Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

#Chapter 17 - Betrayal

Abby

“What? Why?” Some of them have worked for me for years, Olivia the longest of them all. What would

drive her and the others to quit so suddenly?

No one answers.

“Why are you all quitting?” I repeat. I’m not letting them leave here until I get some sort of explanation.

No one looks at me. Clearly, none of them want to be the one to step forward and tell me the truth.

After all these years together, they were just going to sneak away in the night without an explanation.

Without even finishing their shifts.

Finally, Olivia comes forward, a determined look on her face. “Because they’re joining my restaurant.”

I turn to her, my eyebrows going up. “Your restaurant?”

She nods.

“But why? Am I not good enough to work for?”

She shrugs. “I just haven’t enjoyed working for you. I’ve felt for a long time that I could do a better job,

and so I started my own place.”

I thought we were friends, but I can see now that I was mistaken. That realization alone is almost as

shocking as the news that every single one of my employees wants to work for her over me.

A wave of insecurity crashes into me. Maybe I’m not as good a boss as I thought I was. I’ve always

strived to make this a good place to work. A place where employees can actually enjoy their shifts, but

apparently, I didn’t do a good enough job.

I can feel Karl’s eyes on me, and I suddenly wish I just took a cab. Of course, after telling him I didn’t

need his help, he had to bear witness to my failure.

“I didn’t realize you felt that way,” I say as monotone as possible. I can’t let them see how hurt I am.

“You’re still stuck in this ridiculous family system.”

“Right.”

“And I just know my place will be really popular.” She looks around at the others. “Everyone else

agrees.”

Ethan shakes his head, but no one pays him any mind. It looks like he’s the only one still loyal to me.

With his pale, freckled skin, bright red hair, and pronounced limp, Ethan doesn’t come across as much

of a threat. I guess she didn’t feel the need to poach him with all the rest.

“Come on,” Olivia says, gesturing to the others. “Let’s go.”

They slip past her, glancing sidelong at Karl and Adam as they go. Olivia’s gaze lingers on Karl, her

eyebrows raised. I wonder how much of this has to do with the argument she witnessed between us.

Did she use that to convince everyone to leave? I refused to get an important Alpha a reservation, all

because of a personal vendetta. Truth be told, I acted petty, and I’m sure she used that to her

advantage.

Olivia turns back at the last minute, her hand on the door. “Good luck,” she says. Clearly, she can’t stop

herself from gloating. It’s in poor taste, but she obviously doesn’t care. “No employees. A shell of a

store. That’s going to be rough.”

I don’t answer. She just grins and pushes her way out of the restaurant.

There’s a stretch of silence, and I can’t bring myself to look at any of them. Ethan lingers for a moment,

then leaves me with Adam and Karl. He stacks the chairs. The injury in his leg slows him a little, but he

doesn’t put up any complaints. I guess he’s used to working around it after so many years.

“Abby,” Adam starts.

“Look,” I say, forcing myself to meet his gaze, “I don’t really want to talk about it right now. I need to

close for the night. Maybe you should just meet me tomorrow or something.”

“You don’t want me to stay over?”

Karl, thankfully, stays quiet.

I shake my head. “If you wouldn’t mind, I think I’d like to be alone tonight. I’m exhausted, and I could

use a good night’s sleep.”

It’s partly a lie. I very much doubt I’ll be getting any sleep tonight, but I don’t want to answer questions

or come up with some sort of explanation for this. The last thing I want to do is talk about it. I need to

process what happened, and then somehow try to wrap my head around what I’m going to do next. If

there’s even anything to do.

God, I’m so screwed.

“You too,” I say, turning to Karl. “I can’t deal with all this right now.” I gesture between the two of them.

“You don’t need help cleaning up?”

A dry laugh escapes. “You, cleaning? Now that would be a sight.”

His brows pull together. “I was genuinely offering.”

I shake my head. “Me and Ethan have this.”

He must see how desperate I am for him to leave, because he gives in for once. “Fine. We’ll talk again

soon.” He doesn’t spare Adam another glance before he’s gone.

“I’ll call you,” I say to Adam.

He nods and kisses me on the cheek. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. I respect your business choices

and I can provide financial support if you want to continue opening the restaurant.”

“Thanks, we’ll talk about it more tomorrow.”

I shouldn’t feel as relieved as I do when he’s gone. Sometimes it feels more like we’re business

partners than a couple. Shouldn’t I want him to stay and comfort me? Isn’t that what real couples do?

Instead, I got rid of him the first moment I could.

I tell Ethan I’m going to get the dishwasher going. He nods and gets to work on mopping the floor. The

minute I’m in the kitchen, I let the tears fall. I can’t believe this is happening.

I order another drink, and the bartender pushes a glass of Vodka Soda across the smooth surface of

the bar. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had, and room teeters a bit as I take a sip.

“And a shot of tequila,” I say.

He nods and pours one for me. I down it instantly, the alcohol burning as it slides down my throat. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I didn’t open today, and I spent most of the afternoon calling customers to apologize for the loss of their

reservations. I’m hoping I can get the restaurant open by Monday, but I’m not sure how I’ll be able to

pull that off. I felt so hopeless, sitting in the silence of my apartment, that I decided the only thing to do

was go out and forget my problems for a while.

Leah’s around here somewhere, but I haven’t seen her since she went off with a handsome guy in a

business suit. The best thing about him was that he kept buying both of us drinks, getting me

spectacularly drunk. I’m a bit of a lightweight, and I rarely drink a lot, but if there was ever a night to let

loose, it’s tonight. I just need an escape from the stress.

I stand by myself, sipping my drink. I stumble a few steps and mutter a few apologies to the people

beside me. One guy grins and moves closer. He puts his hand low on my back and I tense.

“That dress is pretty sexy,” he says in my ear, his breath hot. “We should dance.” He pushes me toward

the dancefloor, but I stand my ground. “I don’t want to dance.”

“Come on.” He moves even closer. “Don’t be like that.”

I step away from him. “I’m not interested,” I say, slurring a bit. I force my way through the wall of bodies

and pull my phone out of my clutch.

I bring up Adam’s contact. Maybe he can come get me. I don’t feel safe leaving by myself, and Leah’s

nowhere in sight. A hand on my arm stops me from dialing.

“Now, where do you think you’re going?” He spins me around, his fingers digging into my wrist. The

world teeters dangerously.

Suddenly, an arm twines around my waist and I’m pulled back against a broad, warm chest.

“Take your hands off her,” Karl demands, a dangerous edge to his voice.

The man lets go and puts his hands up. “Sorry man, I didn’t know she was with someone.”

Karl growls, and he scurries off. I can feel the rage radiating from him as he gently turns me around.

“Come on,” he says, giving me a concerned look. “Let’s get you out of here.”

I nod, relieved for once to see him. I just want to get out of this bar.

He takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. Then the pulsing lights of the bar fade away.