"No sir I don't need your help." Erica was trying to remove her hand from Edison's with the knife and Edison still forced to hold her hand and in the process of dragging, the knife slit Erica's finger. Immediately, blood started gushing out Edison left Erica. James was shocked. The knife was a very sharp one and Erica had a deep cut.
"Where is the health team." James shouted.
A nurse came with a first aid box Edison stopped her and took the first aid box from her "she should attend to the injury herself." Edison said and the nurse went back. Erica too was shocked she had never dressed a wound in her life before let alone herself.
"Miss Andrews you always get out of a rough situation right? so I want to see you get out of this one dressing a wound isn't a big deal."
Erica was bleeding she was sad and wanted to cry she looked around everyone had gone far and time was running out. She sat at a corner trying to dress her wound any mistake she could make the bleeding go further.
"What is this, why are they treating her like that." Rita said. When Erica was little she feared wounds and when her aunt wanted to tend to her wound her aunt battled with her.
"Oh my God what do I do and my finger is really hurting and time is running out and I'm still bleeding and I can't find do first aid."
Erica took a bandage and managed to tie it around her finger to cover the wound and somehow stop the bleeding after the competition she would go to a nurse.
After wrapping her finger she set the box aside and went back to cooking. "Miss Andrews is back." Edison announced.
James angrily looked at Edison "What?!" Edison asked him.
"I've never seen you this cruel to anyone before it's totally unfair."
"I just want to see Erica's capability."
"How do you expect her to cook properly with an injured finger."
"I'll see if she's up to the task."
Erica's finger was totally hurting her badly as she managed to cook twenty minutes was remaining her rice was on the table she hadn't even cooked it and her vegetable gravy wasn't yet ready and her finger was hurting she was so frustrated. Edison liked the frustration written all over her face and he was enjoying the drama while James felt pity for her and wished he could help her.
Erica put the rice on the pressure cooker and continued cooking the vegetables time was running out so fast.
The countdown began and Erica was dishing out her food and it ended "hands up." Judge Elena said and all the cooks raised their hands up, it was time to present their food for tasting.
Erica's heart was beating too fast she didn't even taste what she cooked and when the scores came, she got a ten from Judge Elena, a ten from James, and a seven from Edison. Total, twenty seven over thirty. Erica smiled broadly.
Aunt Rita too was happy and so was reema.
Finally the competition came to an end. James brought the nurse for Erica. "Nurse please attend to her wound."
The nurse opened the wound and it was all messed up. As the nurse cleaned the wound Erica shouted in pain. Edison watched her he felt sorry for her but couldn't express it then he went back to his ruthless nature.
After dressing the wound Erica stood up to go home. "Thank you very much sir." Erica said to James. "You're welcome see you next tomorrow, on Friday and I'm sure you'll give us the best." Erica smiled to James and left.
James went over to Edison "you've been defeated once again three more competitions to go and I'll have your car." James said.
At home, aunt Rita made sure Erica ate a lot of food and had rest to regain the blood she lost. "That judge Edison I hate him so much only three more competitions to go then we have nothing to do with white chillies again it doesn't matter if you fail as long as that evil judge does not trouble you anymore." Rita said.
"Don't worry aunt there is no success that is achieved without going through problems and I'm happy that my problem is Edison and nothing else."
Edison came back home and his mom and Sarah made fun of him. He went to his too ignoring them.
"Aunt why is it so easy for him to swap moods he's too grumpy." Sarah said.
"I too am tired of his grumpiness I wonder who will be able to get through to him." Elizabeth said.
The next day, Erica was about to leave the house when Rita stopped her. "Where are you going Erica."
"Charity, there's an old woman mrs. blaze I have to help her."
"Come on Erica you have to rest your finger you'll need it at the competition tomorrow."
"Aunt if I don't get used to working with it I won't be able to use it at the competition."
"I don't know why you are so stubborn and generous after all that's how your mom was just go but if you get hurt I'll spank you hard."
"Yes aunt, bye." Erica left.
Mrs. blaze was the old woman she helped cross the road. She rang the doorbell as the old woman opened the door for her. The old woman was in her early sixties.
"Come in child."
"Ma your house is really messy should I clean it up for you."
"Yes go ahead the cleaning tools are in the storeroom." Erica took them and began cleaning mrs. blaze house when she was done, the house was sparkly and mrs. blaze smiled at her "Thank you very much may God bless you."