowing enough time for us to explore the studio.

However, with a knowing smile, Vicky glances at me and says, “So, have you met his new co-star yet? She’s a firecracker, that one. A little too…handsy for my taste, though. Don’t you think?”

I squint at her as suspicion creeps into my voice. “Ms. Vicky, are you being messy?”

She shrugs, completely unbothered. “I can spot a snake from a mile away, that’s all.” She sews the seed then struts off, leaving me on edge.

During the crew break, Serena steps off to interview the showrunner while Ari anxiously tugs my hand and bounces with excitement.

“Can we meet Krista Ray?” She asks, flashing a huge smile across her face. “We follow her on Instagram! She’s so cool and stylish, and she cooks the prettiest meals.”

I side-eye her, hard, but Ari’s sparkling eyes make me cave.

“Fine,” I say reluctantly, then motion for them to follow me toward the set. “But if she’s rude, I’m not responsible for my actions.”

We wait patiently as Krista finishes talking to someone. Then, I step forward with a warm, professional smile.

“Hi, Krista Ray. I’m—”