Chapter 0259


    Chloe nods emphatically. “Leah is right. You can''’ let one setback define you. And you were amazing at


    the cook-off, despite the mishaps. You have a gift, Abby.”


    I shrug, avoiding their gazes as I take a sip of my coffee. “Maybe. But right now, I really am enjoying


    the managerial work. It’s less... chaotic. And I could use a little less chaos right now.”


    “We just don’t want to see you give up on something you’re passionate about,” Chloe says, reaching


    for a croissant. “Not because of what happened or because of... Karl.”


    The mention of his name like that makes my breath hitch. “I’m not giving up. I’m just exploring other


    parts of the business. And Karl has nothing to do with this decision.”


    Leah gives me a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to put on a brave face for us, Abby. We’re your


    friends. We’re allowed to worry about you.”


    I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I know,” I murmur, “and I love you both for it. But really,


    I’m happy with where things are right now.”


    Chloe’s gaze is piercing, and for a moment, I’m afraid she’ll see right through me like she did two


    weeks ago.


    But she simply nods. “If you’re sure... But we’re here for you, no matter what. And this doesn’t mean


    the end of your culinary career. You could alwayse back to it when you’re ready.”


    I nod, gripping my coffee cup a little tighter. “Exactly,” I said. “I just need some time. That’s all.”


    …


    It’s well past noon, and I’m fully immersed in a towering stack of paperwork. Inventory, supply orders,


    performance reviews, invoicing, payroll… All of it. It’s hellishly boring and tedious, but I’ve be


    used to it over the past few weeks.


    Suddenly, however, there’s a knock on my office door.


    “Come in,” I call out without looking up, expecting one of the servers with a minor crisis that’s easily


    solved from the confines of my desk.


    But the door opens and instead, it’s John who stands in front of me. “Abby, could youe and check


    on something in the kitchen?”


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    I feel the color drain from my face, my heartbeat quickening at the thought of crossing that threshold


    again. “I-I can''t, John,” I murmur, gesturing to the piles of papers on my desk. “Sorry. I’m swamped right


    now.”


    He frowns. “But it’s about the braising technique for the short ribs—”


    “I think Anton can handle that,” I cut in, maybe a little too quickly. “He’s been doing a great job, don’t


    you think?”


    John’s brows furrow ever so slightly, and I can tell he’s not convinced. “Um… Okay, sure,” he says,


    though his tone suggests that there’s more he wants to say. “I’ll ask Anton, then.”


    Annoyance instantly res up in me as I picture John or Anton standing outside the door, poised to


    burst in here and drag me to the kitchen. New ch?pter avаble o? Dr?мanоvеls.cоm


    “I’m busy!” I call out, more harshly than I mean to.


    But the door swings open regardless, and there he stands.


    My eyes widen. “Mr. Thompson?”