Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 77: Mounting Frustrations
Abby

The day starts just as any normal day should: with the aroma of simmering tomato sauce and sizzling

bacon filling the restaurant, and the sound of happy breakfast customers wafting through the air.

But as I settle into the rhythm of another busy workday, something feels off. I can’t quite explain it, but it

almost feels as though something is electric in the air.

That’s when it happens.

I haven’t even taken my first sip of coffee of the day when Ethan is suddenly rushing into my office

faster than I thought he could even move with his leg, and there’s a look of dread on his face. Before I

can even open my mouth to speak, his words are tumbling out in a torrent of emotion.

“Abby, we’ve got a problem. Amelia West from ‘Gourmet Gazette’ is here, and she doesn’t look happy.”

My heart sinks at the mention of the infamous food critic.

“Why?” I ask, bolting up from my chair. “What happened?”

Ethan shrugs, throwing his hands up in the air. “Hell if I know. All I know is that she got her food a few

minutes ago, made a face, sent it back, and started writing in her notebook. G od, I’m such an idiot. I

didn’t even recognize her at first…”

With a deep breath, I place a hand on Ethan’s shoulder reassuringly. “It’s alright, just keep calm. Let’s

make sure everything is perfect. Double-check the specials and inform the servers. I’ll go talk to her

and see why she sent the food back.”

After taking a moment to compose myself, I head over to Amelia’s table. “Good morning, Ms. West. It’s

an honor to have you here. Is everything to your satisfaction?”

She looks up from her notebook, snapping it shut with a sour look on her face. “Where do I even start?”

she hisses. “My food was lukewarm, and I couldn’t even taste the garlic underneath the mountain of

sauce on the plate. I’ve been waiting for my coffee for fifteen minutes, and your waitress had an

attitude when I sent the food back.”

The food critic’s words send a shiver through my spine. Amelia West isn’t exactly known for being the

most lenient of food critics. If I had known that she was here, I would have served her myself.

“I’m very sorry, Ms. West,” I reply, maintaining my composure. “Your feedback is invaluable to us. I’ll be

sure to brew you a fresh pot of coffee right away, and the waitress will be disciplined accordingly. Can I

you another dish

sighs, pushing her chair back. “No, don’t bother. I’m finished

and storms out. All I can do is walk away, my

bad. This is really bad. I make a beeline for the kitchen,

of eggs

I hiss as the door swings shut behind me.

kidding!”

my nose. “There’s nothing we can do now,” I mutter. “Let’s just

wrong today. And Ethan, talk to whichever waitress had

‘attitude’. But there’s no need to get too upset; Amelia West

nods, preparing himself to speak with the waitress.

normal pace; but Karl is standing off to the side, his

shrug and walk away, hoping that this

happen today.

to collect myself. Thankfully, I’m

as though it’s only been five

knock

“Come in.”

Her

but from what looks like a nasty cold. She’s got a tissue in her hand and

sorry. I thought

annoyance in my voice—not directed

another hitch in the day.

“Thanks, Abby.”

in my office for another half hour when

He looks just as bad as

I think

go,” I groan, passing my hand over my face. “Try not

sigh and sink further into my chair. Two

food critic, and the breakfast rush isn’t even

of my office, heading back to the floor to help out. That’s when

employees, locked in a

Lisa exclaims, her eyes shooting daggers

don’t own the floor, Lisa!”

patience wearing thin. “Mark, give Lisa her tables back. Lisa,

not internal

lingers in the air after they leave.

back to the hostess station to see a a man standing there with

an official-looking badge

pleasantly as I can. “How many are dining

he says with a terse smile, holding his hand out. “I’m Jack

Mind if I take

The universe still has one

Thompson,” I manage, taking his outstretched

highest standards.”

where Ethan and the crew are wrapping up the breakfast

on his clipboard, asking to see the temperature logs, the storage areas,

labeling on the spices.