#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.

new restaurant manager on the spot, a

ton of experience yet, he’s loyal, and I value loyalty

out of everything. Especially after what

to the task. He’s

of the most hardworking employees I’ve had. I know his injury

sometimes, but it hasn’t slowed him

around the pain. And

shifts will be easier for him. If I can

is.

thing is getting new people,” he says. “We

taking stock of the food and all future orders.

a nervous sweat. If I don’t hire new people

I say, turning to my computer. I’ve

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

just need to be good enough to

“I agree.”

work at the front desk taking reservations and

a few good

“Exactly.”

door, and Ethan gives me a curious

I say when I see him start

his chair. I cross the restaurant floor and

of sunglasses on. His business suit looks freshly pressed,

two coffees on it.

you and Ethan,” he says,

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

It’s partly what makes him a good Alpha. He remembers people

people who work for him, and the

he slips past me into the restaurant. I lock

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

his pocket, looking around

picks it up,

slightly away, and I give him his privacy. I can still

pretend like I’m not

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

I still don’t have the time. I’ll call you back later. I’m in

your boss. If I want your advice, I’ll ask

My eyebrows shoot up.

up,

ask, even though I already know the answer.

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

else you

his head.

or a waiter or

exactly fun work, and it’s not like you have free

you need to get your priorities

in the span of a few hours probably isn’t a good idea, but I definitely

mine. I need the

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