The restaurant bustled with the gentle clinking of cutlery and murmured conversations. Mia, a server, efficiently navigated the tables, placing two glasses down at a waiting spot. As she turned to leave, a man in a leather jacket leaned close, his voice a low whisper. “Damn, you’re gorgeous. Sit with me for a while.”
Mia immediately recoiled, stepping back. “Sir, please don’t talk to me like that,” she stated, her voice firm despite her discomfort. “If you want to order something, tell me. Otherwise, please let me do my job.”
The man merely smirked, his eyes dismissive. “Oh, come on, relax. I’m complimenting you. Don’t act smart.”
Feeling a cold wave of unease wash over her, Mia turned to walk away, hoping to escape the escalating situation. But before she could take another step, the man grabbed her wrist tightly. Mia flinched, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. “Let go of me, sir, please,” she pleaded, her voice now trembling with a mixture of fear and humiliation. He leaned closer, his whisper chilling. “You should be grateful. I even looked at you.”
With a surge of desperate strength, Mia ripped her hand free and hurried away, the sting of tears blurring her vision. She sought refuge in the staff area, struggling to compose herself.
Just as the distressing encounter concluded, a cheerful voice echoed through the restaurant. “Hey, sorry I’m late!” Lily, the man’s girlfriend, walked in with a radiant smile, completely oblivious to the scene that had just unfolded. The man’s demeanor shifted instantly; he wiped the smirk from his face and adopted an innocent, welcoming expression. “Babe, finally, you’re here.”
Lily, still smiling, called out to a passing server. “Excuse me, can we get some water?”
Mia, still shaken, approached the table with the requested water pitcher and froze. Her eyes met Lily’s, and recognition dawned. Lily’s smile faltered, her eyes widening in shock. “Mia, oh my god, it’s you!”
“After years,” Mia managed, forcing a small, wobbly smile. “Yeah, long time.” But the pretense was too much. Her eyes welled up, and she suddenly broke down, the suppressed tears now flowing freely.
Lily, standing up in alarm, rushed to her friend’s side. “Mia, what happened? Why are you crying?”
Between sobs, Mia recounted everything, her voice thick with emotion. She told Lily how her boyfriend had harassed her, touched her, and grabbed her wrist.
Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief and then narrowed in anger. “What? No. My boyfriend would never do that. He’s respectful. He’s gentle.” She spun around to face him, demanding, “Babe, tell me she’s lying.”
The man, cornered, snapped defensively. “This is all nonsense. She’s making it up. I didn’t touch her.”
At that moment, the restaurant supervisor, who had been observing from a distance, calmly walked over. “No, Mia is telling the truth,” he stated, his voice firm. “Everything is recorded on CCTV with audio.”
Lily slowly turned back to her boyfriend, her face pale. Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. “Is this true?”
He looked down, unable to meet her gaze. Silence. He knew he was caught.
Lily exploded, her voice echoing with betrayal and fury. “I trusted you! I defended you, and you do this? You filthy man! Get out of my life!” She then turned to Mia, her face softening with profound regret and empathy. She pulled Mia into a tight hug. “I’m so, so sorry. Don’t worry, I’m with you.”