Chapter 0157
Abby
The restaurant is buzzing with activity as we prepare for the lunch rush.
Karl’s returned to work today, and surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as awkward as I thought it would. In fact,
there’s a sense of normalcy that I didn''t expect to find. John, especially, is ted to see Karl back.
“Karl!” he exims, throwing his hands up in the air. “Thanks gods! Get behind this line right now and
give me a hand, will you?”
Karl smirks and tugs his apron on, nodding. “Sure thing,” he says, crossing the kitchen to the line.
“Missed me, huh?”
“Don’t make me admit it.”
For a fleeting moment, I think to myself, maybe this won’t be so bad after all. But before the thought
even has a chance to settle in, the person I was truly dreading the most arrives.
Chloe.
Almost as though she sensed that something is off, Chloe bursts in through the front door. Her eyes
roam around the restaurant, taking in the staff, the prep work, and then they finallynd on Karl. Her
expression shifts so quickly, it’s like watching a storm cloud eclipse the sun.
“Abby, can I talk to you? Now?” The temperature in her voice plunges several degrees. I motion her
toward my office. The door barely clicks shut behind us before she explodes.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
Taking a deep breath, I choose my words carefully. “Look, I know it sounds incredibly dumb of me, but
he came clean about a lot of things, Chloe. And he seemed genuinely remorseful.”
“So you just let him back after you just told me that you were done?”
I sigh, passing a hand over my face. “I know. I know it’s stupid. But he wanted to help, and trust me, I’m
keeping my distance. I swear.”
She stares at me, her face a mask of incredulity. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Listen, we really need the extra help right now, Chloe,” I plead, my voice tinged with desperation. “I
can’t spend my entire day working the line with John while there are managerial duties I need to attend
to, and I don’t have the resources to train a new cook right now. I’m keeping my distance from Karl, I
promise. I know it’s stupid, but what choice do I have?”
The air between us thickens, electrified by the tension. Chloe’s eyes narrow, and her lips press into a
thin line.
“You have a choice, Abby. You always do. And if you''re telling me that your choice is to keep him
around, then my choice is to not work here any longer. Especially not with a man who’s proven time
and time again that he can’t change.” Her voice trembles, making her anger and betrayal all the more
palpable.
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I reach out, hoping to bridge the gap between us, but Chloe steps back. “Please, don’t go,” I say,
almost whispering. “It’ll be okay. Trust me.”
But Chloe isn’t hearing it. “Call me when youe to your senses,” she says, her voice thick with
unshed tears.
Without another word, she turns on her heels and storms out, leaving me standing in a room that
suddenly feels much toorge and excruciatingly empty.
…
The restaurant is in full swing by the time Leah walks in. The sight of her usually brings a wave of relief,
a touch of sanity in the midst of chaos. But today, it just serves as a reminder of the mess I’ve found
myself in. I’m sure that Chloe sent her, without a doubt. She catches my eye and motions to a table.
“Can we talk?” she asks.”
I nod and make my way over, signaling to Ethan to take over the helm while I take a break. We sit
down, and Leah dives right in.
“So, Chloe called me and told me everything.”
I sigh, unable to meet her eyes. Of course she did. “She was furious, Leah. She quit on the spot.”
“Do you me her? After everything Karl has done?”
I shake my head, frustrated. “No, of course I don’t me her, Leah. But still, I thought she would be
more understanding, knowing the situation I’m in. I need all hands on deck for the cook-off, and Karl is
a good worker.”