The Challenge

Aria didn’t know what possessed her to come back to Leon Cordon’s house the very next morning.

Maybe stubbornness.

Maybe desperation.

Maybe the fact that he was the only obstacle standing between her and the one opportunity she had worked her whole life for.

Whatever the reason, she found herself outside his gate again… staring at it like it had offended her.

“This is crazy, Aria” she muttered. “Absolutely crazy. You could get sued for this”

But she still climbed it. Since she was sure he wasn't going to let her in through the gate.

She slipped halfway over and landed on her feet with an ungraceful thud that echoed through the quiet neighborhood.

“Ouch... That hurt.” Aria groaned in pain, dusting the dirt off her body.

The door swung open almost immediately, startling her

Leon stepped outside, wearing a dark T-shirt and sweatpants, holding a mug of steaming coffee. His hair was still damp, like he had just showered.

He stared at her.

“You... you're really asking for trouble, aren't you?” he said slowly. “Is breaking into my property now your hobby?”

Aria stood properly, pretending she hadn’t almost broken her ankle.

“How did you know that I came in?” Aria asked looking around. She found it weird that he came out immediately she jumped in. Almost like he was watching her.

“You're dumber than you look. You think a house like this wouldn't have CCTV cameras? You were caught trespassing, so prepare for the consequences.” Leon said and turned to go in.

“Then you must have been watching me for quite a while now. Why didn't you stop me immediately I arrived? Did you want me to come in?” Aria said, trying to prick his feelings.

Leon scoffed, turning back to face her. “What?”

“I mean, you turned me down yesterday, it's obvious that you won't allow me in if I knocked.” she said. “I had to improvise.”

“That was not improvising,” he corrected flatly. “That was trespassing.”

She ignored him and marched forward.

“I’m not leaving until you reconsider mentoring me, Chef Leon.”

“You’re wasting your time.”

“Then let me waste it!” she snapped.

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly, he was more confused than angry.

“You’re unbelievable.” He said, shaking his head at her.

“So are you,” she shot back.

Aria took a breath, stepped closer.

“I challenge you.”

Leon blinked.

“…you what?”

“I challenge you, Chef.” she repeated, calmer this time. “To a dish. One dish of your choice. If I finish before you, you mentor me.”

Silence.

Leon let out a soft exhale that almost sounded like a laugh.

“You want to compete? With me? What makes you think you can win?”

“ Just my determination to get you to mentor me. Are you up or not?” Aria said, firmly.

A long moment passed.

Then, without a word, Leon stepped aside.

“…Come in.”

The inside was not as grand as the outside was. It had a simple interior, suitable for a small family. It was cool, just like the vibe Leon gave off. He had a cabinet filled with multiple awards he got and Aria was surprised.

For someone who left cooking behind, he was still keeping his awards in sight. Aria smiled slightly.

“Keep up. You're not here on a tour.” Leon spoke, cutting off her thoughts.

Leon took her into his kitchen and Aria was not surprised. It was expected of a chef. His kitchen was neat, with every utensils neatly arranged.

Quickly, Leon had washed his hands and arranged ingredients on the table.

eggs, butter, chives, garlic, a small loaf of bread.

Aria blinked. “This is… simple.”

“That’s the point,” Leon said quietly. “If you can’t master the basics, you can’t master anything else.”

He moved around her, and she felt the air shift with him. He had entered his professional mode. When he stopped beside her to set down two pans, their hands brushed lightly.

Aria swallowed.

He didn’t move away.

“We’ll make omelette aux fines herbes,” he said. “Simple and light”

Aria nodded, but her stomach tightened. She obviously knew she had no chance against him.

She quickly reached up to pack her hair into a loose bun and went to the sink to wash her hands.

His eyes followed the movement, lingering for a second longer than necessary. Her neck, her collarbone, the way one curl fell against her cheek. He blinked hard and turned away, like he hated himself for noticing.

Aria took a breath. “So… we begin now?”

“At your pace,” he said.

They started.

The kitchen filled with the soft rhythm of chopping, whisking, slicing. Aria cracked her eggs into a bowl and whisked them gently, adding salt and finely chopped chives. She tried to focus, but Leon’s presence across from her tugged at her attention like gravity.

Every time he moved, she looked up.

Every time she looked up, he was already watching her.

Leon’s movements were smooth and practiced. He cracked his eggs with one hand, whisking them with calm precision. The pan hissed softly when he added butter, and the smell of it filled the room instantly.

Aria’s fingers slipped on her whisk for a moment.

Leon didn’t speak, but she felt the small curve of amusement pull at his mouth.

“Don’t panic,” he murmured.

“I’m not panicking,” she lied.

“You are,” he said, eyes locked on hers, “but it’s… interesting to watch.”

Aria felt heat rise to her face.

Leon turned his attention back to his pan, but his shoulders tensed as the memory of that night rushed back into his mind.

Her mouth on his.

Her breathless moaning against his neck.

Her hands gripping him like she didn’t want the night to end.

He shouldn’t be remembering this.

Not with her here.

Aria turned her pan, plating her omelette with small, cautious movements. She caught him staring again.

“You lose.” He said to cover up the fact that he was staring.

Aria smiled.

“You knew you’d lose,” he said softly.

“Yes.” Aria met his gaze. “It wasn’t about winning.”

He inhaled, “Then what?”

“It to see if you still cared about cooking and from what I saw, you've not given up on cooking.”

Leon inhaled sharply, like her words had hit him somewhere he didn’t want to be touched.

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he muttered.

“Yes, I do,” she insisted. “If you can still cook like this, then why won’t you mentor me? Why?”

He stared at her.

His voice was quiet, strained.

“…There’s a reason.”

Aria frowned. “What reason?”

Leon stepped closer.

“After what happened between us… can you still allow me to mentor you?”

Her heart lurched. “I don't understand...”

Leon’s expression changed. He was frustrated.

“Do you really not remember?” he asked, stepping closer again. “Or are you pretending?”

Aria shook her head, confused. “Remember what? I don’t understand—”

He closed the distance between them. “Since you don’t remember…” he murmured, voice low, breath warm against her cheek, “…I’ll remind you.”

His fingers slid gently along her jaw.

Her breath hitched.

Her heart leaped.

And then he took her lips with his.

Not gently.

Not softly.

But like he had been holding himself back since the night they met, like he’d been waiting for this moment, fighting it, losing to it.

Her memory slammed into her all at once—the hotel, the taste of him, the way he had held her against the wall, the heat, the tension, the way he explored every bit of her body.

It was him. The man she had a one-night stand with.

Leon pulled back slowly, breathing hard.

Aria stared at him, shaken to her core.

His voice was rough, almost begging.

“Now you tell me.…Can you still be my mentee?”