CHAPTER 47: NOT JUST ORDINARY CUSTOMERS,

"Tsk..Are you going to order or not?"

Rome asked Calyx coldly.

"If not, can you just shut your mouth?"

At that, the other four men turned their attention to him.

"H-haha, I was just kidding, bro..."

Calyx gave an awkward laugh before quickly averting his eyes with a pout. "So he’s allowed to joke around, but we’re not?" he muttered under his breath—loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.

"You know what, Calyx," Alfonso spoke up, gently patting Calyx’s shoulder." it’s not that you can’t joke, man. But maybe try reading the room first?"

"You’ve got a habit of making jokes at the wrong time," he added in a low voice, still audible to the group. "Look at Rome—he’s been on edge since earlier. One wrong move and he might actually punch you."

The group fell into a brief silence after that.

"Hey, Sylvia!!"

A loud voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Are you still not done over there?!"

I flinched at my boss’s shout and turned to look at the five men one by one.

"Sirs," I said, forcing myself to stay composed, "if you’re not placing an order, then I’ll—"

"Sylvia! Are you deaf or just ignoring me?!"

I hadn’t even realized my boss had walked up to me already. Without warning, he grabbed me roughly by the shoulder, yanking me to the side and causing me to lose my balance slightly.

"Hey!"

Rome and Alpheus stood up at the exact same time, both reacting instantly, ready to step in and catch me.

But my boss didn’t stop.

"What the hell are you still doing here?! Can’t you see they’re not the only customers in this restaurant?!" he barked. "Why don’t you leave them alone already?! Or maybe... maybe you just enjoy standing next to these handsome men so much that you don’t want to walk away, huh?!"

I could feel my face heating up—not from embarrassment, but from annoyance. It was a blatant humiliation.

Then he gave each of the five men a once-over, raising a brow slightly as if sizing them up.

"Hey, you! Are you trying to seduce Sylvia or something?!" my boss sneered, eyeing Rome up and down.

"You look like someone who’s well-off, sure, but someone like her? She’s way out of your league. Just look at her—she’s nothing but a lowly waitress!"

As he said that, he had the nerve to throw an arm over my shoulder.

And just like that, I knew exactly what that meant. I’d be stuck washing a mountain of dishes later—for simply pissing him off.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Rome’s expression darken as his gaze fixated on the hand resting on my shoulder. His calm demeanor shifted, and before I could even react, he stood up from his seat and stared at my boss coldly.

"Sylvia, who the hell is this mutt?" he asked sharply, brushing my boss’s arm off my shoulder like it was filth.

"W-what... a mutt? Are you talking to me?!"

"Then do you prefer being called a dog instead?"

"W-what the—! Are you insulting me?!"

"That’s not an insult. It’s the truth—you’ve been barking like a Chihuahua and grabbing her earlier. Are you her boss?" Rome continued, his voice sharp and controlled, but seething.

I turned to look at my boss, who now looked completely stunned by what he’d just heard.

"C-Chihuahua? What the hell?!" he stammered.

I could only slap my forehead. I was already dreading what this was going to cost me later. I just knew it—my boss was definitely going to make me pay for this once the customers were gone.

Rome glanced at me briefly, then turned his sharp gaze back to my boss.

"Is this dog the owner of this tiny, run-down restaurant?" he asked, his tone full of disdain.

I didn’t answer. I mean, what the hell was he doing—calling my boss a dog to his face? Was he trying to make him even angrier at me by dragging me into this?

"I don’t like dogs that won’t stop barking," Rome went on, his voice dropping lower. "If you’re the owner here, you should know how to treat your staff and your customers with respect—not the other way around."

His words hit like a slap.

My boss’s face twisted in disbelief before he finally snapped.

"And just who the hell do you think you are to lecture me like that?! You think I won’t throw you out of here for being a rude customer? I own this place! I can kick you out anytime I want!" he shouted, finally finding his voice again.

"If there’s anyone being rude here, it’s you, the owner." Alpheus said calmly.

"Who the hell do you think you are to say that to me?!" my boss barked. He glanced around, then spotted our manager and waved him over. "Taylor! Get over here!"

The manager—Taylor—approached with that ever-confident look on his face, his chin slightly raised like he thought he owned the place.

"Sir, what seems to be the problem?" he asked in an annoyingly smug tone.

Tsk. Taylor. The arrogant manager who spent more time kissing up to the boss than actually doing his job.

A few customers were already glancing our way, curious about the commotion caused by all the shouting.

"These rude men are causing a scene," my boss said, gesturing toward Rome and his group. "I want them banned from this restaurant. I don’t want to see their faces here ever again!"

Taylor looked at each of them one by one. But when his eyes landed on Alpheus, something shifted in his expression.

He paused, squinting slightly. Then, with a hesitant glance, he leaned in closer and whispered something to my boss.

We all noticed it—the slight drop in tension, the way my boss’s shoulders slumped a little, his gaze now fixed on Alpheus, longer than before.

And then... he froze.

"You..." he muttered, staring hard at Alpheus. "I... I remember you now. Aren’t you the guy who used to eat here often... the one from Monteverde Corps?"

Alpheus let out a small, knowing smirk.

"Yes. And if you’re still curious—my full name is Alpheus Monteverde."

My boss’s face went completely pale. He took a small step back, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. You could see the panic starting to settle in as he glanced nervously between the five men seated at the table.

"I’m Alfonso Ferrer, if you’re also curious about who I am." Alfonso said, grinning.

"M-Monteverde and F-Ferrer..." we heard my boss whisper under his breath. He looked completely stunned.

"And I’m Calyx Fonte, owner of Fonte Build and Design Corp, just a few blocks from here."

If my boss had already turned pale at hearing Monteverde and Ferrer, it was nothing compared to his reaction now. His face drained of color even further at the mention of Calyx’s name.

They weren’t ordinary customers. They were the owners of some of the largest and most successful companies around Asia—the top architectural firm, a major shipping company, and now this.

"I’m Dave Perez," he said. "CEO of Perez Beverage and Food Incorporation. And this guy right here?" Dave glanced at Rome and smirked.

"He’s none other than Rome Hariston—Vice Chairman of Hariston International Airlines and the heir to the vast Hariston family estate and businesses. He also happens to be the chairman and owner of that newly constructed entertainment building—the one directly across from your little restaurant."

Dave crossed his arms, his smirk growing wider as he stared down at my boss.

It wasn’t just our manager and boss who looked like they’d seen a ghost—even I was stunned. I didn’t expect that the tall building I always admired from afar belonged to him.

Does that mean I’ve been working all this time so close to where this snake lives?

"What? Surprised?" Rome asked, raising an eyebrow at me with that smug look on his face.

I quickly looked away. I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at him.