Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 60

I’m standing over a steaming pot of ragù, stirring as I listen to the sizzle and pop of ingredients melding together in culinary harmony.

The kitchen is a whirlwind of activity, the dinner rush in full swing. But amidst the orchestrated chaos, a discordant note strikes my ears. It's John, my head chef, talking to another member of the kitchen staff.

“The guy just can’t get it together,” John grumbles. “It’s like he’s deficient or something. Honestly, why Abby even hired him of all people is beyond me.”

I immediately recognize that he’s talking about Karl. I would normally be bothered by this sort of talk to people’s faces, but today is Karl’s day off, which makes the conversation even more inappropriate.

And despite what I think about Karl, it’s not cool to be talking behind a coworker’s back. Especially not in my kitchen, where I value respect.

“I swear,” John continues, oblivious to the fact that I can hear him, “he’s a downright jackass. And he can’t follow directions to save his life. Hell, my kid was watching that one movie the other night, what’s it called… Alice in Wonderland. He reminds me of Tweedledee. Now all we need is a Tweedledum.”

John bursts out into laughter, clearly amused by his own jokes. No one else laughs; maybe because they’ve realized that I’m right here, listening to every word.

I’m well aware that Karl is still new to the restaurant business, still trying to acclimate to the hierarchy and flow of the kitchen. But we all started somewhere, and the last thing he—or any of us—needs is a colleague undermining him behind his back.

With a sigh, I delegate the sauce to someone else and wipe my hands on a kitchen towel.

“John, could you come into my office for a moment?”

His face pales a fraction, as if he knows he’s been caught. “Erm… Sure, Abby,” he responds, his voice edged with trepidation.

Once we’re behind the closed door of my office, I sink into my chair. I watch John as he hesitates, clearly uncomfortable, before taking the seat across from me.

“So, John, what’s the issue with Karl?” I cut straight to the chase, my eyes meeting his squarely.

John sighs, running his fingers through his hair. “Look, Abby, he makes a lot of mistakes. He’s sloppy, and he can get downright belligerent when anyone tries to correct him.”

I fold my arms over my chest, feeling a mixture of frustration and disappointment. John isn’t wrong; I’ve seen it firsthand. Hell, I’ve lived it. Karl is an Alpha, and there’s no doubt about it. But it doesn’t mean that he should be badmouthed when he’s not even around to defend himself.

“John, you’ve been with this restaurant since we opened,” I say gently. “You know better than to badmouth a coworker when they’re not here to defend themselves. That’s not how we handle issues in this establishment.”

He seems to flinch at my words. “I understand that, Abby. It won’t happen again.”

“It had better not,” I reply, my voice firm. “I don’t want you making a bad impression on the other employees. This isn’t one of those restaurants where it’s a free-for-all. Everyone needs to be respectful of everyone else. Got it?”

John nods solemnly. “I get it, Abby. I do. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. But Abby, please, you’ve gotta do something about Karl. He’s not exactly ‘respectful’, either.”

“I know,” I say with a sigh, already wondering how to broach the subject with Karl when we’re already on such shaky ground. “We’ll sort out any issues you have with Karl when he’s present. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” John replies, his voice tinged with regret.

“Then you can go,” I say, gesturing to the door. He nods, stands up, and exits my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I lean back in my chair, my mind racing. The atmosphere in the restaurant, especially the kitchen, is like a finely tuned instrument.