By now you know this is not fifty shades it is all the letters of the AU-OCC things you guys understand and I do not. You should know how I write? It is a tear jerker of a shortish story, this story is mainly about Ana too. Christian is just a big part of it...
There now follows an important four chapters; chapters that give you more much needed back information n Ana and her past after Scotland, unfortunately the four chapters feature a lot of Jack, which is needed, bear with me and don't be jumping all in my face until chapter eight... PLEASE?
Dreaming of Chocolate and Grey:
Chapter 4:
Anastasia vs. Jack: Part I:
I am sure that Jack is up to no good or he will be when he finds out I am thinking about taking his father's company from him. I have o to save his father's brilliant reputation. I woke from my power nap with still no clarity and finality about my feelings for Christian even after I have slept on the it. I am worrying over nothing, he won't come tonight he was just being pleasant to his mother, he and I are just those two ships that have now not only sailed by in the night, I in fact won the white ribbon for the fastest get out of Seattle ever. I call the shops and everything apparently finished, it is clean, stocked and manned and the photographers are there, as is a news crew. I change into my cocktail dress and wonder what worries tonight will bring? My car service picks me up and I head back to work, I feel so guilty because I have never been so lazy with a store set up as I have been today, although I think Jose and Mareena are secretly glad to be allowed to do their jobs without me interfering? I enter the premises through the back door and through the kitchens; I slide on an overall and place my hair in a net. My good shoes are placed in my bag and I slip into my white clogs, oh how glamorous I must look?
I do an inspection of the new kitchen and the production line is in full swing. My Chief of Production is Ramón Dahl, the teacher who honed my chocolate tempering talents, and whom I poached from the Hyde's school here many moons ago, he smiles as I walk the line and make a table stop at the shop's signature chocolate bench, each shop has one a work station and a chocolate only available on line and in the particular store it's made for, and New York's is called the Big Apple of course! It is a light white chocolate and vanilla ganache, it is topped by a layer of gooey appleness, all made from locally sourced and produced apples which they then make into a homemade apple sauce, I added a layer of this, and then topped that with cinnamon and cider jelly, making it very apple friendly. Then I topped it with milk chocolate. MY edible company logo sits atop of it. I see the rose and smile. I taste one and murmur my approval. It works and god it smells divine, just like eating an apple straight from the tree only with chocolate...
"How are things Ramón?"
"Very good, and with each new store it becomes easier. I bow to your expertise, you were right keeping the same layout works."
"Hey you know chocolate, and I know my stores and the chocolate too of course. Listen, how would you fancy going back to teaching?"
"A school, you are going to start teaching at last?" I nod my head and finish off the Big Apple.
"I have been offered the House of Hyde. What do you think?"
"Have they ruined it?"I wipe my mouth.
"Yes..."
"Then we have to have them back and yes I would love to teach. James, would he be still teaching?"
"Yes, but I will also have him running Switzerland for me, because I can't be everywhere at the same time. You are still up for helping run America, right Ramón?"
"If the president steps down then yes..." Har-de-har-har...
"It wasn't funny when you said it the first time and it's not funny now Ramón."
"I think you need someone with the passion for management, alas my passion is teaching you know this Ana, you need t cast the net wider than family and school friends and get someone in to work with Kate?"
"You can't blame a girl for trying, and I am looking, I swear I am. Now, how is the shop looking?"
"See for yourself, it is packed to the rafters. The girls have finished putting together the complementary bags and we are on clean up for the VIP tour for your guests. They will be here in an hour. Now go and see the rest of the store, it looks amazing."
"Thanks Ramon, I couldn't do this without you."
"I know and that's why you pay me the big bucks. Now move or I will have you scooping kiwi fruits, and we all know you love that job."
"Hey, I will have you know I love Kiwi's."
"Liar..." I laugh and head towards the mêlée that is opening night. Jose and Mareena have done a great job and the store is perfect. The staff are in their clean uniforms. I give a pep talk to all my new staff before ever new store opening.
"Hello, can you all gather around please?" I wait for the three sets of shop assistants to come into the cafe, the production staff are by the three doors at the back. Wow there a lot of fresh faces watching me. "As you all know I started this company, The D'Acciaio House of Chocolate just three years ago, all this has come from my humble begins in the back of a Soho bakery, in London. I have had a dream to be the best chocolate master in the world for what seems like eons now and finally I get to do that and we now sell the best chocolates in the world... I want you all to know I couldn't do that without all of you, you are who make my dreams come true, without you and your hard work then my dreams would still be written on the pages of a journal I kept. A journal with all my hopes and dreams for just this thing, for just this business, a business you are helping me to grow into the best chocolate house in the world...
Now I thank you for the time and the effort you all put into helping me make my dreams a reality, I also need you to keep those faces smiling and that smile and eagerness each and everyone of you has, is the first face and the best face of my company, that our customers see, they don't see the people hand making the products we sell. they see you. So, tonight when you pass over a snack roll, or give someone a chocolate or pour a customer a drink, think of what has gone into all that behind those doors and smile, be polite and enjoy yourself. That goes for in all you do at D'Acciaio's House of Chocolate. Please remember that the customer is not always right, but they are the customer, so let them think they are right. If any one of you has a problem about anything, you all have my email, tell me your woes and I promise to try to fix it. I want my staff to be as happy as I am right now. So, once again thank you, enjoy yourself and remember to smile."
I get a round of applause and then head to see Kate; I need news about Jack, because I feel it in my bones that he is up to his old tricks and is plotting my downfall as I waffle to my staff. Kate is missing in action; so I sit at her desk and grab my laptop and see his name on the guest list. Crap, what the hell do I do if Jack makes a scene? He is Jack Hyde what do I mean if he makes a scene, he is Jack Hyde he will. I hate the fact that I allowed him to do the things he did to me, it is the one true regret I do have in life, being so bloody desperate to be loved I was conned by that fucking bastard, the bastard with the morals of an alley cat. He was Christian's supposed successor. what a fool I truly was, I trusted another man and he too let me down. Jack Hyde, the two faced cheating dick wad of a bastard. He nearly had me with his smooth talking and his romancing ways, for my shame I allowed him into a part of my world that I wish to god I had not.
...I'd met him whilst training in Switzerland. Switzerland, such a happy time and my first day there now seems like it happened a lifetime ago...
Travelling there with John Hyde, his father, I felt special and honoured to be going there and eager to learn. I'd bought the two journals as he'd suggested at the airport shop. I then sat and copied out the recipes from the old battered one and in doing so, I was then hit with a different memory of something about another time in my past, this ledger was started when I was just ten years old, when I took notes on all my grandparents' recipes as they created. On each page it had something that would remind me about a certain thing, things that Ollie and I had done together, a smudge of chocolate or a drawing, Ollie's scribbles are in the margins too, I thumbed over her writing and a tear fell. I missed my friend so much it still hurts to see her name, I doubt I will ever have a true friend like her ever again.
I ate the crusty dinner served in the economy seats, and I wondered what they were eating in first class? I bet it is not a rank casserole thing, a pot of fruit salad and something what passed for custard that's for sure? Aircraft food is horrid and after that fight I knew I would always have to bring my own packed lunch. Landing in Zurich our bags are collected, after a long wait in customs and seeing their tired faces wishfully hurrying my bags to magically appear; when they did come out last they cheered. What Like I put them in the plane in the first place first guys? I apologised like a bumbling idiot to the waiting entourage for the air carriers tardiness, after which I was then ushered into a car, oops I may have been a little curt with my replies to the mass of people I will be working with or for, great first impression Ana. It was like a scene from a movie, the sheer number of people who formed John Hyde's entourage meeting us from the airport was unbelievable; there were three cars alone for his staff and his bags, mine was a rucksack full of jeans, tee shirts and trainers and a leather suitcase with my knives and cookery stuff inside. I took up a miniscule portion of the car which was ferrying me god knows where? I stared out of the window and tried to take in the view as we sped along, the place itself was huge, with plenty of modern buildings nestled easily and effortlessly alongside the old buildings. We were in the cars no longer than half an hour when we suddenly stopped to allow John out at his apartment. He walked towards the car with me sat like a hostage in it, and began to speak to me.
"Miss D'Acciaio I will see you at nine sharp in the classroom, your things are in your rooms already and thank you for coming. I will make this the best thing you ever decided to do and I will make you this one promise, I will take you to the top with me. I will see you tomorrow and sleep well because I work long hours, and you will be working them alongside me." I was agag as he spoke to me like a kid staring at Santa and getting the speech about being a good girl and getting your reward for it, phew I was hot, blustered and awe struck hearing my mentor talk to me about taking me with him.
"Thank you Chef, I'm looking forward to it. I will be there bright and early and thank you again for the chance you have given me." I am sure that sounded like I was a ass kisser and brown nosing, but I was genuinely awe struck, he was the king of chocolate and I was his apprentice.
The car pulled away and after a short drive we pulled into the car park of a massive building, it was not as tall as the buildings I had been around these past six months, in fact it looked tiny in comparison, with just five floors, but this one was mega long, and on something called the Bahnhofstrasse, this was apparently the longest and busiest commercial district in Zurich, and I was now part of it and here would be my home for however long Mr Hyde thought my being here was necessary. I am shown to my rooms on the student's floor, we're on the top of the building and my views are spectacular. The girl spoke in French as she began telling me of my itinerary, a test perhaps, a test of my French language skills? Sneaky...
"Miss D'Acciaio? Hello and welcome to Zurich, I'm Emily Hoff, Mr John Hyde's personal assistant. I am so pleased to meet you, you are the talk of the whole school. Do you know you're the youngest apprentice Sir has ever taken on?" I shake my head no. She smiles."There are a few things we have to discuss. Firstly he prefers people call him Mr Hyde or Sir not chef, he is not a chef." Okay but he is to me. I say nothing though. "I have your new bank details here. They will require your signatures and a look at your passport at the bank; it's just over the road. You will have plenty of time to deal with that side of things tomorrow as you are only in the school kitchen from nine until eleven. Sir has given you the day to explore, might I suggest you make the most of any time off, as it is very rare and believe me you will be working long hours and long weekends are usually included in that too. Your schedule is in this folder; you may want to shower and have an early night." I take it from her and I listen as she talks she is very dedicated t Mt Hyde, that much I can already tell.
"Sir has been following your path closely, in fact since he was sent a sample of your little Bag of Lust chocolates, some time ago. He was and is sure you will go far in the industry, but to gain his trust and favour, you have to work as hard as him, if not harder, yes Ana he requires your total commitment to your work and in return you are rewarded handsomely. What you create here and master here belongs to the House of Hyde. Sir pays you a wage and so the rights to them belong to him. He is very fair and generous in the wages he pays and with the commission deals he brokers. That said you have contracts to sign and confidentiality agreements to look over and sign too. As I said there's a lot to go through, chocolate is as big as money and banking here in Switzerland, well maybe it is as big as Swiss Army Knives and watches anyway? Money always talks here. Right this is your room enjoy. My numbers on the front of your folder should you need me." I don't need money, I need the experience, and I would gladly pay them for all this.
"Thank you Miss Hoff, I can't wait to start."
She smiled and walked off, as she did I noted her style and it was wonderful. Her business suit is tailored and neat. Her look would be the look I was to emulate later. Emily, I read would be mentoring me in some of the business side of things, along with someone called Jack, but his classes don't start until Ms Hoff's finish. I opened the door to my room and it is basic and clean. I unpacked my things and looked at the rack of new chef's whites, also in the cupboard is a new wrap of tools and a case of tools for chocolate use. I look at my training schedule and it is nearly all with Mr Hyde himself, I can only hope it is not like the Frost thing again. I got in bed after a long soak in the tub and would you believe it I slept great last night and it's been a long time since I wrote that in my diary. I showered and changed into my whites and head for the schools kitchens and it is like a ghost ship.
I'm early so that I can familiarise myself with the areas I would be working in. The main teaching kitchen is huge and so too are the rooms off it. The tempering machines are in a row white, dark and light. The stainless steel shines, the fridges are well stocked, as are the storerooms! Their shelves are packed with every cooking utensil known to man. The dry store smells heavenly and the ingredients line the shelves. The doors open and students start to arrive, I am finally here and my training has begun.
My first few weeks were a series of whirlwind events. My apprenticeship started with my being taught everything from the basics to the unknown, yes mundane and tiresome at times, rehashing all I thought I knew, only to discover I didn't know as much as I thought, but all my tasks were completed without complaint. I did three or four local competitions and had my business meetings with Emily, which were a lot more fun than I had ever envisaged them being. I loved every day here and thrived under Mr John Hyde's tutelage and Emily's watchful eye, she was amazing at figures and treated me like her younger sister she took me under her wing and sort of mothered me a little...
The nights I spent writing and working on my cookery book. A book I was asked to think about doing when the article about the chocolates, those great chocolates that given to the First Lady was first published. Everyone wanted to try my bags and boxes of Lust, after seeing her groan orgasmically on the television when she opened the darned box and I was suddenly inundated with requests to join different confectioners and other houses of chocolates when they went into production. With my newfound insight into the business side of things, I agreed to sell the range and the recipes to the House of Hyde. I had only invented ten of the chocolates whilst studying in New York, so Mr Hyde made me an offer on the rest, and he was very generous in the commission I earned, as Emily had said he would be. He paid me very well for the rights, though the old Lust recipes with some regret now belonged to the House of Hyde I was thankful too, because they had the power to make more and make the whole range better. They had the transportation issues already in place and they had their own shops and their well-established trading partners, and were able to sell the range all over America and Europe using just the three factories, one here, one in Belgium and the one at the back of the school in New York.
I also wrote to the relatives regularly Papa's was read to him by Nonno and Nonna or by his carer, but he did not know who I was anymore and sat and stared out of the window and waited to die, I visited as much as I could, but it broke my heart each and every time I did. I would just post the letter, letting him know I was fine and everything was good with me. The packages to my faithful customers I continued to send. The weeks turned into months, the months now totalled eight, and it was a tough old slog and damned tiring but I didn't care I loved it and the life I had here. I was now being entered into competitions regularly. I had won the right to wear various flags on my white collar, French, Australian, Belgian, English, Swiss and Italian; my neck looked like the flagpoles outside of the UN... The next competition is tomorrow in Belgium, the theme of the competition is Women. I feel I may have an unfair advantage there. The theme for the competitions is 'Happiness is...' and it comes in three major parts. Firstly the individual handcrafted chocolates and praline task, the twist in the challenge is to be in the presentation. The chocolates needed to be presented for sale in a unique gifting way and the gift was to be for a female.
The second is the sculptured part of the competition, it is to be sponsored by a milliner, so the sculpted design is to be that of a hat. I'd been to the high end fashion houses here, and taken snapshots and had a vague idea what I was doing with the hat, but I was using some risky new ultra-extreme chocolate colours. The third and final part is festival of desserts. I had to do three imaginative desserts, all must have a common theme, of my own choosing. I'd prepared my menus and the hat mould and shoe moulds were coming with me too. However, the biggest shock was that the House of Hyde were doing the dessert course, a dessert for the four hundred and fifty people invited to the gala dinner after the competition. I was the lucky head chef for the day too. I had a competition in the morning for the dessert part of the competition as well. Well, I may be under a little bit of pressure on Saturday then? Bring it on because I live for pressure and thrive.
"Miss D'Acciaio can you be ready in an hour? We have a plane waiting for us at the airport, and you will need to phone James with the things you want for the gala dinner, he will be expecting your call during the flight Miss D'Acciaio?"
"Sir, I can be ready in half an hour, I will work on the menus and get it to him Sir." Having done this countless times I was always ready for the last minute off, I always had a suitcase packed ready for the quick getaway. I went down to meet him and he is busy talking on the phone, he has with him a new student in the front of the building. He walks away looking for the car and is speaking to someone in a loud and menacing voice; something I have grown accustomed to, I don't often pee myself anymore. I feel a tap on my backside and I am about to lurch at the idot coping a feel of my ass but he backs off wisley.
"Hi I'm Freddie; I started here yesterday so how come I haven't met you yet?" I smiled and introduced myself.
"Anastasia D'Acciaio pleased to meet you. I was sourcing supplies yesterday for the competition and had to be there at the crack of dawn. So you are coming with us, indeed you are favoured, so are you looking forward to the trip?"
"I was, but the girl I room next to says he's a tough task master. He has a favourite, and one he's grooming to take over his Brussels branch."
"Mr Hyde is a fair teacher and he is excellent to learn under, he isn't a task master at all. If you work hard for him and put in the hours, he will repay you with his vast knowledge and experiences. He's never unfair he is just good at what he does, and as to the replacement that is utter tosh; James Frasier will never be replaced, he cannot be replaced."
"So is this your whole life Anastasia, this chocolate thing because it's kind of boring?" What is he a moron? He must be a nutter to be here if he doesn't live and dream chocolate? I launch into my famous chocolate is a lifestyle speech...
"For now yes and for the foreseeable future too, because you can't come into this industry and only give yourself to it in part, it's a demanding and challenging form of art, it's not just chocolate making to me either, it's who I am. I pour my soul into all I do concerning my chocolates. I want to be one of the best chocolatiers in the world, and under Messer's John Hyde and James Fraiser, I hope that comes to fruition and before I'm twenty five. I have a goal in life and I am using everything I have in me to focus on getting there."
"How old are you twenty two? You sound like you are a hundred and two; you need to live a little before you die of boredom. You need to party, do things and see things."
"Thanks, I've done that already and have got the tee-shirt as they say and I don't want to go there again either, and if that's your attitude you won't be here long. Mr Hyde likes a hundred percent commitment. And, I'm twenty, not that it's got anything to do with you."
"You need to get laid girl, you're way to uptight, loosen the panties a little!" He made a grab for me. I looked at the idiot before me and laughed. He won't be here long.
"I think Fast Freddie you better just watch that clever mouth, and if it's alright with you, I'd prefer you don't mention me and anything to do with getting laid in the same sentence and if you touch me again I will break everyone of your fingers and when I have finished with you you won't be using your dick for a week. Besides, sex and my private life it isn't something I wish to discuss with the village idiot. Do they know you have escaped or haven't they noticed because the brainless, straw filled scarecrow you left in your place is doing a better job than you?" I heard laughing behind me and turned to see another new student. If he cops a feel he is going down too.
"That telling you Fast Freddie, hello, you have to be the famous Anastasia? This ass is Mr Hyde's nephew, Fredrik and I'm his son Jack, and I'm sorry to say we aren't actually students Anastasia, Fast Freddie pulls that same line on all the new girls in hopes of partying hard with them all night, something he was warned about weren't you Fredrik? I am going to be running the business side of things and mentoring you when we get back, in corporate finance. According to Emily, you're a natural." Wow, he's cocky and he reminds me of a certain someone else. "My father thinks we need to see a few different chocolate makers in action, and that we need to speak to his colleagues and such, so we are coming with you, he will then introduce us to the right people. I'm surprised you're so young though, the way father raves about you, I thought you were at least my age, which is twenty eight, by the way." And he is up his own butt too, very I don't know, false?
"Does it matter how old anyone is in the scheme of things? I'm here to learn and not to do anything else and I'm hardly a new girl I have been here at the school for months, eight nearly nine months actually."
With that Mr Hyde joined us, as the ordered car had arrived, the bags were stashed in the boot and we set off. I was handed my schedule of events by Emily and as we drove to the airport, we discussed the competition. I watched as Jack interacted with his father, his father so obviously proud of his son. Freddie had just donned sunglasses and looked out of the window. Father and son chatted away until we reached the plane. Emily brought me out of my daydream.
"Anastasia, did you pack your little black dress?"
"No, I thought we were in competitions all day and for the whole weekend?"
"You are, but Mr Hyde expects you to win and you will have to attend and collect your awards at a gala dinner?" Jack smiled across at me as Emily spoke to me. I was rather ignorant and ignored the obvious come on.
"No, I'm sorry Emily but I wasn't given any messages yesterday, but I was at the market all day. So there's no pressure on me to perform then?"
"Sir always expects you to win, because you do, and you never let him down as will be the case this weekend Ana. With an hour to spare when we get there, you will have to grab something. Don't worry you would look stunning in a paper bag."
I smiled back at Emily as I Google somewhere to buy a dress from near my hotel. What a result, because on the very same street there are a lot of posh frock shops. I then looked at the schedule before me and whilst doing so, I phoned James Frasier's assistant but as she was unavailable I spoke to the man himself! He assured me the exposition centre was perfect, and the team had already set up for me and my lists of competition ingredients that I had already sent had been placed in my section too. Mr James Frasier is the head of the school there and Sir's cousin and best friend, I sighed good at least all my ingredients were already there. For the gala dinner he was sending five people to help. My shopping list of ingredients for the later event I rattled off to him and he laughed as he made notes and said they would be eating like kings, and that he was looking forward to working under me. He was to be one of the five people helping me, so I was definitely under no pressure then?
"Non preoccuparti poi, Mr Frasier, I will see you then, ciao." I made notes as I realised people were looking at me. I had talked to him the whole time in Italian.
"Miss D'Acciaio is fluent in Italian?" I smiled at Jack.
"Well being that I am Italian I would hope so. I speak a little Gaelic, French and a smidgen of English, plus I'm fast learning bullshit too." I say sarcastically, I put my headphones in and did a detailed run through. I put my things away as the hour long flight was over. Mr Hyde and the others got in one car and me? I'm in a taxi headed to mine. One day I will stay at the same hotels as Sir, why I don't I do not know, because I have the funds to do so. I guess I like it here in the cheap seats called real life? I gave the instructions to my hotel to the taxi driver and as soon as I got there, I went in search of the dratted dress and shoes; those were found within a hundred yards of the hotel. I got three and a few more things, more tee shirts, jeans and jumpers because I live in them. I hung them to let the creases fall, and unpacked the overnight bag, my whites would be waiting for me with the competition sponsors name on, this event was being sponsored by a women's beauty product company from here in Belgium, so it was to be themed around women. I left to go to the exposition halls, after showing them my identification I was given my new cards, I went in search of my kitchen areas.
"Miss D'Acciaio?" I'm greeted by four students. I think it always astounded people that I'm normally much younger than they were. It helped my progress into teaching by being born into a family of bakers; it also helped because I'd had many more years practical experience than them too.
"Yes I am, and hello, did Mr Frasier send you?" They all nodded. "Right then off to the kitchens to begin the boring prep work for Saturday's banquet, I'm afraid it has to be done and there's a fair bit to do too." I lead them to the makeshift kitchens they had specially set up for the event, not bad for a temporary kitchen. I ran through my list and the things I had ordered were all here.
"I would like you to make one hundred chocolate cakes to fit within the ganache frames. They are for the Death by Chocolate, please. Savoiardi biscuits will be needed too, can you please make six hundred to be on the safe side. I will need a few for my competition on Saturday too. Also, I will need mini macaron's in pistachio and chocolate, they are to be mini decoration sized and who of the four of you is the best one at the chocolate decoration work?"
"That would be me Chef. I'm Natalia Gordon."
"Hello Natalia, I would like dark and milk chocolate cigarettes making five hundred? All cut to two inches in length, then white, light and dark chocolate strands, again two inches and enough for five hundred. I will come and do the chocolate lace moulds for the ice cream later; they need to moulding over these glasses, they need putting in the cooling trays and refrigerating, if Mr Frasier gets here show him the menu. I need to get cracking on the vanilla, mint and pistachio ice cream. Did they send the ice cream machines or have they ones we can use here?"
"There are three and they belong to the school, chef." I show them the menus they will be working from and tell them what exactly I want. I look at the available dessert plates and choose the black long one with matching small espresso cup and saucer for the Tiramisu, the plate is long enough for the other three mini desserts they are to eat. Death by Chocolate is a decadent multi layered chocolate dessert. An Ice Cream Dream, is a chocolate bowl with a scoop of vanilla, pistachio and mint ice cream, with crumbled pralines on the top and finally the dessert tray is completed with a the Kiwi Cheesecake, a hint of chocolate and green run throughout, the event sponsor's colours.
"I'm really sorry to be saying hello goodbye, but I have to leave you to it as I have the first part of the competition to do, but I will be back as soon as it is over to help you, and do some prep work. This will be a great learning experience for all of you." I looked at them and they all seemed to know what they were doing, they took the notes with them to work from, they looked competent enough, and Natalia seemed to take the natural lead. I went to register and take up my position in my kitchen area. I found the changing area and set about my task for tonight, to make and present in an individual way a minimum of six handcrafted chocolates and the theme, Happiness is… When the email came through with the themes, I had already been working on the shoe idea, a chocolate glittering shoe and it was so ideal for presenting chocolates in.
As the competition commenced I worked hard, but at the same time I'm busy interacting with the crowds who are walking past my station and asking questions, which are politely answered. Firstly I begin moulding the shoe with the spray gun. It's filled with a mixture of red sparkled chocolate with gold edible glitter, a marvellous invention, sadly not one of mine! Two of those set aside and I'm ready on to the handmade pralines, an apricot and brandy parfait called Hot Mamma, a dark violet mousse which is my Dark Violet, my strawberry Very Berries Bomb, a simple nutty toffee, my Praline Dream, the champagne and vodka truffle, the Elegant Russian and then a risky chilli melt, my new Lava Java Bean, with that one I am working with chilli, chocolate and coffee. Then lastly, the salted chocolate truffle, the Bittersweet, the last two are a couple of my new ideas and risky. Then two of the old favourites, a chocolate and vanilla fudge, my Bean Dream and finally a white mousse bomb, my Citrus Torment. I mixed the various flavours of mousse, crèmes, and fondants for the centres and I began creating, I moved quickly and smoothly around the small kitchen, as the judges watched, asked questions and noted my ingredients. Their outer shells are finished too, so I put them to refrigerate before filling, finishing and decorating. I had started with the shoes, as they needed the longest time to set; they were out of the mould perfectly. Re-sprayed and when they are finished I have a pair of sparkling Dorothy red shoes, because there's no place like home and my theme is 'the things that make ladies go oh'...
I placed them on the presentation plinth and then I set about finishing them. When finished they looked like an actual, wearable pair of shoes. People watch and would ask questions too and I would answer them, it would be rude to ignore them, and as the crowds came past in their hundreds I carried on as usual. I made the ribbons for the front of the shoe and then the chocolate white, light, and dark roses, to place around them along with the rich red wine mousse served in a large wine glass, it too tasted divine. I stepped back took a deep breath. I had the vessels to receive the chocolates now ready, now to get them finished, with all of two hours left.
I assembled the chilli coffee truffle, after correctly putting the right amount of chilli in, I was so pleased I'd mastered the right amount and how to pipe the tiny coloured flame decorations, which were sweet. I finished the Violet Parfait off with a tiny piece of crystallised violet and finished the rest. The 'Elegant Russians,' are so easy to do, I think I can now do them in my sleep. They are finished with flakes of edible gold leaf. The Citrus Torment needed something special on the top. I made a powdered sugar and gold flecked dusting, to rough roll them in, after their dip in white chocolate and then added an orange flavoured dark chocolate mini curl on top. My strawberry Very Berries, are my favourites, and are the simplest to decorate, a fine red spray over the top of dark chocolate and a simple fork run over the top, simple and less is definitely more with these, the punch comes with the use of a fine wild strawberry liqueur, a Crème à la Fraise des Bois. My chocolates in the main are flavoured with the best and weirdest alcoholic beverages available.
The apricot ones were the fiddly ones to do, as they were thin layers of chocolate and slices of apricot sliced as thinly as possible. This is layered between thin layers of the rich dark chocolate ganache and repeated to the top of the frame and finally turned out, were the edible logo for the House of Hyde logo, would now be on the top. I held my breath as turned each of the three trays of twenty chocolates out. Success they came out perfectly, they called for the ten-minute time, and I looked at my creation stood back and took a bow. I'd finished, and the extra chocolates are presented at the side, for tasting by the judges. As I cleared my area I heard a voice to the side of me.
"Miss D'Acciaio you truly are wonderful to watch in action, two of them haven't even finished, and this looks like you've spent days making it instead of just four hours. Watching you work is quite relaxing, no wonder my father thinks so highly of you."
"Thank you Jack. Shouldn't you be schmoozing with your father though?"
"I have come to ask you if you want to come to dinner." My first ever date in lord knows how long, and it has to be with my boss's arrogant, yet gorgeous son?
"Sorry, I can't I have the prep work for the meal, and still have two more parts of the competition to prep for, the dessert and the sculpture, so thanks for the offer but the answer is no as I'm here to work."
"All work and no play makes Ana a very dull girl indeed."
"Thank you Jack, I'll keep that in mind for my day and night off on Monday, I will be a party animal then. I may even go wild and have a glass of wine or two too."
"Pity, I'm back in Paris on Monday, then I'm back to take up your training where the lovely Emily left off."
He smiled and headed off, he is strangely arrogant and yet pleasingly friendly and confusing all in the same breath, I know what he wants but he is dancing a strange dance. I forget about the impossible Jack Hyde and return to my competition. I laughed and cleared my area and awaited the judges. I looked as he watched my every move, and as the judges came to my station and I described my concept of a woman's need for pretty shoes, which could only be beaten with our need for wine, roses and chocolates. The wine flavoured chocolate drink set off the presentation perfectly as it was actually a fine chocolate red wine flavoured mousse. I stepped away from my now clean area, and I went to wait with the others. I hated this part because I could be doing my prep work for tomorrow. An hour later and we are called back at our stations. As I looked at the eaten chocolate I realised they'd all been eaten and as I didn't see any left in the rubbish, I took this to be a good sign.
"In third place from Hemi chocolate is Gavin Ransom, congratulations." He collected his award.
"In second place Daniel Frost Junior, from The Frosting House. Congratulations, your father will be very proud." That was Daniels son? I'm sorry Danny Boy, he only likes winners and as he took his award, he looked at me and scowled.
"And the winner from the House of Hyde is Miss Anastasia D'Acciaio congratulations." I smiled and received my awards. Mr Hyde came over and congratulated me. He looked at the shoe and smiled.
"That will be a good Mother's Day gift. The shoe idea will be an instant hit, as children will want to give them to their mothers as birthday gifts too. I knew there was a reason I liked you." My heart sank.
"Thank you Sir, I need to be getting back to the function room kitchen and supervise. Thank you for the invitation to dinner, but as I told Jack I don't drink and socialise when I'm working, especially with my boss's son." He looked angry.
"That's quite all right Anastasia I understand, and Jack should have known better, I shall have words." I placed the shoes under the glass chill display, as they would be collected later and raffled off for charity at the gala dinner, along with all the other entries. The chocolates were placed on my counter top, so the spectators could taste and leave comments on the cards. That done I went to the kitchen, armed with a tray of chocolates for the people working. It's time to get a move on and break the back of the prep work for today, even though I feel like I could sleep for a week.
"Congratulations Miss D'Acciaio, I believe the chocolates were mouth watering?" I am greeted by the wonderful Mr Fraiser, he is so like my Papa Frank, that I like him already.
"Thank you, there is a tray over by the rest area, help yourself Mr Frasier. Thank you for doing this, if you want I can take it from here as Mr Hyde is here with his son?"
"Thank you I think I will. The others have all gone home. Everything that can be done has been done, including the chocolate shell baskets you required. Four desserts you are going to be spoiling us. You too Anastasia why don't you go home and get some sleep the car will come to take you back? I called it as you came in because you look so tired and you worked well today, tomorrow is another competition day for you." I was so tired and decided yes on the sleep option. Finally having checked everything was finished, I went back to the hotel. Tomorrow it was a matter of making the ice cream, crèmes, the mousse and the ganache. Oh and making the kiwi cheesecakes, five hundred of them in a day they can then chill overnight. We will assemble as much as I can tomorrow, and refrigerated overnight to get them ready for prepping an hour before needed.
I take a car to the hotel, I walked through the bar where the people were laughing and joking, my mood dropped and the sadness returned, it was whilst walking through the packed bar that I realised how lonely I actually was. There was a party in full flow in the big room here and I looked in and envied their happiness. I figured they can be as loud and as happy as they want, I'm on the top floor furthest away from the hustle and bustle, so it won't bother me. I stop for a meal in the restaurant and watch as the guests are wandering in and out. The party is in full swing, it's a wedding I think? Whatever the occasion is the night is a hit for them. I finish the meal with a glass of wine and head to my room. The days during competitions are long and the nights as usual lonely. Showered and changed I send down my whites to the laundry. Then hit the pillow and sleep soundly again.
I woke early, dressed, grabbed my bags, books and I headed off to the exposition centre. I'd slept well because I'd been totally exhausted from the gruelling pace of the travelling and workload yesterday and today was going to be no walk in the park either. I just had to hope all my chocolate pieces had made it here in one piece, because I had just a mere three hours to assemble and make any extras needed. With my chef's whites on and areas prepped, I unpacked my stuff onto the massive steel table. For today's task I am to create a milliner's dream, and I am lucky only a few pieces were broken in transit. The competition starts, and I begin with the making of the hat, it cools down in the freezer between layers, I do a second and a third coat and as I turn it out everyone's fingers are tightly crossed, as we have no time to make another. and thankfully it is perfect. I join the insides with melted chocolate. The seams inside are thicker to allow for strength; that set, I polish down the seams and touch up the imperfections.
Putting the delicately made feathers to one side, I have to make two more and set about the task. There is an intense hour of fine piping ahead of me, all in garish blue and green chocolate. A steady hand is needed and I am lucky only two were broken; the different chocolate colours lie next to and also over each other, so they look like peacocks feathers, the blues and the greens of the eye look breathtaking when completed, with their shiny smooth silkiness they are eye catching, pun intended, I laugh to myself. The tempered brightly coloured chocolate looks amazing; the eyes of the feathers pop and look realistic and fantastic. I spent days perfecting the making of these, as they form the biggest part of the hats decoration, so need to stand out. My mission is complete and they work.
I use freshly made moulding chocolate, working it into a workable softness and begin making the roses and the ribbons. As the time ticks slowly by, I take notice of the people watching. I notice Jack again and he smiles as he watches from the seated area in front of me. He's with the idiot Freddie, who looks like he's just dropped in from one of the many all night bars in the town and is set on sleeping it off here. I smile and carry on as his father, John Hyde is coming to have a look.
"Did you sleep well, Anastasia? This looks like your usual good work."
"Thank you Sir I did. Can I ask when did Daniel set up as The Frosting House?"
"When you came to Zurich I had him replaced by Ramón, seeing as he did all the work and ran the schools in his 'absence'. I don't pay people good money to use me Anastasia. He was too busy in his self promotion to realise he had worn out his welcome in my company. Ramón trained you at my request, I had him train you because he was the only one you could learn the chemistry of chocolate from. This may surprise you too, but it was Ramón who first brought you to my attention, by sending me a little bag of Lust. Daniel had purchased several bags and was trying to pass them off as his own work and he tried to replicate the chocolates within and failed.
Ramón was asked to help and was impressed with what he tasted. Yes, he could replicate them but refused to as they were neither his, nor Daniels creations. He had found a diamond in the rough for me and sent me your creations. I was amazed; they lacked a little finesse, but nothing that a little training wouldn't help. I wanted you to be taught by the best, and Ramón was the best one for that training, he is very good at his job and I thank the day Daniel brought him to work for me. He was the only one I trusted to make my diamond sparkle, and he succeeded,he also said you were too good for New York and needed more challenges. Challenges I hope you have had these past months?" Oh my lord, I always thought it was Daniel who had given Sir my chocolates. It seems Daniel had always lied. I'd lost faith in him quite soon after my arrival at the school. I didn't trust him, and once working with him realised early on who was the better chocolatier.
"I enjoy the differing challenges you set me Sir and I have learned a great deal, but I think there is still yet more to learn, Sir." He nodded.
"He and his son are your only competition here today and Daniel Senior may make an appearance. Word is he wasn't happy his son lost out to you. I wouldn't worry; it looks like he will be losing out again. Good day Anastasia, I will see you later. I'd love to stop and watch, alas I have another meeting. Hopefully Junior will keep his distance, but watch your back he takes after his father. I have people looking out for his arrival and should he turn up, they will keep you safe."
"Thank you Sir, I will do my best not to let you or the company down."
"You could never me down Anastasia, you never do." He walked off, taking the boys with him. I carried on. Daniel was in fact fired, that explains a lot and it also explains the dirty look I was given yesterday from junior too, it wasn't just my imagination, but how did Sir know? He has bloody eyes everywhere.
"Chefs, you have half an hour of creating left."
I looked at my chocolate mannequins head, and the sheer amount of chocolate clay I'd made for that was colossal, and I was very thankful she'd arrived intact and unharmed. She now came complete with chocolate hair, the fun I had making that as did the crowd watching as I flicked chocolate to make strands. I assembled my piece, placing the jewellery around her neck. I smiled at the simple chocolate golden leaf covered locket finished off the display, it looked so realistic around her neck simple and yet elegant. I gave the piece a final once over, with the gentle steam of the steamer and tidied my area. This had been a nice piece to work on. I look around the room at the others and relax...
"Can you chef's please stop working on your pieces, and head for the waiting area whilst judging commences." I went to the area and disappeared to the toilet, washed and refreshed I went to sit with the others. Daniel was scowling again and whispering to his team.
"Mr Frost, have I done something to make you unhappy? I can't think what I can have done to you personally, because until yesterday I didn't even know you existed?"
"You paid a big part in father's removal from the House of Hyde and his converted position at La Maison Du Chocolate, something he says you will pay for."
"Until this morning I was unaware he had even been let go. I can assure you I am not to blame in any way shape or form for that occurrence; I can only think that Mr Hyde thought he was doing more self promotion than he was doing for the company. I can assure you, you were badly misinformed."
"Nah that's not it at all, you fed Hyde poison to get the position for yourself, bitch." I looked in horror at the idiot sat across from me.
"I don't want to be a head of house, just yet. I have much more I need to learn first and I am so not ready and if I had done that Junior, I would be there and not the very talented Ramón. So Junior get your facts straight and quit with the attitude, and like a bitch I bite." We are called back to await our fate, I look at the other entrants displays as I walk by them and they are wonderful, especially, even though I hate to admit it, Daniels.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, today competition was the closest yet, only a matter of three points in it. In third place we have Mr Daniel Frost, from The Frosting House." He looks angrily towards me. What, like I did the judging? It shocked me, because I thought his was good, perhaps the judges didn't like how he worked. All that is taken into consideration too, not just the end piece you produce, but how you get there counts too…
"In second place, with just one point separating him from the winner… As I said, there were just three points separating our top three competitors, from Dizzies Chocolatier the very talented, Milo Gogh congratulations." I looked over and boy was he was ecstatic? I had never met him before, but he was as I was when I won my first competition, way back in the day and busy jumping around like a madman.
"Now for the winner of today's sculptured creation and the competition, which was so very close to judge, it was a task that was closely fought over… From the House of Hyde, Miss Anastasia D'Acciaio, congratulations again and well done, it looks good enough to wear." I took my award and bowed, wow that was a near miss, just three points. After the clean down, I went to the kitchens loaded down with my bags, books and equipment. I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"Hello, Miss D'Acciaio, we meet again. Sorry I wasn't with you on your last day at the La Maison Du Chocolat, I do believe you did an exceptional job of creating the First Ladies gift, from the House of Hyde, that honour was supposed to be mine, as well as the publicity after the article came out. Old John getting his protégé to do it instead managed to make me look a complete fool, after I had just announced on television I was to be doing them. I was coming back to do them especially. Why did you feel the need to move the tables away from the cameras? Did you really think I was interested in stealing your pitiful recipes? I am a master chocolatier; I do not need to steal from a second class baker like you." He pulled my arm hard and he hurt.
"Take your arm off her Frost, if you wish to be using it again? Father was watching you for weeks, not just that day. He always said give you enough rope Daniel and you'd hang yourself, so we did, we gave you just enough and we have it documented on film. There were, and are cameras my father had put in that you knew nothing about, we needed proof of you stealing your student's ideas off them, and really passing them off as your own creations. Really Daniel you are nothing other than a washed up pastry cook, and undeserving of your titles. Something my father is looking to have you removed of? Your dismissal was nothing to do with Miss D'Acciaio, now take your hand off Anastasia and now." He did.
"You and your father will be sorry you did this. I will make you pay one way or the other and the House of Hyde, will come crashing down." I recovered rather quickly. I rounded Back on Frost and boy was I angry.
"Not Daniel, before your bloody house of ice melts. If you touch me again it will be the last thing you do. To think I wanted to be just like you? Thankfully Ramón taught me all he knew, because you were always too busy with your head up your own arse for me to learn anything from. Keep the puppy at bay too, because I will castrate it if he speaks to me that way again, because this second rate baker is fucking excellent with knives Mr Frost. Goodbye and good luck you need it, there's a forecast for sunshine and showers, watch your house doesn't melt too soon, get it back in the freezer with your son. He needs to chill down too, oh and for the record, he is the second rate baker not I" I fume at him and walk off. What is it with me that I attract nutters and good looking playboys?
As I said there is a back history first, and explains a lot... Read and review and don't hate me just yet lol... As I have done a few chapters already I will be updating whilst in Kos interwebby thing permitting... Thanks for following me and for buying my books, self publicising shamelessly lol Amazon and author name Curly Shirley... cheers.. xx