I walked into the restaurant expecting a peaceful dinner, not a public shaming. I was halfway through my meal when a waiter, someone I actually employ, approached me and claimed I was bothering other guests with how I was eating. At first, I thought he was joking. But then he called over another staff member, and before I knew it, I was being escorted out like some kind of troublemaker. Everyone stared. Some even laughed. No one realized who I was. I wasn’t just a customer. I was the one who signed their paychecks. They had no clue they were humiliating the owner of the restaurant. As I reached the door, I turned around and said something that made two waiters drop what they were holding...
I said, "You might want to get my coat and the purse from my table—it’s not like every day the boss needs their valuables." The two waiters just stood there, wide-eyed, almost like they’d seen a ghost. Plates and trays clattered to the floor as they fumbled, trying to regain their composure. Customers giggled at the scene, probably thinking it was all part of an act. Little did they know it was just an awkward reality show, all because of a misunderstanding.
Derek, the waiter in charge of this fiasco, shot me an indifferent glance. He crossed his arms and, with an air of arrogance, said, "Well, rules are rules, lady, boss or not, we can't have disruptions." His smug attitude set the crowd murmuring more. It was evident that Derek felt untouchable, leading the push to get me out of my own establishment. I could feel the tension mounting, but said nothing more to escalate the situation.