Darren, however, remained unperturbed, savoring his meal and drink. He took another bite of his food, followed by a sip of his beer, projecting an air of complete relaxation. Dismissing Michael, he mocked, "Ooh Toby, the knight ready to help his princess Michael, lol, that's fun." His companions joined in with laughter, further fueling the tension in the room.As Darren's companions joined in the laughter, their mockery towards Michael and Toby intensified. Selena, a close friend of Darren's, chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, Toby, aren't you just so brave defending your little buddy? How noble of you!"The rest of the group erupted into laughter once again. Mark, a longtime acquaintance of Darren, added fuel to the fire, "Yeah, Toby, maybe you should protect Michael with a shield and a sword next time. I bet that would make him feel safe!"Laughter filled the room, but Michael felt his face growing hot with embarrassment and anger. He looked directly at Darren and his
100"Come on, Toby, let's get out of here for a bit," Michael said, clapping a hand on Toby's shoulder. Toby shook his head, eyes still glued to the retreating figure of Darren."Nah, I should stay. Make sure Darren understands that he must behave well, you know?"Michael sighed, scratching at his beard. "You and Darren have been friends for years, Tobe. But don't let him ruin your day, alright? Let him cool off."Toby hesitated, then finally nodded, an uncertain smile playing on his lips. "Alright, Mike. But if he asks...""We never had this conversation," Michael finished for him, grinning. As they walked back to their work stations, Michael turned serious. "Just... don't make enemies over this, okay? Darreb can handle his battles."Later, after their colleagues returned from their break, Michael pulled them all together. "Listen, guys," he began, "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. It was just a joke, alright?"Before anyone could respond, Darren appeared from behind. He slung an
Toby hesitated for a moment but eventually relented, returning Michael's smile. "Alright, Mike, if you insist. Let's see what this place has to offer."They stepped inside, greeted by the soft ambiance and the aroma of tantalizing dishes. The maître noticed their presence and approached with a warm smile which immediately turned into an expression of disdain when he saw their appearance not appropriate for the place. "Good evening, gentlemen. Do you have a reservation?" he asked politely.Michael glanced at Toby and responded, "No, we don't. But we were hoping you could accommodate us."The restaurant butler studied them for a moment before nodding. "Of course, we have a table available. Right this way, please."As they followed him to their table, Toby couldn't help but notice the glances from other patrons. He whispered to Michael, "I hope this isn't some kind of joke you're playing on me."Michael chuckled. "Relax, Toby. It's not as fancy as you think. Just enjoy the experience."
102Toby quickly whispered to Michael, "Don't turn around, but Mr. Turner is a few tables behind us, staring at us. What should we do?"Michael calmly replied, "Don't panic, Toby. Let's just continue eating as if nothing is wrong." He understood Toby's concern about potentially jeopardizing his job, but he didn't want to let fear dictate their actions.However, Toby's anxiety started to get the best of him. He leaned closer to Michael and said, "I'd rather leave right now. I don't want any trouble." The thought of facing their boss's scrutiny was too much for Toby to handle.Michael motioned for the waiter to come over and asked for the bill. He swiftly paid with his credit card, not wanting to waste any more time. As they made their way back to the factory, Toby couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and uncertainty.Once they were alone, Toby turned to Michael and said, "Since day one, I've felt like you're not just an ordinary guy. How did you manage to have so much money to be so
103He had expected harsher consequences, but Jimmy's explanation brought some clarity. "I understand, Jimmy. Thank you for giving us all a second chance."Jimmy's gaze shifted to Michael. "Michael, given the circumstances, I'm willing to offer you the opportunity to switch teams if you feel it would be better for your growth and development. It's important that you feel comfortable and supported."Michael shook his head, his voice filled with determination. "No, boss. I believe in this team and its potential. I want to work through the challenges and prove myself."As Jimmy turned to Darren, he couldn't hide the lingering animosity in his expression. "And what about you, Brad? Do you want Michael to leave the team?"Brad hesitated for a moment, his gaze locked with Michael's. Reluctantly, he shook his head. "No, boss. Despite our differences, I think Michael can contribute positively to the team. I'm willing to give him another chance."Jimmy nodded, satisfied with their responses. "
104Ryan's piercing gaze sent a shiver down Michael's spine. He had always known Ryan to be cunning and manipulative, making him a formidable foe. The collision felt almost intentional, like a deliberate attempt to unnerve him further."Ryan," Michael muttered under his breath, his voice laced with apprehension. "What a surprise."Ryan's smirk widened, clearly relishing in Michael's discomfort. His eyes scanned Michael with a mix of curiosity and suspicion."Well, well, well, look who we have here," Ryan drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Didn't expect to see you skulking around here, Michael."Mentally regaining his composure, Michael replied confidently, "I could say the same about you, Ryan. What brings you to this part of the office?"Ryan's smug expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he opened his mouth. But before he could utter a word, the sound of commotion and screams had caught Jimmy's attention. Jimmy emerged from his office, a smile on his face as he greeted Rya
105As tension simmered between Michael and Ryan, Michael found it increasingly difficult to focus on his work. His mind kept drifting to the incident with Ryan and the restaurant they were seen at together. Toby, noticing Michael's preoccupation, approached him with curiosity."Hey, Michael, what did Jimmy say to you earlier? You seemed really bothered by it," Toby asked.Michael let out a sigh, still unable to shake off the thoughts of what had transpired."He was talking about that restaurant where he saw both of us having lunch. He couldn't believe we would be caught in that kind of environment," Michael explained.Toby raised an eyebrow, perplexed by the situation."But won't this just create envy and gossip among our colleagues? If they see us frequenting the same restaurant, won't they think we're trying to worm our way into favoritism too?" Toby questioned.Michael sighed again, his determination unwavering."Jimmy's a cool guy, and I trust his explanation. I'm not going to le
106Once there, Michael was asked by a police officer to remove all valuable personal belongings. He took off the few things he had on him, including his watch and some bracelets, and put them on the table. The police officer then asked him to remove his ring as well."I can't part with my ring," Michael protested. "It's sentimental to me."The officer, indifferent to his plea, remarked, "I don't care. Take it off and put it in the bag."Reluctantly, Michael removed his ring and placed it in a plastic bag. The officer then swiftly tossed the bag into a nearby cell, leaving Michael feeling completely violated.Feeling the need to reach out for help, Michael politely asked, "Can I make a phone call, please?"The officer dismissively replied, "Later."Frustrated by the officer's lack of concern, Michael exclaimed, "This is an abuse of my rights!"In response, the officer simply chuckled and disregarded his statement. A few minutes later, another officer arrived and introduced himself as