#Chapter 20 – Accepting Help
Abby

“Stop joking around,” I say, placing my empty glass on the ground. “This is serious.”

“I’m not joking.”

We stare across the room at each other. I kind of want to laugh, but something tells me he wouldn’t

appreciate that. Still, there’s no way he’s going to come into my restaurant and work in the back. He

might think he wants to help, but I’m not sure he knows what that job actually entails. Plus, it’s not like

he has tons of free time on his hands. He’s an Alpha. Even if the pack is in a better position, there’s still

a million things he has to do on a daily basis.

“Okay, whatever you say,” I answer, opting for levity.

He frowns, a determined look on his face. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“I just don’t think you understand what you’re saying.”

He rolls his eyes. “I understand perfectly fine, thank you.”

I can tell I’ve offended him a little, but I don’t feel all that bad about it. I need real help. Actual

employees. Not my ex-husband stacking dishes in the back. I doubt he’s cleaned a dish in his life.

“I just don’t think you have the time.”

“I know what I have time for and what I don’t,” he answers. “And I’m no stranger to hard work.”

“Well, Ethan and I are going over everything at the restaurant tomorrow. So, if you still want to help,

you can show up sometime in the morning.” I don’t expect him to show up at all. “Fine,” he says,

leaning back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile. “Then I’ll see you there.”

Ethan watches me finish my second coffee of the morning, a look of concern on his face. After last

night’s debacle, I’m both hungover and exhausted. By the time I went to bed, I had maybe four hours of

uninterrupted sleep before I had to wake up and drag myself over here.

If this headache isn’t a sign that I shouldn’t drink that much ever again, then I don’t know what is.

“We need to get up and running before those negative reviews have time to fester,” I say.

The most important thing is that I get ahead of the competition. I can’t disappear completely, and just

recede into the background. If I’m going to maintain my position as a must-go spot, then I need to

reopen immediately.

spot, a promotion he took

doesn’t have a ton of experience yet, he’s loyal, and

of everything. Especially

total faith he’ll step up to the task. He’s already

the most hardworking employees

him sometimes, but it hasn’t slowed him

the pain.

be easier for him. If I can even stay afloat after this,

is.

new people,” he says.

got here, we started by taking stock

I’d broken out into a nervous sweat. If I don’t hire new people

need to hire staff on an expedited basis,” I say,

quickly post it online. “Even if some people don’t last,

need to be good enough to get things

“I agree.”

desk taking reservations and greeting customers. I’ll work

chef. If we can get a few good waiters and a decent bartender,

“Exactly.”

door, and

say when I see him start to

his chair. I cross the restaurant floor and unlock the

suit looks

two coffees on it.

you and Ethan,” he says, handing it

He’s always been good at

partly what makes him a good Alpha. He

to make the people who work for him, and the members of his

past me into

you came,” I say, turning to face him. I

pocket, looking around at the desolate room. “I said I

and he picks

privacy. I can still hear his end of the conversation, but

pretend like

on another job right now,” he says. There’s a muffled

time. I’ll call you back later.

response. “Last I checked, I’m your boss.

My eyebrows shoot up.

up, turning

even though I already know the answer. Her

did flashes across my mind. The memory of

there’s something else you need to

shakes his head. “There’s

a waiter or even a bartender. You seriously want to

It’s not exactly fun work, and

have the time.” “I think you need to get your priorities straight,” I grumble, walking past

hours probably isn’t a good idea, but I

I need

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