#Chapter 62: Too Much To Ask

The door to Abby’s office swings shut behind me, and my mind races as I walk back into the kitchen. First, she asks me to make nice with Chloe, and now this? Apprenticing under John, of all people? A guy I can’t even stand to be in the same room with? “Karl, grab the veal from the fridge. Now.” John’s voice snaps me back to reality, jarring and grating as ever. I grab the veal and set it on the counter, taking a moment to steel myself. I’m doing this for Abby, I remind myself. As if sensing my inner turmoil, Abby glances over at me from across the kitchen. Our eyes meet for just a second, but it’s enough. I nod subtly. I can do this. The dinner rush starts, and the kitchen turns into a whirlwind of flying knives and sizzling pans. John wastes no time in laying into me. “Come on, Karl, chop those onions faster! We don’t have all day!” My knuckles whiten around the knife handle, but I force a smile. “Sure, John, whatever you say.” Dinner service