#Chapter 21: Reprimanding the Alpha
Karl

I cross my arms and take a glance around the kitchen. The tiles sparkle like they’re brand new, and the

entire place smells like lemon cleaning solution; I’ve just finished mopping the floor, and although I

would never admit it to anyone, it’s… the first time I’ve ever used a mop.

“Maybe I’m a bit out of my depth here,” I think to myself as I look around. “But I want to do a good job.

For Abby.”

I might not know a great deal about mopping floors, but I do know a lot about running a business. I just

hope that Abby will let me help more in the future. She said she doesn’t need another leader, but that

doesn’t mean that I can’t give her ideas, right?

“Karl,” Abby shouts from across the kitchen, her voice commanding over the din of kitchen noises. “Put

the mop away. We need you over here cleaning dishes.”

She points to the growing pile of dishes on the far counter, then the dishwasher beside it. Ethan had

given me a long-winded tutorial on how the machine worked earlier, but I was really hoping to avoid

that particular job. The idea of touching soggy food and getting hot water all over myself isn’t the most

appealing of ideas, but I know that it needs to be done.

I nod and return the mop to the place I found it. The current dishwasher meets me at the back sink,

where the dirty plates are overflowing.

“Excess food goes in there,” he says, pointing to a nearby garbage bin. “You scrape that off and I’ll

rinse.” Until now, he’s been doing all three jobs himself. It’s clear he’s struggling to keep up with the

never-ending piles of dirty plates that the busboys keep bringing in.

“Geez,” I think to myself. If Abby was worried about losing business and having to close down, she

needn’t have bothered. Now that the place is up and running again, the dinner rush has been nonstop.

Without a word, the dishwasher hands me one of the plates. There’s a half-eaten steak on top, gravy

everywhere, what looks like mashed potatoes that someone swirled around with their fork before

deciding that they didn’t want them. I can’t help but scrunch up my nose at the mess; who orders a

steak and then only eats half of it? It feels like a waste.

name again?” I ask the dishwasher, wanting to fill

it.

Jack’s name to memory. I’ve always been good with names, and I’ve already got most

names in the kitchen down. “Here, Jack,”

his head at me and points at the

the plate. I’ve already

me an annoyed look. “There’s still mashed

dishwasher or

by the dishwasher’s attitude, but I decide not to argue. “Erm, sorry,” I

over the trash can. When I’m satisfied, I turn to hand it

makes another face, snat ches it out of

but let out a small sigh of annoyance at Jack’s attitude. But I’m determined to

my life, and there’s too much on the line for

that party with

less time

of dishes on the counter. If we don’t start moving faster, the dirty plates are going to start to

over us.

have to

crusted to the plates.”

saying. I’m getting the plates ready for you a lot faster than you’re able to rinse

should rinse them.”

“That wouldn’t make sense.”

plate and stack it next to the sink. “It makes a

charge here, and I say we do it this way.” Jack shoots me an

filled with annoyance.

open my mouth again to say more, but before I can, Abby’s voice cuts through the kitchen once

back to his work, and I brace myself for more orders or a

say, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my

arguments with Jack,” she says. “He’s busy and

“I was just trying

dishwasher. “It’s your job to

before, and you haven’t. Just do what

bet.”

nod. If that’s what

Even if it’s stupid.

Abby

He’s focused on his work, scraping food scraps into the garbage. I

to Jack that I can’t hear, but judging

look on

opinion on.

not the one in charge

is. He’s used to being in charge, and dominance

going to cause

bit of humility in his life.

dog everywhere he goes. Restaurant kitchens always teach people

which is part of the reason why I

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