Chapter 3 At the restaurant

After driving to the recently opened Bombay Darbar restaurant, Olivia ordered Aiden to join her for dinner.

"Me?" He was shocked to learn that Olivia Miller had invited him to a posh restaurant for dinner. Conscientiously, he straightened his suit, adjusted his white shirt and tie, and leaned in to change his hair in front of the car mirror.

"Auburn!" His employer's cold voice made him jump, and he hit his head. He got up immediately and rushed over to where she was standing. "I hate waiting," she murmured, expressionless, and entered the restaurant. Aiden followed her inside after taking a trembling breath.

A young waitress of color greeted them as soon as they entered. "Hello and welcome to Bombay Darbar." She spoke with warmth, and Olivia liked her right away. "Please follow me this way." After saying so, she led them to their designated table. Here are our menus. Please call me when you are ready to order." After they were seated, she said.

"Thank you." After expressing his gratitude, Aiden picked up his menu. The waitress responded with a smile and then left. Feeling uneasy and perplexed, Aiden gazed at the menu; its writing was in French, and another language I couldn't recognize, so he could not interpret it. Not only that, but he didn't feel free in Olivia's presence. Driving his employer to a restaurant was one thing, but dining with her was another. "Uhm, excuse me?" A waiter who was walking by heard his cry.

"Is there a problem, sir?" The server inquired.

"Not at all. Oh, I see. I would like to know the location of the restrooms. Aiden spoke clumsily.

"This way, I'll take you." Says the waiter. Aiden released his breath, got to his feet, and followed the server.

"Are you ready to order?" The server inquired.

At last, Olivia set down the menu and raised an eyebrow. "What's your name?" The girl blushed violently when Olivia asked her name.

"Leah," says the girl. "Leah Hall."

Olivia nodded, peered at the menu, and then pushed it aside. She put her palm on the table and said, "Well, Leah, what on the menu would you say is the best dish?" she inquired.

Olivia observed Leah with curiosity as she took Aiden's seat and looked through the menu, her eyes brightening like a Christmas tree.

"Well, we do have some local dishes here, and I have the best idea of what you will like," Leah said excitedly, closing the menu.

"Surprise me, and while at it, get me some water and something strong for the gentleman." Leah left before anyone could even pronounce her name, according to Olivia.

When Aiden returned from his short escape five minutes later, he saw that Olivia had ordered a drink. He took a seat and said nothing, his eyes roving aimlessly. "Aiden?" He raised an eyebrow in response to Olivia's call.

"Yes, Miss Miller?" After responding, he took a sip of his beverage.

"Did you find a place to stay?" She shifted the topic and inquired.

"No, Miss Miller; the places I found were either too expensive or already full." With a flush to his cheeks, he spoke.

Olivia took out a pair of keys from her handbag. "Here," she said, giving them to him. "The keys to David's beachfront home are here. Ensure you arrive early tomorrow morning because it's a long drive." As they waited, she remained silent and leaned back against the chair.

"Here's your meal," Leah announced happily as she set the tray on their table.

They reluctantly stared at the food, Aiden in particular, unsure of what he was receiving.

"Chicken Briyani," Olivia said, seeming to read his mind.

"Try it out. It's good. You won't regret it, I assure you." Leah comforted them.

Olivia hesitated before trying the rice, but she nodded yes. "Spicy, but good." Leah exhaled a breath of relief as she spoke.

After Aiden tried the food, he quickly started gorging on it.

Before Leah left, she asked them whether they were okay with drinks, and they responded. However, fifteen minutes later, Leah returned with an ice bucket that contained two glasses and a bottle of champagne.

"I did not order that," said Olivia.

Breathlessly, Leah whispered, "I know." "But those gentlemen there insisted that I bring this to you." She gestured to two men sitting at a table farther away from theirs.

"Take this champagne back to them and tell them I can afford my drinks." Olivia placed an order.

Leah walked off with the bucket.

Aiden looked past Olivia and saw Leah approaching the table where the men sat. Though he could not hear them, it appeared that one of the men was reprimanding Leah. Leah noticed him glancing at their table, but he looked down and fiddled with his fork, giving her fleeting glances as she returned to their seat.

After setting the bucket down at their table, she crossed her arms and groaned, seemingly informing Olivia that she would not accept any more orders from her. With a sideways glance at the bucket, Olivia said, "I told you to take that back."

"I did, but they told me to bring it back to you and said it's not like you are paying for it," Leah explained.

"Is that so?" Olivia inquired calmly, but Leah remained silent. Olivia inquired, "I assume you conveyed my message to them, correct?" taking her silence as a "yes."

"Yes, I did," Leah replied, suddenly uneasy, knowing what was about to happen. Since my other tables are waiting for me, I should get moving. Leah hurriedly remarked, "When you're ready to pay the bill, give me a call," but Olivia's cold voice halted her.

She asked, "What did they say?" With such composure, her voice strongly hinted at a threat.

With a groan, Leah turned back to face Olivia. "I don't think I should tell you." She made a hesitant statement and fumbled with her fingers.

Olivia set her spoon down and looked up at Leah. She laid her chin on her intertwined hands and rested her wrists on the table.

"Sweetheart, if you think that your boss firing you is the worst thing that could happen to you, then you have no idea what I am capable of," Olivia said with a cold voice that made Leah and Aiden shudder. "Now." Olivia leaned back against her chair and spoke. "I am going to ask you again, but this time, give me a straight answer: what did they say?" Olivia leaned back against her chair as she spoke.

With a trembling breath, Leah turned to face Aiden, who shot her an apologetic glance. "Please don't make me do this! They told you not to act up because they know women like you; tough but willing to give in for a few bucks! I already feel terrible enough to offer this to you." Olivia understood exactly what Leah needed to say, so she didn't need to beg. "Just take the champagne, please, and put this behind you. My goal is to keep my job. Please".

Olivia curled her fingers into a fist and clenched her jaw. She knew men who felt that every lady entering that door was beneath them. They assumed that she would go to bed with them just because they had bought her a bottle of champagne. "It is one of our most expensive bottles," Leah said, unintentionally fanning the flames.

"Fine," Olivia said, her face expressionless.

"What? Alright, so you'll accept it?" Leah inquired, her relief pouring over her.

"Yes," Olivia replied.

"Whoa, I'm grateful! You have no idea how much this means to me, so thank you very much." With excitement, she spoke.

"Open the champagne." Olivia placed an order. Leah opened it immediately, but just as she was ready to pour something for them, something stopped her. "Don't worry about it; I'll handle it." After saying this and taking the bottle from her, Olivia got up and moved away from her table toward the two seated men.

Olivia poured the champagne over one of the men's heads, watching as each drop landed on his head and trickled into his elegant suit, causing everyone to scream.

Olivia Miller could not have cared less that Aiden and Leah had big eyes; she made sure there was no drop left in the bottle before slamming it onto the table in front of the man, whose head bowed and his eyes closed as the liquid touched his body.

"Don't worry about the bill; I'll handle it." Olivia responded and turned to leave.

She proceeded to her table, removed her card from her purse, and thrust it into Leah's grasp. "Please also place that bottle under my name." To Leah, she said. "Get the car." Aiden obeyed her order, bending slightly before walking away. Olivia pivoted to face Leah, who remained motionless, her jaw hanging open and her eyes wide. "Why are you still standing there with your eyes popping out?" She posed the question directly.

"Oh, my God!" When Leah saw the name on the card, she gasped. "Olivia Miller". "I can't believe this; you are actually Olivia Miller." With penetrating eyes, as if challenging her to reveal her name, Olivia stared back at her as she trailed off. "I'll get the machine." She quickly approached the front desk, with Olivia trailing behind.

After tipping Leah and paying for her lunch and the bottle of champagne, Olivia walked out of the restaurant as if nothing had happened.

After nearly two weeks of dealing with parsimonious patrons, Leah could finally enjoy her hefty tip until there was a disturbance at one of the tables. Her supervisor was yelling at the manager, who had publicly insulted a customer from the table.

The owner of the restaurant was a well-known businessman and executive in Fort Lauderdale, known for his outbursts.

"Are you just going to stand there?" The management scolded Leah.

"Sorry, Mr. Steven." With a stutter, she turned to walk away, but a firm voice interrupted her.

"Stop right there!" Her supervisor yelled, staring at the two workers with sharp eyes. "This conversation is not over until I say so." Leah spun around once more and bent her head. "Just in case your stupid brains haven't registered yet, we have dismissed both of you." Leah gave a startled gasp at what he stated. He interrupted her as she was about to object. "My security needs to care for much more essential matters, so don't make a fool of yourself. Make this place tidy before you leave." He turned to go.