Seducing the Secret Heiress Page B

from the screen to look at him sharply. He shifted in his seat. The idea of men ogling Charlie didn’t sit comfortably at all.
    â€˜She’s certainly our ticket to the male demographic,’ Abigail concurred. The others in the room murmured their agreement.
    Gabe wasn’t so sure he wanted Charlie to shine quite so much, but dismissed the notion immediately. The monitor screened a close-up of Charlie’s face. She was beautiful in person, but on screen she was an absolute knockout.
    He forced his eyes away. ‘How’s her cooking?’
    â€˜There’s an immaturity about her choices and her presentation certainly needs improving, but she has creativity and natural flair,’ Jasper said. ‘You can learn about presentation and other techniques but you can’t teach flair.’
    â€˜I think she’s a definite. She has my vote,’ Abigail said.
    â€˜What does everyone else think?’ Gabe studied his team.
    The rest of the group quickly determined Charlie had a spot in the finals.
    Looking back at the screen, he couldn’t help thinking he was watching Britain’s first winner of First-Class Chef . Charlie had edged her way into his heart and he knew she would capture the nation’s.
    The question was, did he want to share?
    Charlie looked out the window again.
    Gabe’s black sports car was nowhere to be seen.
    She wandered down to his home office and clicked on the First-Class Chef’s highlights package again. It had been live since five that afternoon and she’d already viewed it three times.
    Only eight of the twenty South-East England contestants had featured, but it gave no clue as to which two had made it into the finals. Her interview with Jasper was the last clip and the longest. That had to be a good sign.
    Right?
    The video finished with a close-up of her face. She couldn’t quite believe it was her on the screen. First, because it didn’t even look like her, thank goodness. And second, who would’ve believed she could’ve been so successful so far?
    â€˜To have people say they love your food is an incredible feeling.’ She spoke with such passion on screen, she barely recognised herself.
    She glanced at her watch again. Five to eight. She wanted to watch the online announcement with him. Win or lose, she had to share the moment.
    She heard the front door click and Gabe’s footsteps coming fast down the hall. She jumped from the office chair as he strode into the room.
    â€˜Well?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘How did I go?’
    â€˜Now, now, Charlie.’ He turned her around, placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her back to her seat at the computer.
    â€˜You’ll find out with the rest of the nation.’
    Gabe kept his hand on her shoulder as he bent down to join her in staring at the screen. The warmth of his touch proved distracting but wonderful.
    â€˜Good day?’ she asked. Conversation might make the minutes pass more quickly.
    â€˜Fantastic. We’ve already had a million hits on the website and the highlights package has been downloaded over a quarter of a million times.’
    Charlie eyes flared with surprise. ‘Are you serious?’
    â€˜Deadly.’
    â€˜Wow,’ she said, shaking her head.
    â€˜Like watching yourself?’ he teased.
    â€˜Don’t be ridiculous. I’m nervous as hell. I can’t focus on anything else.’
    The computer clock counted down the final seconds to eight o’clock. She hit refresh and a new video icon popped onto the screen.
    South-East England’s finalists announced.
    She couldn’t move, too afraid to know the decision.
    Gabe reached across and grabbed the mouse.
    â€˜Ready?’ he asked.
    â€˜No,’ she said through gritted teeth.
    â€˜Well, shut your eyes then.’ And he clicked the link.
    Jasper’s image flashed up.
    â€˜Good evening and welcome to the announcement of the first round of