#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.

made Ethan my new restaurant manager on the spot, a promotion he

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

Especially

total faith he’ll step up to the task. He’s already proven a delight to work with.

of the most hardworking employees I’ve had. I

but it

work around the pain. And now that he’ll

hopefully his shifts will be easier for him. If I can even

is.

new

by taking stock of the food and all future orders. By the

a nervous sweat. If I don’t hire new people soon, I’m basically

expedited basis,” I say,

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

need to be good enough to get

“I agree.”

at the front desk taking reservations and greeting customers. I’ll work back here

good waiters and a decent bartender, then

“Exactly.”

loud knock at the front door, and Ethan gives me

get it,” I say when I see him start to stand

and sinks back into his chair. I cross the restaurant floor and unlock the door.

of sunglasses on. His business suit looks freshly

two coffees on it.

says, handing it off

he remembered Ethan’s name. He’s always been good

good Alpha. He remembers people even if he’s only

to make the people who work for him, and

into the restaurant. I

I say, turning to face him. I don’t bother to hide the fact

slides his sunglasses into his pocket, looking around

reply, and he picks it up, giving me an

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

like I’m not

right now,” he says.

I still don’t have the time. I’ll call

boss.

My eyebrows shoot up.

He hangs up, turning to face

know the answer.

flashes across my mind. The memory of it makes me angrier

else you

his head. “There’s

an Alpha, not a cook or a waiter or even a bartender.

dinner rush? It’s not exactly fun work, and it’s not like you

have the time.” “I think you need to get

in the span of a few hours probably isn’t a good

I need the

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