The Waitress With a PhD Who Silenced a Arrogant And Rude Billionaire
Chapter 18
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It wasn't the victory she'd imagined. It wasn't her standing up to him, putting him in his place, proving her worth. But it was something. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.Three days passed: three days of working at the Sterling Oak without the looming threat of Theodore Lancaster; three days of breathing easier, smiling more genuinely, feeling almost like a normal person with a normal job.But on Sunday evening, everything changed.Camille was working the dinner shift, the restaurant moderately busy with weekend diners. The bright chandeliers cast their usual glow, conversation hummed pleasantly, and Camille moved through her section with practiced efficiency.Then Theodore walked in.Camille's heart stopped. He shouldn't be here. Mrs. Patterson had banned him. But there he was, wearing a navy suit and that same cold expression, standing at the hostess stand.Mrs. Patterson wasn't working tonight. The hostess was Lily, a college student who worked weekends; she didn't know about the ban. Camille watched from across the dining room as Lily smiled at Theodore, checked her seating chart, and led him to table seven.No, this couldn't be happening.Camille approached Lily at the hostess stand. "That customer... he's not supposed to be here."Lily looked confused. "What do you mean?""Mrs. Patterson banned him. He can't be seated.""She didn't tell me about any ban, and I can't just kick out a customer without the manager on duty." Lily glanced toward table seven nervously. "You handle it, or I'll call the night manager."Camille's stomach twisted. The night manager was Trevor, a man who cared more about avoiding conflict than doing the right thing. If she involved him, he'd probably let Theodore stay.She took a deep breath and walked to table seven.Theodore looked up at her approach, and something flickered across his face: surprise, maybe, or satisfaction."So," he said in English, "you're still here.""You need to leave, sir. You're not welcome in this restaurant.""I checked with the hostess. She seated me. Therefore, I'm a customer." His voice was calm, reasonable, which somehow made it worse."Mrs. Patterson banned you.""Mrs. Patterson isn't here." Theodore leaned back in his chair. "And unless you're the owner, which I doubt given your position, you can't actually make me leave."He was right, and he knew it. Camille felt trapped, the familiar helplessness washing over her."I'm not trying to cause trouble," Theodore continued. "I just want dinner. Surely you can be professional enough to serve me one meal."Professional. He was using her own standards against her. Camille had built her entire survival strategy on being professional, on never letting emotions interfere with her job, and now he was exploiting that."Fine," she said tightly. "What would you like to drink?"