Chapter 7 The Customer Is Always Right?
1220 Words
“I thought you were capable, but you can’t even do something as simple as this.”
“How do you even survive? By begging?”
Bethany’s barrage of accusations drew more and more attention from those around them.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. “Miss, freshly brewed coffee is always hot. You can wait a bit before drinking it.”
Bradley’s voice was cold and indifferent. “Elizabeth, Bethany is far more delicate than you. I’ll pay double for you to make another cup at the right temperature.”
Hearing the mention of payment, Elizabeth’s smile returned.
It’s fine. Customers requesting a redo is perfectly normal.
Elizabeth maintained her polite demeanor and replied, “Sure. Please head to the counter to pay first. Thank you.”
Bradley’s expression turned frosty. He briskly pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and threw it toward Elizabeth.
The lightweight bills fluttered through the air. Elizabeth didn’t catch them, letting them drift slowly to the ground.
Elizabeth quietly clenched her hand, desperately reminding herself, ‘The customer is always right.’
Her boss treated her well.
She wasn’t a beggar anymore; there was no need to feel ashamed.
After silently repeating this to herself several times, she let out a breath and bent down to pick up the money on the floor. However, Max, who was standing nearby in anger, snatched it up before she could.
Bending down again, she retrieved what was left, counted the money, and confirmed the amount before smiling and saying, “This is enough for ten cups of coffee. Thank you for your patronage. Please wait a moment.”
Seeing someone stand up for Elizabeth, Bethany was visibly displeased.
Just as she was about to make things difficult for Elizabeth, someone arrived and pulled Elizabeth away.
Max stood at the counter, her face dark with fury. As she made the coffee, she muttered, “What kind of scumbag customer is this? We’re here to work, not to beg.”
“She thinks she’s some kind of queen. She should take a good look in the mirror first.”
Elizabeth found it amusing but felt a warm gratitude in her heart for Max stepping up to defend her.
It had been so long since Elizabeth experienced such simple kindness.
Over the past few years in her marriage to Bradley, everything had revolved around him.
Cooking, cleaning—she had done her best to please Bradley.
Her days had been busy, but she never quite knew what she was busy with.
Looking back, it all seemed like small, insignificant things.
Things related to Bradley.
And in all those little things, there was no trace of Elizabeth herself.
She had treated Bradley’s family as her own, his friends as her own.
But they had all looked down on her.
Elizabeth had always known this.
Even during that blurry yet painfully clear period of sinking into oblivion, she had known.
But back then, she had loved Bradley so much.
Why had she loved him so much?
Even now, looking back, Elizabeth found it astonishing.
Elizabeth gently patted Max and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
Max, who had been in the middle of her tirade, froze, her words stuck in her throat.
After a long silence, she awkwardly scratched her head.
“We’re colleagues. We should help each other.”
At that moment, Max’s fierce façade fell away, revealing a shy and endearing side.
Elizabeth chuckled and couldn’t resist pinching Max’s chubby, adorable cheeks.
The coffee was ready again. Max wanted to deliver it herself, but Elizabeth knew Bethany and Bradley were here to target her specifically.
Max had already helped her enough.
She couldn’t let Max face further trouble because of her.
Elizabeth brought the coffee over and placed it in front of them.
“We’ve prepared three options: warm, hot, and iced. Please enjoy.”
“What kind of garbage is this? I wouldn’t drink coffee from a small shop like this,” Bethany sneered, deliberately making things difficult.
Bradley, however, curled his lips into a slight smile, picked up a cup, and took a sip.
The texture was smooth, and the sweetness was just right. Bradley paused for a moment.
It had been a long time since he’d tasted coffee made by Elizabeth.
Indeed, no matter the time or place, only things made by Elizabeth could perfectly suit his taste.
Bradley thought about the times when Elizabeth used to take care of him.
Back then, as long as he didn’t like something, Elizabeth would adjust the flavor over and over again just to suit his preferences.
Bradley’s expression softened.
He looked at Elizabeth, his tone unusually gentle. “Elizabeth, I know you’re still angry. If you have any complaints, you can tell me. I’ll consider them, and it’s not like I can’t fulfill some of your requests.”
That proud, condescending attitude, as if he were bestowing a favor, was all too familiar to Elizabeth.
She had seen him like this countless times over the past few years.
When she loved him to the point of self-deprecation, she didn’t notice it.
But now that she had completely left him behind, it struck her as glaring and hurtful.
Elizabeth averted her gaze, clenched her fists, and used every ounce of strength to keep herself from dwelling on the past.
With a polite tone, she said, “Sir, if you think the coffee is good, please consider leaving a positive review for our shop on Google Maps.”
Bradley’s face instantly darkened.
She was getting bolder by the day.
He slammed the coffee cup down heavily, leaned back in his chair, and fixed Elizabeth with an oppressive stare. Then, he began to taunt her.
“This is the craft you’re so proud of? It’s absolutely disgusting. Even the coffee my secretary makes casually is better than this.”
“That’s my incompetence.”
Her indifferent attitude immediately provoked Bradley.
His eyes roamed over Elizabeth, scrutinizing her from head to toe. When he noticed her cheap-looking clothes, his dissatisfaction grew.
But then he thought of her current struggling lifestyle, and he felt a sense of satisfaction.
Curling his lips into a cold, mocking smile, he said, “Without me, this is all you’re capable of.”
“You’re like a servant, catering to others. How pathetic. You abandoned a life of wealth just to come here and do manual labor.”
Elizabeth clenched her fists tightly, tempted to throw the coffee at him, but she forced herself to hold back.
The store manager was a kind person. Whether it was his comforting words or his willingness to let her stay in the storage room, she owed him a debt of gratitude.
She couldn’t afford to offend a customer.
Ignoring Bradley’s personal attacks, Elizabeth only addressed the issue with the coffee, offering her apologies, regardless of whether they were justified.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t provide you with a better coffee experience. That’s my failure, and I sincerely apologize.”
“If there’s any compensation or suggestions you need, we’ll do our best to accommodate.”
Bradley became even angrier at Elizabeth’s indifferent attitude and shouted, “Elizabeth!”
“Is this the life you want? To be spineless and let people insult you? Don’t you regret it?”
- Writer
