Maggie struggled to cope with the sudden onslaught of credit card debt and her looming misfortunes. The burden of worry weighed heavily on her shoulders, weakening her ability to perform even the simplest tasks.
As Maggie rushed to serve the lunchtime crowd, her mind was filled with anxiety. She moved from one table to another, her actions hurried and unsteady. Fatigue threatened her, making it difficult to maintain her usual precision and attention to detail.
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, Maggie’s hands trembled, and as she reached for a tray filled with steaming food, she lost her grip, and the contents spilled onto a customer’s lap.
“You’ve ruined my meal and completely ruined my mood!” The customer glared at Maggie, his anger erupting and capturing the attention of everyone nearby.
Smack! In front of the crowd, the middle-aged man in his finely tailored clothes struck Maggie across the face.
The sharp sound of the slap silenced the once lively restaurant. But for Maggie, that brief moment of quiet was an unbearable humiliation. With so many people witnessing her shame, tears welled up in her eyes. The stinging sensation on her cheeks intensified her sense of disgrace.
The customer was seething, his face flushed with anger. He glared at Maggie with piercing eyes. He scraped the chair loudly on the floor, exuding pure contempt. “I have a meeting with clients shortly. Do you think I’d appear in these filthy clothes? Do you know how much this outfit costs? More than your monthly salary! Can you compensate me for my loss?”
“No, sir, it wasn’t intentional,” Maggie pleaded in agony. She hoped someone would step in to help her. She couldn’t bear it any longer. “Please, have some mercy on me. I can’t afford the financial compensation, but I can wash your clothes…”
Finally, someone arrived. The restaurant manager hurried over, and Maggie saw a glimmer of hope.
“Maggie, what have you done?” The manager strode toward her, his gaze as fierce as the angry customer’s. The hope that had ignited within Maggie’s heart turned into fear in an instant.
He grabbed Maggie’s sleeve tightly and pulled her closer to the customer, as if dragging a fragile piece of straw. Pointing at Maggie’s face, he ordered, “Maggie, you need to sincerely apologize for your mistake to our esteemed customer!”
Maggie attempted to defend herself. “Manager, I can apologize for my mistake, but as you can see, this customer physically attacked me. Treating me this way is unfair. He has severely damaged my self-esteem and subjected me to immense humiliation in front of everyone…”
“I only see that you’ve made the customer angry, and his suit has been dirtied because of you. Maggie, you need to apologize now, or I’ll fire you on the spot!”
The manager stared coldly at Maggie, while the customer held his head high, waiting with arrogance for Maggie’s apology.
Maggie fought back tears, feeling she had no other choice. She needed the money and had to set aside her pride. Time seemed to slow down, and the rhythm of life became excruciating. With a heavy heart, Maggie lowered her head and bent her slender waist toward the victorious customer. Laughter and ridicule echoed from above, and her heart burned like molten lava.
The manager offered some advice, “Show some respect, lower yourself.”
Maggie’s world crumbled; she had to give up all her dignity. With trembling words, she said, “Respected customer, I offer my sincere apologies for the mistake I made with your clothing. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Whispers emanated from the surrounding onlookers. Maggie kept her head down, feeling like the whole world was spinning, and everyone was watching and ridiculing her.
But the ordeal wasn’t over yet.
The manager turned to the customer with a beaming smile, displaying a great deal of sincerity. “Respected customer, can you genuinely forgive her mistake? The restaurant highly values your patronage, and this order will be handled personally by this staff member.”
The customer’s vanity was greatly satisfied. He shook his leg, glanced at the hapless waitress, and then bent down. “But her voice was too low earlier; I couldn’t hear anything. I want her to apologize loudly ten times, and I want everyone in the restaurant to hear it!”
“No problem,” the manager told Maggie. “Apologize loudly again to ensure the customer is one hundred percent satisfied.”
Her eyes were now filled with tears, and no matter how hard she tried to hold back, a tear escaped her eye. She couldn’t bear being the laughingstock any longer. Those were her sweat and tears, and she didn’t want anyone to know she was crying.
Clutching her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, she choked out, “I’m sorry, please forgive me… I’m sorry, please forgive me… I’m sorry…”
“Speak up, louder!” the manager shouted.
“I’m sorry…” Suddenly, Maggie raised her head, her face stained with tears, looking disheveled, and she shocked everyone. She had lost all her dignity. Her spirit had completely crumbled. She refused to endure further humiliation. She was a person with emotions and pride. Why should she suffer like this?
Her voice choked as she looked at the manager and the customer. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. Yes, I need the money, but most importantly, I am a person with dignity and self-respect!”
Maggie removed her uniform and walked resolutely out of the restaurant.
What she didn’t know was that the restaurant manager watched her leave with a calculating expression. As soon as she was out of earshot, he quickly dialed a number, speaking with deference. “Sir, the situation has been handled as per your request,” he reported.
Maggie sat on a bench by the roadside, tears streaming down her face, intermingling with her overwhelming despair. Just as she was in the depths of her suffering, a luxurious, elongated Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of her.
The door swung open, revealing a tall, imposing figure in a black suit. His voice was deep and authoritative, breaking the silence. “My master would like to have a word with you in his office.”
Maggie blinked in surprise, her tear-streaked face reflecting both confusion and curiosity. She recognized him. He was the assistant who had always been by Mr. Barrett’s side.
Mr. Barrett wanted to talk to her?
Maggie blinked in surprise, her tear-stained face mixed with puzzlement and curiosity. With a hint of apprehension and a glimmer of hope, she cautiously approached the car and climbed inside.
The car’s interior exuded luxury, with plush leather seats and polished wood accents. Maggie found herself seated across from the mysterious man who observed her with keen interest. His gaze was sharp, as if he could see into her soul.
“I apologize for the abrupt invitation, but my master is very concerned about your situation,” the man explained with a cautious tone, his voice devoid of emotion.
Maggie’s voice trembled as she asked, “What does Mr. Barrett want from me?”
A faint, enigmatic smile curled at the man’s lips, revealing a hint of intrigue. “All will be revealed in due time. But first, we must talk.”