Chapter 0306


    Abby


    Excitement courses through me as I fasten my pristine white chef’s coat in front of the full-length mirror


    in my bedroom. My hair is pulled back into a neat bun, still a tiny bit damp from my morning shower.


    “Today is the day,” I say out loud, even though I’mpletely alone in my apartment.


    The sun has barely risen, but I’m already raring to go. Today is the day of the Alpha party, after all; I’ll


    need to get an early start.


    Back at the restaurant, we’ve got a mountain of prep work to get through. But I’m more excited than


    anything. After everything, here I am. And I’m almost positive that everything will go perfectly.


    As I finish getting ready, I find myself stealing a nce at the elegant dress hanging on the hook on the


    back of my door. The pearlescent white is shining in the golden glow of the morning sun, the delicate


    beads on the bodice casting tiny rainbows around the room. It’s stunning.


    But for a moment, doubt creeps in. Is it too extravagant? Should I leave it behind?


    No. I shake my head as if to dispel the thought. I deserve to look beautiful tonight. I deserve to wear the


    gown that caught my eye. I’m not going to let anxiety stop me from doing that.


    With determination, I carefully ce the dress into a garment bag and sling it over my shoulder. It’s


    time to head to the restaurant, where the final preparations for the Alpha party await.


    …


    As I step into the restaurant, the kitchen is already buzzing with activity.


    “Hey, Abby!” John calls out from behind the line, waving his chef’s knife in the air excitedly. “Today’s the


    day!”


    “Indeed it is,” I say with a chuckle, and nod my head toward his knife. “Be careful with that.”


    John, realizing what he’s doing in his excitement, quickly lowers the knife and clears his throat. “Well,


    the vegetables are all prepped, so we’re ahead of schedule.”


    “And the meat we left in the smoker overnight looks délicieux,” Anton chimes in with a grin.


    I let out a soft sigh of relief. Everything seems to be going perfectly so far. No fires, no sabotaged


    ingredients, no burst pipes or cut wires.


    With a smile, I make my way to my office, where I carefully hang my dress on the back of the door. I let


    my hand linger on it for a moment, picturing how it’ll lookter. I’m so excited, I can barely contain


    myself.


    And then my mind begins to wander. Karl will be here tonight… will he see my dress? Will he like it?


    “Ah, good morning, Abby,” Mr. Thompson says as he notices me. “Are you ready to take on the day?”


    I nod, smoothing down my chef’s coat. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”  Draмa?ovеls.cом


    He shes me a grin. “Good. I take it you had plenty of time to practice the menu yesterday? The


    ingredients were to your liking?”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Around lunchtime is when I finish up with the meetings and preparations out in the dining area. I join


    John and Anton in the kitchen after that, and together, we form a well-coordinated team.