#Chapter 12 – Feel Jealous
Abby

A cool breeze drifts in through the kitchen window, and I cross the room to peer outside. I live on the

top floor of my building, and I’ve got a great view of a nearby park. Standing at the window, I can hear

the whoosh of the wind, and shouts down on the street.

I’ve been waiting to hear from Karl, but he hasn’t called yet. I need to know if my restaurant can open

tonight, so I can get started on everything. The more time that passes, the more tense I become. I

spent the past fifteen minutes staring at the phone, but like a watched pot, staring at it just made it less

likely to ever ring.

My door buzzes, shocking me from my stupor. I cross the bright space and down a narrow hall to the

door.

I press the button and lean in close. “Hello?”

“Abby, it’s Karl. Mind if I come up?”

I don’t answer for a moment. I didn’t exactly tell him where I live, but I guess I didn’t have to. With all

those investigators working for him, I’m sure he knows everything about my life here. As much as I

want to refuse, I don’t think it will deter him.

“Sure.”

Of course, he couldn’t just call.

I press the button to let him in and open my front door. There are only five floors, and it doesn’t take

long before I hear his footsteps on the stairs. He rounds the corner and smiles when he sees me

standing in the doorway. He’s holding a man by the collar, and he shoves him ahead.

“What are you doing here?” I turn to eye the man with him. “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh him?” Karl shoves the man to his knees in front of me. He looks up at Karl with wide eyes, then

turns to me with a pleading look.

“Go on,” Karl says.

“I’m very sorry Abby.” He looks up at me, and I have a hard time meeting his gaze. “I own The Crystal

Palace. I’m the one who made a complaint against your restaurant.”

“Oh.”

Karl snarls at him.

right, and it won’t ever

gives Karl a terrified look. Karl just looks

to

to his feet. “Sorry again,” he

curled in. Karl watches him jog down the stairs, a

necessary?” I ask, folding my arms over my

me. “He owed you an

might have taken it a bit too far?” It’s just like him to

“Can I come in?” he asks, looking past me

me a talk.”

way. He wanders down the hall to the living room and I

say, gesturing to the green couch and the

edge of one of the chairs and I take the

to talk to me about?” I ask. “I don’t think it’s really

wife after a divorce.”

expression unreadable. “I’m here on behalf of the pack

go up.

have you been the past few years?” The sudden change of subject makes

much for discussing

first time. It’s

large windows look out at the street. The living room opens directly into

and last winter I painted the cabinets a soft yellow to make the room cheerier. Cookbooks sit

rows on the marble

the wall and soft Persian carpets on the

pans. It’s

I love how cozy

fine,” I

He nods. “Nice place.”

he really means it, but I don’t have the nerve to ask. “Yeah,

to me. “And you’ve

force a smile.

that simple. A lot of things

Opening a new restaurant and being successful at it is incredibly hard, and

all of myself into it

Karl to know

“Good, that’s good.”

us. I almost wish he’d get straight to

me. We were never ones

it feels especially forced

I’m doing?” he asks after

I’ve avoided any mention of him

If he’s attending a social event, I stay away from the media. I’ve had

his

to care about you,” I

with my life. And come on, you’re the

I could move on like you have, but it’s not so

I made

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