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 on the

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

Amelia gets up and storms out. All I can do is walk away, my fists clenched.

I make a beeline for

another plate of eggs Benedict

hiss as the door

kidding!” he says. “What do we

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

wrong today. And Ethan, talk to whichever waitress had

no need to get too upset; Amelia West is just

speak with the waitress.

returns to its normal pace; but Karl is standing

mine. All I can do is throw him a shrug and walk away, hoping that this is the

happen today.

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

of hours; but it feels as though it’s only

a knock on the

“Come in.”

of the servers. Her face is

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

really sorry. I thought I could

annoyance in my voice—not directed at her, but

hitch in the

“Thanks, Abby.”

make matters worse, I’ve barely been in

doorway. He looks just as bad

I think I

go,” I groan, passing my hand over my face. “Try not to get anyone else

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

food critic, and the breakfast

heading back to the floor

employees, locked in

tables!” Lisa exclaims,

own the floor, Lisa!” Mark

my patience wearing thin. “Mark, give

and not

mumbling apologies, but the tension lingers in the

cheek, before turning back to the hostess station to see a a man

an official-looking badge on his

morning,” I say as pleasantly as I can.

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

if I

universe still has

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

highest standards.”

first, where Ethan and the crew are

to see the temperature logs, the storage areas,

labeling on the spices.