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

another dish

pushing her chair back. “No,

out. All I

beeline for the kitchen, where Ethan is wringing his

another plate of eggs

as the door swings shut behind me. “She

eyes widen. “You’ve gotta be kidding!” he says. “What do

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

talk to whichever waitress had

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

speak with the waitress. The kitchen, which has

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

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

happen today.

I’m able to lose

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

a knock on the

“Come in.”

opens, and it’s Sarah, one of the servers. Her face is red and her

cold. She’s got a tissue in her

I thought I

annoyance in my voice—not directed at her, but

the

“Thanks, Abby.”

I’ve barely been in my office

the doorway. He looks just as

think

over my face. “Try not to

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

food critic, and the

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

our employees, locked in a heated

Lisa exclaims, her

don’t own the

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

and not internal

the air after they leave. I

hostess station to see a a

an official-looking badge on his

as I can. “How many are

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

if I take a

universe still has one more curveball

outstretched

highest standards.”

kitchen first, where Ethan and the crew

see the temperature logs,

labeling on the spices.