Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 61: The Apprentice
It’s Friday afternoon before the dinner rush, both the best—and worst—time to get this over with. The

idea, planted in my head by Ethan, has been rolling around in my head for two days. Finally, I decide to

set it into motion.

I lean against the door frame of my office, taking a deep breath before calling out, “Karl, John, could

you both come in here for a moment?”

I don’t miss the sidelong glances exchanged between the two men as they cross the threshold. It’s as if

the air thickens, charged with an electricity that neither wants to acknowledge but can’t ignore.

“Please have a seat,” I instruct, nodding toward the two chairs across from my desk.

Karl takes a seat, folding his arms over his chest as if steeling himself for battle. John follows suit but

not before shooting Karl a disdainful look, one that he returns with equal measure. The atmosphere is

so tense I could snap it with a knife.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the desk, my eyes shifting from one to the other. “Listen, both of

you have been valuable members of this team. But we’ve got a problem—a serious one. Karl, you can

be as stubborn as a mule, and John, you have a knack for being, well, grating.”

The looks on their faces tell me they both want to protest, but I hold up a hand to stop them.

“And so I’ve made a decision,” I continue, locking eyes with each of them in turn. “Starting today, Karl,

you will be working under John to learn the ropes as a line cook.”

For a moment, stunned silence fills the room. And then, as if a fuse has been lit, both men spring to

their feet.

“No way, Abby,” Karl growls, his jaw set and his eyes narrowed. “No way in hell am I working under

him.”

“You can’t be serious, Abby!” John chimes in, red-faced and incredulous. “I’d rather be fired than work

with this jackas s!”

man bristling like a cornered animal, inches away from

a volatile stand-off, a powder keg ready to

voice laced with

comply, although the atmosphere is

the moment to make

that door than make this work, then by all means

gesturing toward the door with an outstretched arm. “But

of you can’t adapt, then you’re the ones who are out

team.”

the gears grinding in

understanding, the awareness that there’s

stake here for him.

For us.

worked with me for years. I’ve seen him passionately involved in

be admitting defeat, something I

core.

leave. I feel a slight twinge of both relief and trepidation in

take a deep breath.

under John,” I say, setting my words in

your differences aside for the good of this restaurant. And let me be perfectly

all, you’ll both answer for them.

the reality of my ultimatum sinking in. It’s a bitter pill

the territory of teamwork, of personal

understand, Abby,” John finally mutters, albeit

his eyes never leaving mine, sending a silent message that

that feels

dismissed. Get back to

and John exit my office, I sink back into my chair with a sigh.

is made.

maybe a little bit of

push myself out of the chair, needing to distance

into the storeroom, I find Chloe knee-deep in bottles and cans, jotting down

as she

Abbs,” she says, glancing up at

of a crate, my shoulders

meeting mine. “You look

okay?”

spill. “It’s fine. I just had

well, I’ve decided to make Karl apprentice under John as a

it would force them to get