Love Heals

Chapter Three

It was indeed a beautiful morning for Isabella, as she woke up feeling unusually motivated, optimistic, and excited. She quickly did her morning routine, dressed up in a casual outfit, and packed her work bag. She applied very light makeup to brighten up her face, took one last glance at the mirror, and dashed out of the room.

“Diane! I'm off to work!” she called out to her best friend and roommate who was in the kitchen fixing herself a cup of coffee.

“Wow! Giiiiiirl! I didn't know you had such beauty in you” Diane said in high spirits as she walked into the living room to meet Isabella.

“You can't be serious” Isabella rolled her eyes playfully.

“But honestly, you look dashing” Diane commented happily while admiring her friend.

“Have a great day at work”.

“Thanks so much, Diane. You're the absolute best. I'll see you when I get back” Isabella responded and rushed out.

She got to the bus stop, hailed a taxi, and in 30 minutes, she was at the “Mile restaurant”. She cheerfully greeted and exchanged pleasantries with her colleagues, as she made her way to the washroom to change into her work clothes and get to work.

She came out 10 minutes later, looking elegant in her white chiffon blouse and black mini skirt which accentuated her curves. She packed her blonde wavy hair into a bun and put on a bright smile as she inwardly recited her morning affirmations.

She briskly walked to a table, ready to take her first order for the day.

“Good morning sir” she greeted politely and cheerfully.

“May I take your order please?”

She called out to the man who was seated, dressed in a maroon suit, looking quite expensive.

He seemed buried in whatever he was doing on his phone, before Isabella came to him, obviously turning his attention to her, causing him to look up and suddenly light his face with a bright smile.

As Isabella stood waiting for his response, she observed him as he drooled over her, practically undressing her with his eyes.

She ignored his antics and made to call him back to order.

“Excuse me sir, I'd love to take your order” she said again, returning his bright smile.

“Oh, hi beautiful. I'd love to have you..” he purred, batting his eyes at her.

Isabella starting to feel a bit uneasy, tried to maintain composure and asked the third time.

“Sir please, what would you like to order today?”

He fully turned to her, relaxing on the chair and whispering for her ears only “I love the way you pout your lips when you speak. Your eyes are so intriguing and you're so beautiful. I'd love us to meet up later this evening” he winked at her, seductively biting his lips.

Isabella was already feeling disgusted. She detested men who took women as nothing other than objects of their s****l and lustful satisfaction. However, she maintained her work ethic and forced a smile at the man.

“I'll take my leave now. Please let me know when you're ready to order” she responded instead, despite her growing irritation. She turned to leave when the man lightly grabbed her hand in a bid to stop her.

That seemed to trigger something in her as she quickly turned back, wide-eyed in shock. Without waiting to hear any more words from the man, she smacked him across the face.

“How dare you touch me?” she whisper-screamed. She was like a mother hen who was fighting for her stolen chick.

The man, dumb with shock and embarrassed, stood up, still trying to take in the situation.

By now, the scene had caused a ruckus and was inviting the attention of other customers.

“Did you just slap me?” The man held his cheek in disbelief. He had never been humiliated in such a manner. He usually had women licking the ground he walked on. He had them whenever and however he wanted them; he only had to put a call through and he would have so many of them willing to spend the night with him. However, this wasn't the case with this feisty strange lady, leaving him dumbstruck.

“What's going on? What's the problem?” The manager rushed in on hearing the ruckus.

“Sir, I only came to take his order, but he tried to harass me” Isabella took a deep long breath and explained to the manager, pointing to the man she had just slapped.

“Isabella, did you lay your hands on him?” The manager asked instead, more concerned about his customer.

“Oh my God! I'm sorry sir, I'm really sorry about this. Please for what it's worth, your orders for today will be on the house” The manager ignored Isabella and moved closer to the man, trying to pacify him and remedy the situation.

“Oh no, it's fine. I'll take my leave” The man said and walked away without any more words, but not without taking one more glance at Isabella.

The manager turned around, holding his head in frustration.

“Isabella, to my office now” He commanded in annoyance.

Isabella who was still standing, was speechless as she couldn't understand why her manager apologized to the man. She was the one who was almost taken advantage of and in fact, deserved an apology. However, her manager just reversed the case, getting her even more irritated.

She hesitantly walked to his office as he demanded, where she met him pacing in anger.

“Sir, you asked to see me” she sounded clueless.

“Isabella, what is the meaning of that unethical and barbaric attitude you displayed there?”

“Sir, I don't understand what you mean” she replied calmly.

“Isabella, don't play dumb with me” He tried to contain his annoyance. “How dare you lay your hands on a customer? Do you know the implications of that?”

“Sir, that man was hitting on me, even when I was obviously not interested. He tried to harass me” She defended, her own irritation growing.

“Isabella, you do not have any right to humiliate any of my customers. It doesn't matter what happens; you must give them maximum respect. Do you know we could lose his patronage?”

“Sir, that man wants to have an affair with me” she explained further, trying to make him see the severity of the man's offence.

“Listen, you're a woman, he's a man. These things happen. What's the big deal?”

Isabella couldn't believe what she just heard. This was the last straw for her. She couldn't stand the fact that even her manager was probably one of those men who have little to zero value for women.

“I'm sorry sir. This will not happen again” she apologized after a few seconds, clearly tired of arguing with her manager.

“Please this shouldn't repeat itself. You can go back to work” he dismissed her.

“Yes sir” she responded.

However, as she walked out of his office, she knew that would be her last day of work at the Mile restaurant. She had already taken her decision; she would hand in her resignation as soon as possible.

“So much for an anticipated wonderful day” she thought to herself as she rolled her eyes and sighed.