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 on the

her chair back. “No, don’t

All I

a beeline for the kitchen, where Ethan is wringing his

make another plate of eggs Benedict for the

I hiss as the door swings shut behind

kidding!” he says.

the bridge of my nose. “There’s nothing we can do now,” I mutter.

else goes wrong today. And Ethan, talk

there’s no need to get too upset; Amelia West is just a bi

himself to speak with the waitress. The

but Karl is standing off to the side,

a shrug

happen today.

to my office to collect myself. Thankfully, I’m able to

it feels as though it’s only been five minutes that I’ve been alone

a knock

“Come in.”

of the servers. Her face is red and her eyes are

cold. She’s got a tissue

I thought

hide the mild annoyance in my voice—not

in the

“Thanks, Abby.”

matters worse, I’ve barely been in

in the doorway. He looks just as bad as

think

I groan, passing my hand over my

weary sigh and sink further into my chair.

food critic, and the

heading back to the floor to help out.

employees, locked in a heated argument by the

Lisa exclaims, her eyes

own the

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

not internal

apologies, but the tension lingers in the air after they leave. I watch

turning back to the hostess station to see

and an official-looking badge

pleasantly as

a terse smile, holding his hand

if I take a look

The universe still has one more curveball

Thompson,” I manage, taking his outstretched hand. “We always aim

highest standards.”

kitchen first, where Ethan and the

the temperature logs, the storage areas,

labeling on the spices.