Chapter 254
It was the kind of scene people didn’t forget easily.
Awkward. Tense. Almost cruel in its quiet entertainment.
No one spoke too loudly, yet everyone watched too closely.
Eyes drifted, inevitably, toward Michael.
The same thought formed in more than one mind—
This was deliberate.
A calculated moment of payback.
He had been hurt once by Winnie. And now, with a fiancée sitting beside him, he was finally returning the humiliation in kind—forcing her into a position beneath him, letting her feel what it was like to be watched, judged, reduced.
At least, that was the story people preferred to believe.
It was cleaner that way.
More satisfying.
Only Michael himself didn’t look satisfied at all.
Winnie placed the tray down with steady hands, then turned to leave immediately.
She had no intention of lingering.
But before she could reach the door, someone in the room spoke up.
“Hey.”
A man leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Is that it? No introduction? No explanation? That’s service?”
Winnie paused briefly.
Then, without turning around, she replied evenly, “Fruit platters and snacks as ordered. Everything on the list has been delivered.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
It only made the room more irritated.
A few of Lindsay’s friends exchanged looks.
“Is she really the store manager?” one of them said loudly. “I thought Olson Group service was supposed to be top-tier.”
Another laughed lightly. “Maybe standards have dropped.”
The ridicule came easily.
Effortless, even.
“She doesn’t even know who she’s serving today,” someone added. “That’s the Morrison heir. With that attitude, she really doesn’t want a tip, huh?”
Lindsay frowned slightly.
From the moment Winnie had entered, she had noticed her.
Beautiful, yes.
But cold.
Not a single polite greeting. Not even a smile.
Still, Lindsay kept her composure. Today was her birthday celebration with Michael. She couldn’t afford to make things messy over a stranger.
Before she could say anything, the door opened again.
Veronica walked in.
Her expression was perfectly composed, almost warm.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said smoothly, stepping in as if she had been part of the conversation all along. “Our store manager is quite senior. She doesn’t usually handle direct service. She may have forgotten some etiquette.”
Then she turned directly to Winnie.
The smile remained—but her eyes sharpened.
“What are you standing there for?” Veronica asked lightly. “The guests are unhappy. Aren’t you going to apologize properly?”
Silence fell instantly.
Every gaze in the room shifted onto Winnie.
Waiting.
Winnie finally turned her head slightly.
Her eyes met Veronica’s first.
Cold. Flat. Warning.
Then, slowly, she looked across the room.
And stopped.
Michael was watching her.
Completely still.
His hand rested on his thigh, fingers tightened just enough to betray tension. His brows were faintly drawn together, as if he was holding something back—something he didn’t want seen.
For a brief moment, the noise in the room faded for Winnie.
Just him.
Just that look.
Then it was gone again.
The others didn’t care about what passed between them.
They only cared about the show.
Winnie exhaled once.
Controlled.
“I apologize,” she said evenly. “My attitude was inappropriate. If you prefer, I can arrange another staff member.”
“Absolutely not.”
Lindsay’s friend cut in immediately. “We want the manager. Isn’t that the highest level of service?”
A few others laughed.
Michael’s friends, sensing entertainment, added fuel without hesitation.
“Come on, isn’t this exactly what a manager is for?”
“I didn’t know store managers could pick and choose who they serve.”
“Or is it just that she doesn’t want to serve him?”
The implication landed heavily.
Winnie’s expression didn’t change.
But something in the air tightened.
Then Michael spoke.
“Let her go,” he said quietly. “Change the server.”
The room shifted slightly at his tone.
One of his friends immediately protested. “Why? I think she’s perfect for this—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Michael had looked at him.
Not loudly.
Not angrily.
Just sharply.
Enough.
Silence followed.
No one challenged him again.
Winnie turned to leave.
But Veronica stepped forward at the same time.
Blocking her path.
“You’ve already ruined the atmosphere,” Veronica said softly, tilting her head. “You should at least make it up to everyone.”
Her smile deepened.
“Open a bottle of wine. Drink it in one go. Then we’ll consider this settled.”
A beat.
Then another.
The meaning behind it was obvious.
Cruel, deliberate, and carefully aimed.
Winnie’s gaze dropped briefly to the bottle on the table.
Then back up.
Veronica was smiling.
Waiting.
Enjoying it.
And somewhere in the room—
Michael’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
As if he already knew exactly what would happen next.