Chương 4 - THE ARROGANT MANAGER
The heavy steel service door slammed shut behind Naen, cutting off the sound of the howling wind and rain.
The service corridor of L’Étoile Royale smelled of roasted garlic, red wine reduction, floor disinfectant, and expensive pastry dough. The air was warm, almost suffocating compared to the freezing alley outside.
Naen stood near the time clock, shivering violently, dirty rainwater dripping from her messy bun onto the immaculate gray tiles. Her white blouse was translucent from the rain, her black skirt soaked, and her hands were covered in streaks of drying blood mixed with alley grime.
At the end of the hall, holding a silver clipboard and checking a sleek Swiss chronograph on his wrist, stood David Kesler.
At forty-five, David was a man obsessed with an illusion of high-society perfection. His suit was dark, tailored, and lint-free; his hair was combed back with greasy precision, and his thin mustache curled neatly over a permanent, arrogant sneer. He managed L’Étoile Royale with an iron fist, treating the kitchen staff and servers like replaceable machinery.
He looked up from his watch, his pale eyes narrowing as he took in Naen’s disheveled, soaking state.
"You're forty-five minutes late, Walker," David said, his voice dripping with condescending disdain as he walked down the corridor.
"David, I'm so sorry," Naen stammered, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she wiped wet strands of hair from her face. "There was an emergency in the alley—a man was hurt, he was bleeding out—"
"I don't care if a circus landed in the alley," David interrupted coldly, tapping his silver pen against his clipboard. "VIP tables are filled in the main dining room. Table four asked for their wine list ten minutes ago. You are late, you look like a drown rat, and you are disrupting my service floor."
"I can change!" Naen pleaded, her eyes shining with desperate tears. "I have a spare apron in my locker! Please, David, I can't miss this shift. My son needs his medicine!"
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David stepped closer, his face twisting into disgust as he reached out and flicked the wet collar of her thin coat aside, exposing the bloodstained, ruined uniform underneath.
"Look at you," David sneered softly. "You're filthy."
