A POOR WOMAN WAS DRINKING WATER IN THE FACE OF A WAITRESS WHO WAS SLOW TO MOVE, BUT SHE ALMOST KNEELED IN SHOCK WHEN SHE SAW THE MANAGER BOWING TO THE WAITRESS

It was noon and peak hour at Casa Vittoria, the most popular Italian fine dining restaurant in Makati. The place was packed with businessmen and socialites.

Celine, 21, was busy serving. She was sweaty, her hair was a bit messy, and she was wearing a waitress’ uniform. She moved quickly, but they were short-staffed today.

At Table 4, sat Madam Stella, a woman with a neck and arms covered in jewelry. She was known for being demanding.

“Excuse me!” Madam Stella shouted, snapping her fingers. “Miss! My water is taking a long time! Do you want me to die of thirst?!”

“Sorry, Ma’am,” Celine quickly approached with the pitcher. “Here’s your water. I’m sorry, we’re short-staffed right now.”

“I don’t care if you’re short-staffed!” Stella snapped. “I’m paying dearly for this! You’re acting so stupid! I’ve been waiting for my Pasta for a while, and it still hasn’t arrived!”

“On your way, Ma’am—”

“Shut up!” Stella shouted.

The gluttonous customer was so angry that she took the glass of water Celine had poured.

SPLAAAASH!

Madam Stella splashed the cold water on Celine’s face!

The water dripped onto Celine’s hair, her apron, and the floor. She was soaking wet. The entire restaurant fell silent. The clinking of cutlery stopped. Everyone was staring at them.

“That! That’s what you need to wake up!” Stella shouted. “Call your Manager! I’ll have you fired right now! You piece of shit!”

Celine remained bowed. She wiped the water from her eyes with the back of her hand. She didn’t answer.

Sir George, the restaurant’s General Manager, quickly ran over. He was panting and pale.

“Sir! I’m glad you came!” Stella complained, still holding her head high. “Fire this girl immediately! She insulted me! She’s so slow! She’s a useless employee!”

Page: SAY – Story Around You | Original story.

Everyone thought Sir George was going to yell at Celine.

But the entire restaurant was shocked when Sir George passed Madam Stella.

He went straight to Celine. He took out a clean towel from his pocket.

He gently wiped Celine’s shoulder. And the most surprising thing of all—Sir George bowed in front of the waitress.

“Ma’am Celine… I’m so sorry,” the Manager said tremblingly. “Please forgive me. I didn’t see you right away. I’ll get a first aid kit. Are you hurt?”

Madam Stella was stunned. “W-Wait… What ‘Ma’am’? Why are you apologizing to that idiot?!”

Sir George turned to Madam Stella. The Manager’s face was serious and his previous politeness to the customer was gone.

“Madam, the one you called ‘idiot’ and threw water on is Ms. Celine Vittoria.”

Stella’s eyes widened. “Vittoria?”

“Yes,” Sir George insisted. “She is the only daughter of Don Ricardo Vittoria, the owner of this restaurant and fifty others throughout Asia. She just works here as a regular waitress because she wants to learn the business from the bottom without special treatment. But her training doesn’t include being rude to people like you.”

It was as if the sky and the earth had fallen on Madam Stella. The woman she had read about was ten times richer than her!

Celine slowly lifted her face. Gone was the shy persona of earlier. It was replaced by the bearing of a true owner.

“Sir George,” Celine calmly ordered.

“Yes, Ma’am Celine?”

“Cancel that woman’s order. And put her name on the blacklist of all our branches. We serve food, not arrogance. I don’t like rudeness in my Daddy’s restaurant.”

“I will follow, Ma’am.”

Celine turned to Stella, who was already trembling with shame.

“Madam,” Celine said with emphasis. “You can buy our food, but you can’t buy the character of my employees. Get out.”

The other customers applauded. Madam Stella walked out, embarrassed, while Celine was escorted by the staff to the office to get dressed.

That day, everyone at Casa Vittoria learned a lesson: Don’t look down on others because of their uniforms. Because in the end, true class is not in the amount of jewelry, but in good manners.

Disclaimer: The stories here are just fiction and not news. What is important is the lesson and emotions that can happen to anyone. Thank you, SAY!