#Chapter 99: Help in Strange ces


    Abby


    The weight of the world feels like it’s pressing down on my shoulders like a leaden weight, and just


    when I think it can’t get any heavier, Karl appears in the doorway of my office.


    “Is everything okay, Abby?” he asks, and there’s a genuine concern in his eyes that almost—almost—


    makes me want to believe in him again.


    I hesitate, my eyes darting to my phone with Chloe’s unsent text. But there’s also a cook-off I need to


    win, friendships to mend, and a restaurant to run. “I’m fine,” I lie, although my voice betrays me,


    cracking slightly.


    “Come on, Abby.” He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “You and I both know that’s not


    true.”


    I sigh, shifting my gaze to myputer screen where an article on ck truffles res back at me. I


    already promised to myself that I wouldn’t let Karl get closer, and everything in my body is screaming at


    me right now to send him away.


    But before I can stop him, Karl moves closer, leaning on the edge of my desk. “Look, if you don’t want


    to talk about it, fine. But if there’s any way I can help—”


    “Help?” I snort, incredulous. “You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”


    He winces, stung by the harshness of my words.”Alright, fair point,” he concedes, pausing. “But let’s


    not pretend that I’m the onlyplicated thing in your life right now.”


    His eyes flicker to myputer screen, then back to me. “Now, what’s this about ck truffles?”


    I exhale deeply, a mixture of relief and frustration swirling within me. As much as it pains me to admit it,


    he’s right; I’m in desperate need of help. “I need them for a dish I’m working on for the cook-off,” I


    confess. “But they’re rare, expensive, and the season’s basically over.”


    Karl nces at the screen again, his eyes scanning the article. “You know, I might be able to help with


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    that. When I was sourcing ingredients for Adam—”


    I flinch at the mention of Adam’s name. Every memory of that whole debacle is a stab to the gut, a


    cruel reminder of not only the breakup, but the fact that Karl yed a role in it.


    “I know, I know,” he catches himself, shaking his head. “But Abby, the point is, I have contacts,


    suppliers who specialize in rare ingredients. If you let me, I can try to secure these truffles for you.”


    The thought of epting Karl’s help churns my stomach. Can I trust him? Should I? But there’s no


    denying the dire straits I’m in. “Fine,” I finally say. “Give it a shot.”


    His eyes light up, almost as if he’s been waiting for this tiny chance at redemption. He quickly pulls out


    his phone and dials a number. I can hear the phone ring, then someone picks up.


    “Hey, Jack,” he says. “It’s Karl. Listen, I need a favor.”


    My heart pounds in my chest as I listen to him speak to the supplier. There’s a hint of urgency in his


    voice, but also a smooth confidence that I remember all too well. It’s the same confidence that charmed


    me once upon a time, the same confidence that I’ve been trying to protect myself from.


    After what feels like an eternity, Karl hangs up and looks at me, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and


    disappointment. “I’m sorry, Abby, but even my supplier can’t get them. There are none avable on the


    market right now.”


    My shoulders slump, as if hit by an invisible wave of defeat. “So that’s it, then,” I say softly, almost to


    myself. “I’m really on my own with this.”


    He puts his phone away and gazes at me, a mixture of emotions swirling in his eyes—guilt, regret,


    perhaps even a flicker of genuine concern. “Abby, I know you have no reason to trust me. And I get


    that. But sometimes, even when the odds are against you, you can still turn things around.”


    I look at him, then back at the article about ck truffles on my screen, then back at him again.


    “I wish it were that easy, Karl,” I say, my voice tinged with an exhaustion I can no longer hide. “I really


    do.”


    For a while, we just sit in silence. But the room feels like it’s closing in on me with each moment of


    silence. And then, without warning, I can’t hold it in anymore. Tears spill down my cheeks like a dam


    that has finally burst.


    Karl looks startled, his eyes widening as he takes in my sudden emotional copse. “Abby, what’s


    wrong?”


    I hup between sobs, taking a deep breath before I let it all spill out. “It’s Chloe,” I manage to say, my


    voice tremulous. “She quit, stormed out. And Leah sided with her; she said it’s either you or them. And I


    can’t lose my friends, Karl. I can’t.”


    The weight of my own words hangs heavy in the air. The fact that I let it all out like that takes even me


    by surprise. Karl jumps up from his seat. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll fix this.”


    But before he can take another step, I’m on my feet too, rushing to stand between him and the door.


    “No!” I practically shout, my eyes fierce, yet filled with desperation. “You’ve done enough. I can’t let you


    mess this up even more.”


    He stops, standing just inches from me. For a few agonizing moments, neither of us says a word.


    Finally, he breaks the silence. “If you want to cut me off, for the sake of your friends, your restaurant,


    your peace of mind, I would understand. I’ll leave you alone after this, Abby.”


    His words hang heavy between us. And even as I stand there, choked up, contemting the multitude


    of choices I could make, I feel it—my wolf stirring within me. Our proximity is electric, each moment that


    ticks by amplifying the tension. The air is thick with unsaid words, unmade choices, and I have the


    overwhelming urge to kiss him.


    We both lean in, ever so slightly, the maic pull almost irresistible. But just as our lips are about to


    touch, I step back, catching myself in the nick of time.


    “Karl,” I manage to say, my voice surprisingly steady despite the emotional storm inside of me, “just


    keep your head down and focus on work. I’ll find a way to make my friendse around, but you have


    to promise me—promise me—you won’t cause any more trouble.”


    For a second, I see a myriad of emotions sh through his eyes—regret, hope, maybe even love?


    Then, ever so gently, he brushes a stray strand of hair from my eyes, sending yet another electric


    shock through me.


    “I promise, Abby. I won’t do anything to make things worse. Not again.”


    His words shouldfort me, but they also leave me more confused than ever. He moves to walk past


    me, pausing as he reaches the door.


    “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says softly, his eyes lingering on me onest moment before he leaves. “And


    don’t worry. We’ll find a way to get you those truffles.”