#Chapter 130: The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall

Abby Vanessa walks up to me, her heels clicking softly on the tile floor. The room slowly begins to pick up its volume again, but I feel lost in a giant void. “Are you okay, Abby?” Vanessa asks, her voice pulling me back to the present. “I-I’m fine,” I murmur, although the words feel like a complete and utter lie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.” I glance at Karl, who's standing a few feet away, watching intently. Vanessa smiles, a soft, empathetic curve of her lips that immediately puts me at ease. “Don’t be sorry. The culinary world isn’t exactly a bed of roses for women, you know? We’re already at a disadvantage just by being female chefs.” “That shouldn’t be the case,” I find myself saying, a hint of bitterness in my voice. “Skill and talent should be what matters, not gender.” Vanessa nods, her eyes meeting mine with a look that speaks volumes. “You’re absolutely right. But sometimes the world doesn’t operate the way it should.” She hesitates fo