CHAPTER SEVEN

The next day

Ethan was to meet up with the general manager at his mother's restaurant to discuss some crucial matters and also to be introduced to the staff there.

Ethan knew the manager might line up outside the restaurant with the other staff just to welcome him and he didn't want more attention to himself so he stopped at a store to get himself an electric scooter.

He took this scooter to the restaurant and parked it at the classic eatery.

The classic eatery was one of the top classic eateries in Los Angeles and a center of attraction for foreigners to eat.

Its distance was merely far from the International Airport and its beautiful edifice stands to attract many customers.

As Ethan got in, he decided to eat as a customer before calling the Manager.

He made to sit and sighted two familiar couples from the door. Ethan recognized them as his bully while he was young and in school.

He decided to hide his face but, it was too late as Mira already sighted him.

“Whoa,” Mira exclaimed as she sighted Ethan. She slapped softly against the shoulders of her partner. “Look, that's the dummy head in our class then. The one who couldn't afford a 10-dollar plate of rice for himself.”

Ethan rolled him and bit his lips in despise.

He watched as both of the couples approached him and stopped right beside his table.

“What are you doing here, loser?”

Ethan smiled and said, “How does it bother you with what I'm doing here?” 

They scowled and let out a ridiculous smile. “Are you here to pick crumbs from the floor?”

“That you're doing it doesn't mean I'm doing it. Why accusing me of what you guys are doing ?” Ethan countered.

Their mood changes and they get irate at Ethan’s words. 

“What the hell?” Mira yelled, raising her hands.

Her yell attracted the attention of the chief steward, so she strolled over to confront them on the chaotic situation.

“What’s the problem here?” the chief steward asked with a frown but smiled upon seeing Mira and her partner.

Mira and her partner were their customers who always tipped her whenever they came to eat.

She hurriedly changed her words and said with a fake smile. “Who's troubling you miss? Yen?” 

Mira pulled up a sadder expression and pointed towards Ethan. “We were going to sit here, but this young man came to sit. We asked him to stand, but he refused. And it doesn't seem like he has money to eat.”

“You should kick him out. I know him somewhere where he had eaten expensive food and refused to pay up. When he was confronted he beats up the steward and the manager.” Mira lied.

“If you don't want that to happen you should kick him out.” Her partner added.

The stewards smiled even more when Mira opened her purse to bring out some money and shoved it into her hand.

“Take this money,” Mira said in a whisper and pointed towards Ethan, indicating that he should be kicked out.

The stewards having received the tips frowned at her face and then asked Ethan to get out.

When Ethan refused, she picked up her phone and dialed the security number.

They arrived and tried to drag Ethan away but he restrained them.

“I’m here to see the general manager of this place to discuss some crucial matters that may elevate this restaurant, while they are here to eat as a customer,” Ethan said. 

“Who do you think should be dragged out? What if I’m dragged out and the manager learns of it?” 

“Come on chief steward Jen. Do not allow him to scare you a bit. He doesn’t have anything to his name. He just got divorced a few days ago. He doesn’t even know about your general manager. Ask him if he knew about his hair color or sex?” Mira blurted.

Hearing that, the steward became more aggravated and even spilled some coffee on him.

“Get out now!” 

“Why? I said I’m here to see the manager.” Ethan demanded.

“The manager isn’t around. Come back another day.” The steward eyed.

“What? Are you willing to lose your job because of her? If your manage_” 

Ethan was interrupted by a sudden push from Mira and he couldn’t take it anymore as he just pushed her back and she fell.

Ethan also dialed the manager's number to inform him of his arrival at the restaurant but was denied access.

“Who does that?” The yelling could be heard from the phone.

“I’ll be right there at the moment.”

Not long after, the manager arrived at the scenes with his pairs of glaring eyes. 

The manager upon seeing Ethan suddenly bowed to pay his respect. After learning of the way Ethan was treated, manager Alice couldn’t control her rage anymore so she slapped Jen.

Jen held onto her cheeks and sobbed.

“Apologize to him now,” Alice commanded.

Jen shuddered and fell to her knees.

Mira was stunned at that, wondering why the manager wouldn’t even notice them on their feet.

“Manager, you misconstrued everything by ruining everything. Jen here was just doing her duty. I was the one who told her to chase this loser out of here.” 

Alice’s eyes widened in shock at Mira’s effrontery.

“If you will care to listen I’d like to inform you that Jen was just trying to save you from being beaten up. This young man here was my classmate and destitute young man who couldn’t even afford a ten-dollar food for himself.” 

“I’d like to tip you that he’s fond of the habit of going to restaurants which are always way above him to order expensive food and wines.”

“He would say he doesn’t have money after eating then beat you up if you dare to challenge him.”

“Really?” Alice arched her brows at her.

“Please, guards chase this thing away from the restaurant, never permit them to enter here anymore.” Alice caveated and the actions were carried out.

Jen upon seeing that and remembering her salary was what her family depended on to survive began to cry and plead.

“We should move to your office to discuss more,” Ethan said and the manager led the way.

“Please sir, forgive me.” Jen cried as she grabbed Ethan by the hems of his trousers. 

Ethan flinched and Jen fell to the floor.

“You are fired,” Ethan uttered.

“No sir. I can’t be fired. My family depends on my salary to survive.”

“I asked you if you were willing to lose your job simply because of the tips you were given by the customer and you agreed, spilling coffee on my shirt.” 

She whimpered. “I am sorry sir.” 

“What are you doing Alice? Send her out unless you want to go in her stead.” Ethan said and instantly Jen was pushed out of the house.

“That sounds great.” 

“I’m sorry sir for the embarrassment, we can have your shirt washed and iron-dried at the moment.” 

Ethan waved his hand in the air urging them not to worry.