The manager was caught off guard by the p, but he didn''t dare toin. Instead, he vented his anger on Felicia. He raised his hand to p her, but I caught his wrist mid-air.


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    I shot the manager a warning re.


    He froze for a moment when he noticed me, then gave me a disdainful once-over. "Who the hell are you? What business do you have interrupting things in our restaurant?"


    I said tly, "This is my girlfriend. You tell me if I have a right to speak up."


    "Your girlfriend?"


    The manager blinked, then jerked his hand away from mine and snapped, "So what if she''s your girlfriend? That doesn''t give you the right to act cocky! Felicia, I''m telling you now-apologize to Mr. Fisher immediately, or you won''t be leaving this ce today!"


    Bob leaned back in his chair, propping up his feet. Lighting a cigarette, he smirked and said, "Have her bring me a drink and serve me properly for the rest of my meal. Do that, and I''ll forget about this. Otherwise, your restaurant might as well shut down today."


    "Did you hear that?" the manager threatened Felicia again, still ring. "Hurry up and serve Mr. Fisher his drink!"


    It was no big deal for Felicia to apologize, but it didn''t make sense for her to serve him drinks and wait on him throughout the meal. Bob was treating the restaurant like a nightclub.


    It was apparent Bob wasn''t up to any good. He was probably after Felicia, trying to control her and get her to serve him.


    If he really wanted a woman, there were plenty out there. However, no one gave him the time of day, so here he was, bullying the weak to boost his fragile ego.


    I couldn''t stand this type of man, so I walked straight to the table. "An apology and


    a drink, right? Fine. Let me serve you."


    I grabbed the teapot and poured it directly over Bob''s head.


    The hot water from the teapot sshed over Bob, making him jump up like a moth


    to a me, iling his arms around his head. "You''re asking for it! You''re dead, you hear me? You''re dead!"


    I sneered. "We''ll see who''s dead first."


    I was about to make another move, but a few of the servers rushed over and pulled me back. "Don''t do anything reckless! You don''t know who Mr. Fisher is!


    "Mr. Fisher''s not just anyone. He''s got many guys under him. Anyone who crosses him won''t have peace for the rest of their lives. You had better calm down."


    "I understand that you want to protect your girlfriend, but nothing''s worth risking your neck over!"


    Even Felicia was pale with fear. She grabbed my arm and pleaded, "William, please don''t do this. We can''t mess with people like him!"


    I scoffed. "What''s there to be afraid of from a few punks? Do they think they''re big shots or something?"


    Before I could finish, one of Bob''s baldpanions smashed a beer bottle against the table and brandished the jagged remains. "You bastard, say that again!"


    I grabbed a bottle off the table and shattered it just as loudly. "I''ll say it ten times if


    I have to. You''re just a small-time thug trying to act tough before me. Do you think


    I''ll be scared of you because you smashed a bottle? Here''s some advice-get out


    of here and leave my girlfriend alone. If you try anything again, you won''tst in this town!"


    My family had experience dealing with people like them for years.


    Back home, our orchards were prime targets for thieves and saboteurs. We always had someone keeping an eye out for troublemakers.


    Even Victor, who my dad sent to help manage the family''s resort in Welsington


    City, was a seasoned veteran in handling these types.


    It was simply ridiculous that I would be afraid of them.