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!”

like a cornered animal, inches away from lunging

It’s a volatile stand-off, a powder

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

my surprise, they both comply, although the atmosphere is still buzzing with

the moment to make my stance abundantly

out that door than make this work, then by all

gesturing toward the door with an outstretched arm.

a team. If either of you can’t adapt, then you’re the ones who are

team.”

hear the gears grinding in their heads, weighing

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

stake here for him.

For us.

me for years.

Quitting now would be admitting defeat, something I

core.

slight twinge of both relief and trepidation in my

take a deep breath.

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

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

you’ll

the reality of my ultimatum sinking

with the territory of teamwork, of personal

John

mine, sending a silent message that only I can

say, exhaling a tiny sigh of relief that feels like it’s been

dismissed. Get back

back into my chair with a

made.

maybe a

distance myself

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

she takes

Abbs,” she says, glancing

top of a crate, my shoulders

meeting mine. “You look like you’ve just been

okay?”

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

to make Karl apprentice under John

it would force