Chapter 2 Serving Mr Ethan

Brittany's POV

Walking into the restaurant, I met Luke, the manager who always had a smile on his face but this time I wasn't able to reciprocate it. I walked past him and into the inner room to change into the working uniform.

After dressing up, I brought my face closer to the mirror and dabbed at the dry patches of tears with a handkerchief. I wasn't going to allow this disturbance of a night be a distraction from work. Chris had to be gone and wiped out from my thoughts.

I forced a smile, walking into the restaurant to start my shift. The endless orders, serving and apologies deviated me from every thought about my break up tonight. I could finally use this work to my advantage.

I was done serving and retired to the counter awaiting a new order. My mind kept drifting back to the incident. I saw the signs, thinking it was just a minor issue and putting in all efforts to make it work while Chris already had everything planned out.

I couldn't wait to crawl into my bed and forget this day ever happened.

The sound of the door swinging open distracted me from my train of thoughts. A tall, dark haired man wearing a perfectly tailored suit walked in, his presence commanding attention. His piercing grey eyes scanned the room like he was in search of something. He was just an epitome of perfection.

A gorgeous woman clung to his arms, her elegance and radiance complementing his perfection.

It was so difficult to take my gaze off them. My eyes followed them as they found a table not so far from where I stood at the counter. I wondered how people could be so breathtaking living a soft life and then there's me...struggling for life.

"You're needed at that table now." I heard Luke's voice behind me. I was so engrossed in my admiration having no idea that Luke had been standing behind me. I was flushed by the thought that he had caught me staring.

Hurriedly exiting the counter with the menu, I walked confidently to the table.

"Good evening, welcome to Eleganza," I greeted while they both stared at each other ignoring me.

"What may I offer you?" I asked, a soft smile displayed on my face.

The man shot a quick glance at me before shifting his gaze back to the lady. Just a close glimpse of his charming eyes was of great fascination to me.

Uncomfortably standing and watching them stare hard at each other while the woman blushed, I pinched myself several times trying not to get impatient. They just acted like I wasn't present.

"Uhm... What may I offer you?" I repeated.

"We'll have whatever you want," he said to her, ignoring me.

"Oh! Alright," she replied, her face flushing red. "Let's have wine for a start," she said, finally looking up at me.

"Okay," I replied and walked out, almost furious. My impatience was a great flaw I had always tried to hide with a smile and excellent service but it seemed to be boiling over tonight.

I grabbed the bottle of wine and wine glasses, placing them on a tray then carried it to their table. Carefully, dropping the wine glasses in front of them, I opened the bottle of wine then poured for the lady.

This couple must be the strangest I had ever served. They seemed to be in a staring competition, as they only said few words to each other. Maybe it was their first time out together on a date.

What was even my business in their dating life?

I was pouring into the man's wine glass when he stretched his hand towards the woman and held her softly, still staring hard.

"Oh Ethan! I'm nervous," the woman said.

"You don't have to be. It feels great to finally spend time with you," he replied.

I scoffed inwardly because Chris just made me realize that all men were scum. I was so sure that this man was only playing with the woman. I was plunged again into devastating thoughts that I didn't know I had shifted my hand, spilling wine on the man.

"What the...?" He bellowed then I realized myself.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry. It was a mistake," I apologized.

"Seriously?" He queried. His fine features had been quickly replaced with something unrecognizable.

"Sorry, Ethan." The woman joined in the apology.

I wondered what would come out of this. It was so stupid of me to lose focus.

"I'm sincerely sorry," I apologized again. "Please let me take you to the restroom."

"Restroom indeed. What explanation do you have for this?" He snapped.

"Nothing sir. I just..." I swallowed, running short of words. There was actually no acceptable explanation for my lost focus during their conversation. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't going to cut it. There's actually no excuse for being clumsy," he continued barking. "I don't know why I have to breathe the same air with so many incompetent women."

Incompetent! I pretended not to have heard that. This man seemed to be getting on my nerves.

"I'm sorry," I said one more time and decided it was going to be the last.

"You can just order a new suit or we can as well have dinner at your place," the woman suggested, attempting to soothe the tension.

"I don't want to hear that," he barked while the woman retreated immediately, biting her lips. This time, everyone's eyes were on us. "And you? You're just going to stand there and apologize?"

"I... I don't know what else I'm supposed to do," I replied.

"You drenched me instead of serving me," he said, his voice low but firm. "I just want you to know that you're a mere waitress. The insults, the disrespect - this is what you're paid for."

I knew I shouldn't let it get to me but his arrogance had struck a nerve. My initial admiration of him immediately turned to disgust. His attitude was stinking and so were his looks.

My impatience boiled over and I was forced to speak out my mind.

"Wait, wait. Hold on. I'm not going to stand here and watch you insult me. Your status shouldn't give you the right to belittle people. I'm a woman, deserving of respect. If you think you can belittle others, not me, okay?" I retorted, making sure the words sunk in. "I apologized. I even offered to take you to the restroom. What else would you have me do?"

"You don't even know who I am," he said.

"And I don't care 'cause it doesn't put food on my table," I replied in a loud voice, prompting murmurs from other customers.

"Really?" He smirked. "Let's bet on that."

"Do your worst," I snarled and walked out.

"That was unnecessary..." I heard the woman's voice receding in the distance as I walked to the counter. I had even forgotten her presence during our banter.

I wasn't going to let any man intimidate me again. Not Chris and not this arrogant man.