Chapter 1: First impressions

Julianna’s pov

Balancing the weight of the tray on my shoulder, I make my way through the crowded Golden Bistro, a restaurant frequented by the city’s wealthiest, known for its infamous dishes. It's only my first week working here.’’ Tonight, the place is busier than usual. As I worked my way around a table, I bumped into a solid figure, causing the wine to spill on him and the floor, shattering glasses and dishes in the process.

‘’Oh my God. I’m so sorry’’. I stammer, biting my lips in nervousness while avoiding eye contact with the man I believe is glaring at me.

The man barely moves but glances down at his now-stained suit with a look of pure disgust. ‘’Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?’’ He asks coldly, glancing at the stain on his suit once again. 

He shakes his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as they sweep over me. ‘’How do you even expect to keep a job here when you can’t manage something as simple as carrying a tray? Pathetic’’.

My chest tightens with a mix of anger and embarrassment. I’m not used to being spoken to like that, and his harsh tone stings. ‘’I’m sorry, sir,’’ I say, struggling to remain polite. ‘’I’ll pay for any damage.’ 

’’Sorry?’’ He scoffs, his voice dropping further, almost as if he’s speaking to someone unworthy of his attention. ‘’Your apologies mean nothing. You should be grateful you even have this job, considering your lack of competence.’’ 

That does it. I can’t take it anymore. Who does he think he is? ‘’Excuse me, but I already said I’m sorry. You seriously have no right to insult or disrespect me like this. ‘’I can’t keep the frustration out of my tone.

He raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he steps closer to me. ‘’Respect is earned, not given freely. If you want to keep this job, I suggest you start by showing a bit more professionalism.’’

Before I can respond, my boss, Mr. Woods, pushes through the crowd toward us, looking anxious. ‘’Mr. Frost, I apologize on her behalf. It was an accident,’’ he says, bowing slightly.

 The man–Mr. Frost– turns his attention to Mr. Woods, his demeanor not changing.’’ Do you hire all your staff with such…. loose standards?’’

I meet the man’s gaze, feeling my cheeks heat up in anger. I clench my fists, trying to control my temper. ‘’Normally, I respect my customers, but you seem to have a problem with that today.’’

‘’His lips curl into a faint smile, masking his annoyance.’’ It’s not about respect, Miss. It’s about competence. Maybe you need to rethink how you approach your work.

‘’Speaking of competence,’’ I say, keeping my voice steady. ‘’I spilled a drink on you by accident, and that’s enough for you to question my entire ability to work? You don’t even know me, and yet here you are assuming things.’’

‘Mr. woods interrupted sharply,’’ Enough, Julianna Apologize to him now.’’

My Jaw drops in disbelief.’’Sir, he started it……

You are not to be rude to any of my customers, they are the reasons you and everyone else here can work here. I won’t repeat myself,’ Apologize.’’

’’I clench my fist while forcing a sweet smile that feels completely unnatural. ‘’I’m sorry, sir. I should have watched where I was going.’’

‘’Not forgiven, but fine. He replies, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he stares at my clenched fist.’’Mr Woods, if this is the best you can manage, perhaps I’ll reconsider the dine.’’

With that, he turns and walks away, leaving me standing there, humiliated and fuming. I feel the tight grip of frustration rising in my chest. I want to scream but hold back. The mess around me—shattered glasses and spilled wine is nothing compared to the emotional wreckage that one man’s arrogance could leave behind.

‘’Julianna,’’ my boss growls, the disappointment evident in his tone. ‘’We need to talk. NOW.’’

He enters his office with me following behind. ‘’Julianna?’’ he calls with an obvious tone of frustration. ‘’ It’s been a week since you started working here, and i really like your attitude, but tonight just made me have doubts about you.’’

Biles rises in my throat as I stand in Mr. Woods' office, his eyes fixed on me. My heart races, and I bite my lip–a nervous habit I picked up from my mum. My mind spins with thoughts. This job pays better than my other jobs. I can’t afford to lose it.

‘’I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again,’’ I manage, swallowing the fear rising in my chest.

His gaze softens slightly, but still remains hard. ‘’You’ll need to prove that to me, Julianna. There won’t be another chance.’’

*******

‘’ The moment my shift ends, I hurry out the back door and into the cool night air. I can’t shake the weight of his words, like a heavy cloud hanging over me. No matter how hard I try, words hurt me deeply, and his words keep crawling back, gnawing at my self-esteem.

‘’Who does he think he is?’’ I mutter under my breath, feeling angry. ‘’Just because he’s rich doesn’t mean he gets to treat people like garbage. It’s just not fair. Julianna, you deserve better than this.’’ I whisper to myself, the words echoing in my mind like a mantra.

I walk aimlessly through the city streets, the vibrant lights around me doing no justice to my mood.  

Frustration fills my heart, but beyond that, a sense of helplessness. How could someone like me ever think of standing up to someone like him? He has everything–money, power, influence —and I'm just ... .a waitress.

Feeling overwhelmed, I find a place to sit. I close my eyes, immersing myself in the song playing softly from my phone, singing along quietly. My hurt vanishing into thin air as i remind myself that a bad day doesn’t mean a bad life.