December to Remember 4

Without explanation, my leave was canceled. It was my first-ever request since joining the hotel, yet it was denied without reason. I was livid. My plans crumbled before my eyes, but there was no one to fight for me, no justice to be found. I swallowed my anger, wiped my tears, and dragged myself back to work.

By the 23rd of December, the managers and their assistants had all conveniently taken time off, with instructions that I must ensure the smooth running of the entire food and beverage section. That meant longer hours because of the peak season, more pressure, and the annoying responsibility of ensuring that the Rich Big Babies (RBBs)—my not-so-secret nickname for the elite customers who were a pain in all the wrong places—were well taken care of.

I was irritable, overworked, and barely holding my temper together when the worst of them all strolled in — Seun.

I had a special kind of contempt reserved for him. While I secretly resented most of the bourgeoisie, my disgust for Seun was on another level. He was the perfect embodiment of an insufferable rich kid—a walking, talking reminder of my place in society. 

It was no secret that he was the owner’s favorite and a generous tipper—when he wasn’t too busy tearing someone apart for failing to meet his impossible standards. 

Seun delighted in flaunting his wealth, crushing egos, and making sure you knew exactly how insignificant you were in this world. In my opinion, my bosses enabled his behavior, kissing the ground he walked on while he insulted and humiliated us for sport. 

With all that, you would think he would be a turn off for the staff right? Well you're wrong. Despite his unbearable attitude, all my staff flocked to him — well, I refuse to judge. As I had long decided that I would never join the desperate employees scrambling for his attention, I made sure to avoid him at all cost. But that day—I wasn’t so lucky.

It was a slow shift, and the Christmas spirit was in the air. My staff were at their best—smiling, efficient, and in sync. My earlier speech about team spirit seemed to be working like magic. I was scanning a checklist when a sharp, echoing sound sliced through the air.

A slap.

Quiet gasps rippled through the bar followed by a graveyard silence The slow music on the stereo continued, oblivious to the assault that had just unfolded.

I turned towards the elevated section of the VVIP bar just in time to see my best staff—a hardworking young man who barely spoke above a whisper, stumbling backwards, clutching his face which mirrored his humiliation and shock. My own cheek tingled from the force of the slap as if I had been the one struck. If it had been one of my tiny waitresses standing there, she would have been knocked clear off the platform, I thought as the list slipped out of my hand and landed at my feet. My eyes burned with fury as they locked onto the culprit; Seun.

Something inside me snapped. Before I could even process what I was doing, I was in front of him, standing tall, my body tense like a mother hen protecting her chick.

NEXT

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