Chapter 44
"What kind of attitude is that? You clearly brought me the wrong pasta, and now you're blaming me for being difficult? Is this how you treat customers?"
A woman's soft, gentle voice.
Even while arguing, she sounded harmless, trying her best to reason with them. The server, on the other hand, was totally deflecting.
"If it was wrong, just say so! I'll bring you another plate, no big deal. But you don't need to make a scene! You're making such a fuss that other customers can't even eat. Are you trying to trash our reputation and ruin our business?"
Anissa Davis was beside herself but couldn't find the words. After struggling for a while, she only managed, "You, you're lying! This is outrageous!"
"Am I lying? Everyone can see. I've never dealt with such a difficult customer. It's just one wrong pasta order—why all the yelling? What, you want us to apologize and comp your meal? If you can't afford to eat here, don't. That attitude is just ugly."
"I didn't mean that..."
Anissa's face flushed red. She looked pitiful.
Josephine walked over and glanced at the smug server. "Is this your restaurant's training policy? You bring a customer the wrong order, refuse to apologize, and then personally attack them? You're clearly in the wrong but you twist the facts. As service staff, when a customer hasn't attacked or insulted you, you turn around and insult them instead... Your professionalism is truly impressive."
After that barrage, the server was stunned.
"Wait, who the hell are you?"
"Someone who can't stand injustice."
Josephine stepped in front of Anissa. "Bringing the wrong pasta isn't a big deal, but your attitude is a huge problem. We came here to eat and pay, not to get lectured by you."
She looked around the restaurant.
"Has anyone else seen this? The server brings the wrong order, but somehow it's the customer's fault? Where's our consumer protection? We come out to eat and when we're treated unfairly, we can't even speak up? If we do, suddenly we're bullying the staff?"
The other customers immediately felt the same way.
"She's got a point. You brought the wrong order. You should apologize instead of being all cocky about it."
"Seriously, how can a server act like this?"
The server hadn't expected public opinion to turn. Her face flushed red, flustered and angry. "Eat or don't eat, I don't care! Stop telling me what to do. I'm service staff, but I have my dignity too! I won't accept your insults and abuse!"
"If we leave this restaurant, you'll probably get fired anyway."
Josephine had never seen such an arrogant server.
But the server shot back, "The owner's my uncle. He won't fire me. Don't try to scare me with that!"
"Oh, so you're a nepotism hire."
Josephine understood now. She turned to Anissa. "Looks like we shouldn't eat this pasta after all. When you've got connections like that, nothing we say matters. Even if they bring a new plate, who'd dare eat it? What if someone spits in it or throws bugs in? Disgusting."
"Don't make stuff up! We don't do that! Our food is clean!"
The server panicked.
The nearby customers panicked more. Talk of spit and bugs made them sick just hearing it. "Forget it, I'm not eating."
"Me neither."
In the blink of an eye, the place cleared out.
Josephine left with Anissa. They'd barely taken two steps when they heard the owner chewing out the server behind them.
Anissa looked at Josephine with admiration. "You're amazing. How did you think of all those things to say? I never would've."
"Don't let them control the conversation. Just say what you want to say." That was the golden rule of arguments—whoever controls the rhythm wins.
"I definitely need to learn from you."
Anissa suddenly rubbed her temples. "I... feel kind of off..."
She'd actually felt unwell in the restaurant but thought she could tough it out. Once outside, the cold wind made it worse instead of better.
Josephine barely caught Anissa as she collapsed.
She rushed Anissa to the hospital, where the doctor ran a series of tests.
"Doctor, how is she?"
The doctor said, "Don't worry. This lady has a chronic condition—naturally weak constitution. Fainting is pretty common for her. Nothing serious, just high blood pressure. Make sure she rests well at home and monitors her blood pressure. If it stays high, use medication to control it."
"Okay, got it."
Anissa had already woken up in the hospital room and was calling her son.
"Don't rush over, I'm fine."
"I'm almost there."
"I'm really okay. I met this amazing girl on the street. She's incredible—so well-spoken, and she brought me to the hospital..."
Anissa rambled on, wishing she was more articulate so she could praise Josephine to the skies.
The person on the other end sounded indifferent. "I'll thank her properly when I get there."
He hung up just as Josephine entered the room.
"Ms. Davis, the doctor said you're fine. Just emotional stress causing high blood pressure. Make sure you monitor it regularly at home and keep blood pressure medication on hand."
Josephine gave thorough instructions.
Anissa smiled at her.
Josephine looked confused. "What?"
Anissa beamed. "Nothing, I just think you're wonderful. You're so articulate and thoughtful. I have a son—would you like to meet him?"
That was quite the topic change.
Josephine was speechless for a moment, then politely declined. "Thanks for the thought, but I'll pass."
"Don't pass! My son is excellent—handsome, capable, runs his own company. I think you two would be perfect together."
Anissa grabbed her hand, as if afraid Josephine would run away.
Josephine felt the pressure and reluctantly showed her ring finger. "Ms. Davis, I'm married."
Anissa froze, sighing in disappointment. "It's my son's fault for not meeting you sooner."
Josephine fell silent.
She suddenly felt a bit sorry for Anissa's son. Somehow this was his fault too.
In his car, Cedric suddenly sneezed.
"Mr. Getty, are you catching a cold?" Noah asked.
"I'm fine. Just drive."
Cedric didn't think much of it, his mind on his mother at the hospital.
After much persuasion, Josephine finally convinced the matchmaking Anissa to rest. "Ms. Davis, get some rest. I'll go buy you something to eat."
She fled.
She could handle people's kindness or malice, could gracefully deflect any tactic. But having grown up without much experience with elders, she found their caring concern particularly hard to handle.
She headed toward the hospital entrance. At the same time, Cedric's Rolls-Royce pulled up. He got out and strode toward the hospital.