CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE – THE DINNER’S RUINED

Jasmine surveyed the array of ingredients spread across her kitchen counter with a determined gleam in her eye. Tonight, she was going to impress Gordon with her culinary prowess – or at least, that was the plan. In all honesty, cooking had never been her strong suit. Jasmine's talents lay firmly in the realm of visual arts, where she could channel her creativity into vibrant, abstract masterpieces. But after Gordon had wowed her with his own gourmet creations on several occasions, she felt compelled to return the favor. "Alright, Delacroix," she muttered to herself, rolling up the sleeves of her oversized sweater. "How hard can it be to follow a recipe?" Famous last words. Jasmine dove into the task with her typical single-minded focus, meticulously following the instructions for a fancy Mediterranean chicken dish she had found online. She diced the vegetables with practiced precision, her artistic eye guiding her knife strokes. So far, so good. However, as the evening progresse