After another whirlwind week,one that saw McKrapper Foods successfully host the much publicized Philippines Children's Play Awards, complete with confetti, mascots, and a mini dance contest for the kids,the nation's buzz quickly shifted to something even bigger.
The IPR Nomination List was finally out.
It dropped like a bomb across newsrooms and billboards from Manila to Davao. Social media pages of major culinary companies had the list splashed across their timelines. Ten names. Ten seats at the table. Ten shots at glory. And there, nestled in bold on the list at number four, was McKrapper Foods Company—and by extension, her name.
Zoey Scandova.
Well, technically still "Brooke" to a few who knew her backstory, but now,officially, proudly, confidently—Zoey. She had earned that.
The following week, Zoey was flown to the IPR headquarters for the prestigious seminar, a pre-qualifier tradition for all nominated company reps. The building alone screamed power: steel columns, marble floors, glass ceilings that caught the light like ambition.
She stepped inside wearing a cinnamon-brown pantsuit with pointed heels and her sleek ponytail swinging behind her like a whisper of purpose. Corelle wasn't allowed in this time. It was all on her.
In the lobby, she spotted a few familiar faces from articles, headlines, old videos from past contests. She recognized the tall, elegant boy from Onyix Pelix Edibles,Lars—with his silver-rimmed glasses and cold, calculated gaze. There was the girl with the full curly bob, representative of Chokolatte King, and another quiet, confident-looking woman from Brilliantes Family Foods.
"This is not a game," Zoey whispered to herself as she adjusted her lanyard.
The seminar began with a welcome speech by a sharp-toned executive who looked like she hadn't smiled since the 2018 global food summit.
"Welcome to the foundation of legacy," she said. "You are the front-liners of your companies. What happens in the next few weeks can redefine your future and that of your employers. The Intercontinental Prize, the IPDC, awaits the best of you. But for now, you earn your place here."
They handed each rep a silver folder containing the codes ,temporary, intra-continental codes as explained later. Nothing global, not yet. That came only after qualification to the IPDC.
Zoey listened intently, jotting notes, sipping water only when the pressure in her chest eased. The entire session lasted five hours, broken only by brief breathers and Q&As that mostly turned into ego displays from some of the veteran reps.
But things really got interesting at the closing buffet.
"Hi," Zoey approached a petite girl near the salad table, who wore an olive trench and was nibbling on cucumber slices. "I'm Zoey, McKrapper Foods. Nice to meet you."
The girl looked her up and down. "Good luck," she said shortly. "You'll need it."
Zoey blinked. "Thanks, I guess."
As she turned to try another circle, a deeper voice chimed in from behind her. "They're just trying to test you. Everyone does that to first-timers."
Zoey turned to face him, a warm-faced guy with dimples, maybe her age. His tag read: Kandys.
"I'm Dre," he said, offering a smile.
"Zoey."
"They all just want to warn you," Dre continued. "Because… well ,she's here."
"She?"
Dre leaned in dramatically. "Serena De-Aguas. The face of Sanchez Premier Foodz. The undefeated queen. She's won this thing for seven years straight."
Zoey swallowed. "Seven?!"
"She started with them when she was five. Trained, polished, media-groomed. They call her the culinary empress of the east."
Zoey laughed dryly. "That sounds like something out of a dystopian TV show."
"It kind of is," Dre said. "Also—see that guy in the red blazer? Onyix Pelix. That's Lars. He was valedictorian of Paxford Culinary Academy. His brain is sharper than his knife set. He's won twice already."
Just then, another rep, tall, with box braids and sharp cheekbones, walked by and muttered under her breath, "Man up, sweetheart. You're swimming with sharks now."
Zoey flinched. That one stung. But she refused to let it stick. She straightened her spine, poured herself some mango juice like it was champagne, and sipped slowly.
Back in the company van after the event, she didn't speak much.
Mr. Dominic noticed. "All good?"
Zoey finally exhaled. "I just realized this isn't about food or marketing anymore. It's war. These people don't just want to win ,they want to obliterate."
Mr. Dominic chuckled. "And?"
Zoey smiled faintly, eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Then I better show them what happens when the underdog bites back."
Her hands clenched around her folder like a sword.
The game had officially begun.