Chapter 5 Still a Maid
1019 Words
A new life required a fresh start, and for Lily, that meant a new job.
She stood at the entrance of a high-end restaurant, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.
This restaurant was managed by the same owner who had run the bar where she had worked. He had a favorable impression of her and, upon hearing she needed work, immediately offered her a position.
However, the owner's concern about her previous disappearance made her somewhat uncomfortable.
Her story was too embarrassing and ludicrous to share.
So, Lily chose to lie, explaining that she had been dealing with some personal matters.
The owner patted her shoulder. "I missed your singing in the bar. You were like a little nightingale. If you want to sing again, I can help you find work doing that."
Someone remembered her singing!
Lily didn't know whether to be grateful for the life-altering role her voice had played.
"I'm fine with this." Serving tables was good, too—she would have her own income and live on her own terms. No one could take that away.
The restaurant manager trained her in the kitchen on the fine points of etiquette, from gracefully carrying plates to properly interacting with customers.
He was very pleased with Lily's performance. "You're a quick learner. Remember, customers can be very demanding, but they always come first."
'No one could be more demanding than Brad,' Lily reassured herself, smiling as she walked out of the kitchen.
An hour later, she realized how wrong she was.
Fate, it seemed, loved irony.
Or perhaps it just loved to watch her life becoming a mess.
Brad and Emily, hand in hand, walked into the restaurant.
Four whole blocks from the Garcia Mansion! Why on earth had her ex-husband chosen this place?!
She should have taken a job at McDonald's; the Garcia heir and the prima ballerina were unlikely to crave burgers and fries!
Despite feeling like a ship tossed in a storm, Lily managed a steady voice. "Welcome."
'Stay calm, Lily.' She summoned the perfect smile she'd practiced in the mirror, hiding all her emotional turbulence.
'They're just another couple of customers. You can do this!' she said to herself.
Emily's sharp, surprised voice pierced the air. "Oh my, I didn't expect to see you here!"
Brad looked equally surprised and confused. "Lily, what are you doing here?"
His puzzled look felt like an insult.
'Why shouldn't I be here, earning my keep, just as you spend your money?'
Emily seized the opportunity to mock, eyeing Lily up and down. "It seems you really do fit in as a maid."
The waitstaff's uniform—a sleek black dress with a white apron—did bear a striking resemblance to the Garcia family maid's outfit.
Lily pretended not to hear and smiled, "Please follow me to your table."
She led Brad and Emily to a quiet corner, gave them some privacy, and went to fetch menus.
Brad watched her go, his confusion growing. He'd promised her a generous settlement, so why was Lily choosing to work a job where she had to depend on others' whims?
Did she see his offer as inadequate or insulting?
Emily broke the silence with a smirk. "Is it really a coincidence, bumping into your ex-wife here?"
Realizing Emily's snide undertone, Brad frowned. "We're just here for lunch."
Lily returned, avoiding Brad's gaze as she set down the menus. "What would you like to drink? I recommend today's special drink."
Emily, not missing a beat to humiliate, said, "It's great to see you here, Lily. It lets me know that the Lynn family's donations to the employment aid center are indeed effective."
Lily clenched her fists. Emily always made sure to emphasize their social gap. Lily was angry, but this was her first day on the job; she couldn't afford to ruin her new life.
Breathing deeply to calm herself, Lily began detailing the menu meticulously, even suggesting a few specialties.
Emily's attempt to provoke her fell flat, and she ordered irritably before switching the topic to their date plans.
As Lily was about to leave, Brad called out, "Did you really sleep under a bridge last night?"
Lily turned, a hint of despair in her eyes.
'Was he an i***t? Worrying about his ex-wife while on a date with his new girlfriend? Or, like Emily, was he trying to embarrass me again?'
Brad had once offered her the best life. She didn't want him to think she needed his charity or pity.
"Are you curious, Mr. Garcia?" Lily responded seriously. "I was just joking. I have a place to stay and a job now. Everything's fine."
Brad stared at her, realizing he might never have really known her. He wasn't sure if her response was genuine, but he said softly, "If you need help, just let me know."
Lily shot back, half-joking, "Can I still use your credit card?"
It was more than just a retort; it was about defending her tattered dignity.
This topic was certainly inappropriate between a waitress and her guests.
Brad's expression darkened instantly. "Must you always speak so harshly, Lily?"
He didn't even notice Emily's displeasure, still immersing in his rage.
'What was Lily thinking?! Couldn't she notice that I was just trying to show concern?'
Lily shrugged and walked away from their table, feeling a momentary relief.
But her sharp words clearly invited trouble.
Emily kept seizing chances to make things difficult for Lily. Eventually, she complained to the manager after Lily failed to answer where the celtuce in the vegetable soup was sourced from.
The manager tried to appease her, "Esteemed guests, if you require detailed explanations, I can have our chef assist you."
"Enough, Emily," Brad interrupted, annoyed. "We're just here to eat. I don't need a lesson on how this meal is made."
Lily rolled her eyes from behind the manager.
Clearly, Brad didn't understand fine cuisine, much less women.
She bet Emily would take his interruption as a defense of her own.
Sure enough, Emily pointed at her. "Fine, but I demand that you fire this incompetent waitress."
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