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!”

each man bristling like a cornered animal, inches

a powder keg ready

I snap, my voice laced with a finality

both comply, although the atmosphere is still

moment to make my

out that door than make this work, then

toward the door with an

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

team.”

hear the gears grinding in their heads,

I see it—the unspoken understanding, the awareness that there’s

stake here for him.

For us.

years. I’ve

team. Quitting now would be admitting defeat, something

core.

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

take a deep breath.

today, Karl, you’ll be apprenticing under John,” I say, setting my

your differences aside for the good of this restaurant.

issues, any at all, you’ll both answer for them. Am

reality of my ultimatum sinking

comes with the territory

John

mine, sending a

that feels like

Get

back into my chair with a

made.

Or maybe

to distance myself from the tense

I find Chloe knee-deep in bottles and cans,

she

Abbs,” she says, glancing up at

of a crate, my shoulders sagging.

up, her eyes meeting mine. “You look like you’ve just

okay?”

hesitating before I finally spill. “It’s fine. I just had to

decided to make

it would force