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!”

tension escalates, each man bristling like a cornered animal, inches away from lunging

volatile stand-off, a

down,” I snap, my voice laced with a finality that allows no room for

the

the moment to make

of you would rather walk out that door than make this work, then by all

with an outstretched arm.

then you’re the ones who are

team.”

grinding in their heads, weighing options, simmering egos. Karl’s

it—the unspoken understanding,

stake here for him.

For us.

for John, he’s worked with me for years. I’ve seen

be admitting defeat, something I know

core.

of the men move to leave. I feel a slight twinge of both relief and trepidation in my

take a deep breath.

apprenticing under John,” I say, setting my words in stone. “I expect

of this restaurant. And let

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

men lock eyes with me, the reality of my ultimatum sinking in. It’s a

comes with the territory of teamwork, of personal

Abby,” John

nods, his eyes never leaving mine, sending

exhaling a tiny sigh of relief that feels

Get

sink back into my chair with a sigh. My mind churns with

The decision is made.

maybe

chair, needing to distance myself from

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

she

Abbs,” she says,

sink onto the top of a

up, her eyes meeting mine. “You look like you’ve just been through a war. Is

okay?”

“It’s fine. I just had to

I’ve decided to make Karl

force them to