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 at

a

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

my surprise, they both comply, although the atmosphere

make my

out that door than make this work, then by all

toward the door with an outstretched arm. “But understand that this

adapt, then you’re the ones who are out of place,

team.”

hear the gears grinding in their heads, weighing options, simmering egos.

and I see it—the unspoken understanding, the

stake here for him.

For us.

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

be admitting defeat, something I know goes against his

core.

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

good of

issues, any at all, you’ll

of my ultimatum sinking in. It’s a bitter pill to swallow,

comes with the territory of teamwork,

understand, Abby,” John finally mutters,

sending

tiny sigh of relief that feels like it’s been trapped inside of me for

Get back

I sink back into my chair

is made. Only

maybe a little bit

of the chair, needing to distance myself from the tense atmosphere still clinging

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

she

she says, glancing

top of a crate, my shoulders

look like you’ve just been through a

okay?”

my temples, hesitating before I finally spill. “It’s fine. I just had to sit Karl

been tension, and well, I’ve decided to make Karl apprentice under John as a line

it would force them to