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

dish on

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

and storms out. All

a beeline for the kitchen,

make another plate of eggs Benedict for

door swings shut behind me. “She

kidding!” he says. “What do

nose. “There’s nothing we can do

And Ethan, talk to

an ‘attitude’. But there’s no need to get too upset; Amelia West is just a bi

to speak with the waitress. The kitchen, which has fallen

but Karl is standing

I can do is throw him a shrug and walk away, hoping that

happen today.

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

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

knock on

“Come in.”

Sarah, one of the servers. Her face is red

She’s got

sorry. I thought I could

hide the mild annoyance in my voice—not

another hitch in the day. “Feel better,

“Thanks, Abby.”

I’ve barely been in my office for another half hour

appears in the doorway. He looks just

I think I

my face. “Try not to get anyone else

I let out a weary sigh and sink further into my chair. Two servers

and the breakfast

back

employees, locked in a heated argument

my tables!” Lisa exclaims, her eyes

You don’t own the floor, Lisa!” Mark

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

and not

but the tension lingers in the

of my cheek, before turning back to the hostess

an official-looking badge on his

as pleasantly as

terse smile, holding his hand

I take

The universe still has

his outstretched hand. “We

highest standards.”

him through the kitchen first, where Ethan and the crew

to see the temperature logs, the storage

labeling on the spices.