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

sighs, pushing her chair back. “No,

out. All I can do

This is really bad. I make a beeline for the kitchen, where Ethan is wringing his

of eggs Benedict for the

the door swings

kidding!” he says. “What do

bridge of my nose. “There’s nothing we can

Ethan, talk to whichever waitress

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

the waitress.

entrance, returns to its normal pace; but Karl is standing off to the

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

happen today.

myself. Thankfully, I’m able to lose myself in some

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

a knock on the

“Come in.”

Her face is red

a nasty cold. She’s got a tissue in her hand and

I thought I could manage today,

mild annoyance in my voice—not directed at her, but rather

another hitch in the day.

“Thanks, Abby.”

to make matters worse, I’ve barely been in my office for another half hour when Ben,

the doorway. He looks just as bad

I think

my hand over my face. “Try not

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

the breakfast rush

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

Lisa, two of our employees, locked in a

Lisa exclaims, her eyes

tables? You don’t own the floor, Lisa!”

patience wearing thin. “Mark, give Lisa

and not

in the air after they leave. I

hostess station to see

an official-looking badge on

as pleasantly as I

smile, holding

I take a look

has one more curveball up

manage, taking his outstretched hand. “We always aim

highest standards.”

first, where Ethan and the crew are wrapping

see the temperature logs, the storage areas, and

labeling on the spices.