#Chapter 65: Apologies

The aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering tomato sauce fills the air as I sit at my desk, reviewing the inventory for the week. It’s still early in the day, but the restaurant has already started to come alive. My eyes flit over numbers and figures, but my thoughts keep drifting to the chaos of last night—Karl, John, Ethan, and that cook-off looming in the future like a beacon of both opportunity and uncertainty. As I’m about to turn my attention to the newly arrived email from Calvin, there’s a soft knock on my door. “Come in,” I call out, hoping it’s not another crisis that needs immediate attention. The door opens, and it’s John, looking a little sheepish. “Hey, Abby, you got a minute?” I nod, gesturing for him to take a seat. “Sure, what’s on your mind?” He hesitates, choosing his words carefully. “Look, about last night—I lost my cool, and I shouldn’t have said what I did. I was...riled up, and I didn’t mean it. It was a long evening.” I e