The man who stood up saunters away followed by the other two. Fred, the mouth of the group stays in his seat.
It’s clear from the look on Matt’s face, barely concealed rage, that he has had enough of him. He reaches out and grabs two fistfuls of the asshole’s shirt and drags him to his feet.
Fred’s jaw drops, his eyes widening and there’s fear in his face. It’s finally occurred to him that Matt isn’t messing around and that he isn’t going to let this go.
Matt releases Fred’s shirt and shoves him backwards. Fred stumbles but keeps his footing. He turns around and makes for the door, Matt following close behind him, making sure he doesn’t try to change his mind. The whole way to the door, Fred shouts obscenities which Matt ignores.
The shouting brings Marco back to the floor.
Every customer is watching the scene unfolding before them, the restaurant silent now except for Fred’s belligerent cursing, and Marco’s face is blazing with thunder as he starts across the dining room. Fred finally reaches the door, which Matt shoves him through and then slams shut behind him. Matt stays in place, watching through the glass panel in the door to make sure Fred and his cronies really are leaving.
“Sorry about that ladies and gentleman,” Marco says loudly, a charming smile on his face as he addresses the diners.
It does the trick. They go back to their meals, the scene over, and the hubbub of conversation fills the room once more.
Marco reaches Matt. “A word,” he says.
Matt follows Marco across the floor, rolling his eyes.
“You too,” Marco says to me.
I follow behind him dutifully. Matt brushes my arm with his hand. I look up, telling myself to keep my cool.
“Are you okay?” Matt mouths.
I nod, my cool gone as I look into his eyes and see the concern there. I don’t know how he can give me one look and completely change the way I feel about him, but he seems to do it effortlessly.
Marco leads us through to the back of the restaurant. The instant we’re out of earshot of the diners, he rounds on us. “What the fucking hell just happened?” he demands.
“That fucking dick thought it was acceptable to touch one of the waitresses. And when she rightfully told him not to touch her, he called her a cunt. So I told him to leave and not bother coming back. That’s what you would have done. Right?” Matt says, his voice challenging Marco to argue the point.
Marco looks away from Matt with a roll of his eyes. He turns his attention on me. “Where did he touch you?” he asks.
“Here,” I say, pointing to my upper thigh. “He was moving his hand higher too until I pushed him away.”
Marco rolls his eyes again. “So he wasn’t groping your pussy or anything? Honestly Callie, you’re so damned sensitive. Part of your job is entertaining customers and not taking offence at every damned thing. I don’t know why you think you’re too good for this job, but let me tell you something. You’re not.”
I am shocked by his words. This is a new low, even for Marco. “You’re kidding me right? My job is to wait on customers and make sure their dining experience with us is a good one. It is most certainly not in my job description to be a whore,” I say.
“Stop being so dramatic. I wasn’t suggesting you should become a whore. Just learn to take a joke. Those men are some of our best paying customers.”
“Were,” Matt puts in.
“Were what?” Marco frowns.
“Were some of your best paying customers. They are banned from the restaurant now.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Marco demands. “I’m the manager in this branch not you, and I’ll say who is banned and who isn’t.”
Matt takes a step closer to Marco. “He touched one of your staff and you did nothing about it. Whose side do you think head office will take?”
Marco’s face changes. He knows he’s gone too far, and in the back of his mind, he knows he would have agreed with Matt if it was any other waitress that this had happened to. He makes one last ditch attempt to dig himself out of the hole he’s gotten himself into. “We only have Callie’s word for that and she has a habit of exaggerating,” Marco says.
Matt lunges for him. I grab his arm just in time and I position myself between the two men. Matt’s face is full of thunder as he looks over the top of me to Marco. He takes another step forward and I put my hands on his taut chest. I know I can’t physically stop him from going after Marco, but I also know he won’t hurt me so if I just stay between them, I think I can diffuse this situation. At least I hope I can.
I keep my eyes on Matt as I speak to Marco, “Marco I think you misunderstood, but now you get it. Matt did the right thing and those perverts are banned from the restaurant.” I risk a glance over my shoulder. Marco has retreated several paces and I can see the fear on his face as Matt keeps his piercing glare on him.
“Yes. That’s right,” Marco says, his voice barely audible.
“Good,” I say. “Now if you don’t mind, can you cover our sections for a moment. Matt and I are going to go and take our breaks.”
Marco skulks away.
Matt makes to go after him, but I stand my ground and he backs down. “He’s not worth it Matt,” I say.
“I know. But you are and I won’t have him or anyone else treating you like shit,” he says.
I feel a rush of warmth run through me at his words and I smile warmly at him. “Thank you. I’m grateful for what you did with those customers. That was getting
