Chapter 52

• Celeste's POV
• I could feel the tension in the air before I even stepped out of the back door. The usual cacophony of insults and snide laughter was waiting for me, like predators circling. My stomach didn't tighten-not anymore. I had learned long ago that fear was a luxury I couldn't afford. I squared my shoulders, adjusted the apron I wore over my uniform, and followed my boss into the main hall of the restaurant.
• These people were relentless. Every day for the past few days, they had come, ordered massive feasts, and left chaos behind. Hair in the soup, bugs in the salad-they never missed a detail. And no apology, no compensation from the staff, satisfied them. Only my presence as the one who had touched every plate, washed every dish, seemed to placate them.