Mr. Carter sipped his wine, his sharp eyes fixed on Emma. “I see it, but what’s intriguing is that he doesn’t seem bothered. He’s waiting, but not for the food. I think he’s waiting for something else.”
Shaq remained seated, occasionally glancing at the paintings on the walls or the sparkling chandelier overhead. His unshakable calmness not only heightened Emma’s frustration but also highlighted the pettiness in her behavior.
As Emma walked past Shaq’s table yet again, she deliberately turned her back and spoke loudly enough for a colleague to hear. “Sometimes I think certain people don’t understand that not everyone belongs here. It’s amusing to watch how hard they try to fit in.”
Though her words weren’t directly addressed to him, their target was clear. A few diners began whispering among themselves, some visibly disapproving but unwilling to intervene.
At another table, Lisa, who had been observing the entire situation, couldn’t hide her anger. Setting her wine glass down, she said to her friend, “She’s awful. I don’t understand why this restaurant keeps someone like her on staff.”
Her friend nodded, looking thoughtful. “But look at him. He doesn’t need anyone to stand up for him. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
The prolonged wait turned into a tense performance, with Shaq’s calm demeanor and confidence making him the undisputed lead actor. Yet it was this very composure that exposed Emma’s unprofessionalism and small-mindedness, a realization she had yet to come to terms with.
The atmosphere inside La Lumiere restaurant grew increasingly tense, not because of any loud commotion, but due to the unusual silence surrounding Shaq. He remained seated at his corner table near the kitchen, his demeanor calm, while Emma continued to blatantly ignore him.
Her unprofessional behavior and rude attitude were no longer a secret. They had captured the attention of many diners.
At the central table, Mr. Carter leaned slightly forward, his voice low but laced with indignation. “She’s incredibly rude,” he remarked, his eyes fixed on Emma, who was laughing and chatting with another group of diners.
Mrs. Carter, who had been observing everything from the start, nodded subtly, her face showing clear displeasure. “I’ve never seen a staff member behave like this. She’s clearly trying to humiliate him. We should report her to the manager.”
Mr. Carter set his wineglass down, his expression composed yet resolute. “I agree. Someone like her shouldn’t be working in a place like this. But let’s wait and see how this unfolds.”
In another corner of the restaurant, Lisa, a young entrepreneur with a neatly cropped haircut, could no longer remain silent. She shook her head, her eyes filled with disapproval, as she glanced toward Emma. Lisa had noticed the unfair treatment from the moment Shaq walked in, and Emma’s actions only fueled her indignation.
“She’s terrible,” Lisa said to her companion, a man intently following the situation. “I can’t believe a high-end restaurant like this would tolerate behavior like that.”
The man furrowed his brow thoughtfully. “Maybe because he hasn’t said anything they think he’s easy to overlook, but I have a feeling he’s waiting for the right moment.”
Lisa tilted her head, curiosity in her gaze as she looked toward Shaq, who sat upright, his face serene. “He seems so confident, but I hope the manager intervenes soon. Letting this drag on is just too unfair.”
Nearby, an elderly woman, Mrs. Hamilton, sat quietly with her granddaughter, observing the entire scene. She sipped her tea and placed the cup down with a soft clink. “This is disgraceful,” she said, her voice soft but weighty. “Wait staff are here to serve, not to judge the customers. That young woman needs to learn a lesson.”
Her granddaughter, a bright-eyed young woman, leaned forward. “Do you think he’s going to do anything? He’s just sitting there, not saying a word.”
“His silence is the answer,” Mrs. Hamilton replied, her tone calm. “People who truly know their worth don’t need to prove it to anyone. He knows who he is, and that girl will ruin herself soon enough.”
Meanwhile, Emma, oblivious to the simmering discontent spreading through the room, continued to focus on her personal agenda. She spent extra time at the central tables, deliberately engaging in lengthy conversations to divert attention from what she believed might spotlight Shaq.
Passing by Shaq’s table once again, she didn’t even glance his way, but spoke loudly enough to be heard as she conversed with a colleague. “This is why we need higher standards. Not everyone understands the sophistication required here, and clearly not everyone belongs.”
Shaq, his gaze steady, glanced briefly at Emma without saying a word. He didn’t need to respond. There was no need to react to someone so determined to dig their own hole. Instead, he offered a faint smile and continued observing the room, where other diners had started to murmur amongst themselves.
At the central table, Mr. Carter turned back to Mrs. Carter, his voice low but firm. “We need to speak to the manager immediately. This isn’t just unfair, it’s ruining the atmosphere for everyone.”
Mrs. Carter nodded, her eyes reflecting empathy for Shaq. “I hope he doesn’t leave before this is resolved. He deserves respect.”..
