DEATH MEATBALL

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"Ah man... Hi... Rose, it's not what you think," I said nervously, feeling like I'm in big trouble.

"Explain," Rose demanded, crossing her arms and glaring at me.

"Nancy fainted, so I helped out," I said quickly, pointing to the name tag on my t-shirt. This was the first time I'd been caught, and I could feel my heart pounding.

"Really, Scarlett? You know what, I've had enough!"

Oh no, please, not that. "God help me, if I'm fired, I swear to God I don't think I would be able to stop myself from punching her right in the face before leaving this Crystal Dinners."

"You are fir—" Rose was about to finish the word when someone started coughing loudly.

I turned to see an Old man, his face turning red and his hands clutching his throat.

"Omg, Mr. Gale!" Rose yelled, rushing towards him. Everyone froze, some staff fumbling with their phones, trying to call for help.

"He's choking, he's choking on something," I shouted, pushing through the crowd to reach Mr. Gale.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM, SCARLETT!" Rose tried to pull me back, but I pushed her away. "This lady is dumb," I thought. Positioning myself behind Mr. Gale, I wrapped my arms around him and performed the Heimlich maneuver. After a few tense moments, he coughed up a meatball and began to breathe easier. I quickly handed him a glass of water.

"Thank you for saving me," Mr. Gale said, gripping my hand.

"It's nothing, sir. I saw you were choking, so I helped," I smiled back, feeling a mix of relief and pride.

"No, my child, it was something. I could have died," Mr. Gale insisted, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Yeah! I saved you from a title: DEATH BY MEATBALL," I joked, causing gasps from the onlookers.

"WHAT! It's the truth," I said, shrugging at the shocked faces around me.

"Haha, yeah, it is funny," Mr. Gale laughed heartily.

"Umm... Mr. Gale, we are so sorry for the inconvenience. How can we make it up to you?" Rose interjected, pushing me aside.

"Silly Rose, call the ambulance," I laughed out of the blue, and everyone looked at me, even Rose gave me the bombastic side-eye.

"I'm fine, Rose. What's your name, my child?" Mr. Gale asked me.

"Scarlett, sir... She... She's just a cleaner, sir," Rose quickly added before I could speak. Oh, I despise this lady.

"How can I reward you?" Mr. Gale asked, ignoring Rose and looking directly at me. "Omg, that's amazing!"

"Anything, I will provide. What do you want?" he repeated, holding my hand.

"I want food, I'm hungry."

"..." Everyone stared at me like I'm some crazy lunatic, and I get it. I am hungry; that's what I have to solve first. "Don't you dare think I'm dumb! I'm not some gold digger. Even Rose thinks I'm stupid..."

"Food!?... That's too easy, but come sit with me. You deserve the best food... Bring her food, your best on the menu," Mr. Gale said, pulling me to sit down. I smiled triumphantly at Rose.

"Rose, please, hurry up," Mr. Gale urged her.

"What would you like to order?" Mr. Gale asked me. I took the menu and looked at Rose.

"Do you have a pen?" I asked Rose. She gave me a stupid look as she handed me the pen. I took it from her and ticked off several items on the menu.

"I want this packed to take home, and this and that... Hmm, I want this oyster stuff, I wanna try it," I said, ticking more items.

"I want this and this now to eat," I handed the menu and pen back to Rose.

"Give her what she wants," Mr. Gale instructed, and I took the offered glass of wine from him, sipping it. It's good to save people from a meatball death. I smiled to myself as I tasted the delicious wine.

"Scarlett, I can't give you just food, right, Martin?" Mr. Gale asked his subordinate.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Gale, you are right. Girl, I think it's best to ask for anything," Martin urged me.

"Ok, fine. I need a better job that can pay me well," I pouted at Mr. Gale.

"That's easy," Mr. Gale said. I watched how the waiters arranged the food, and I dug in, starting with the spaghetti and meatballs.

"Hmm," I moaned as I savored the taste.

"You are funny," Mr. Martin laughed.

"Just don't choke on this," Mr. Gale smiled. I smiled back, looking at him as I stuffed my mouth with food. He looks Japanese if I'm not wrong.

"I thought of it. How about working for me?" Mr. Gale suggested as he sipped his wine. I swallowed.

"Umm, sir, I'm bad with paperwork; it's kind of boring," I admitted.

"So what can you do?" Mr. Gale asked. That's so true, what can I do? I know I didn't finish university, and I'm twenty-three already.

"Umm, I can cook and clean?" I replied back. I finished with the plate of spaghetti, and I started with the fried chicken.

"DAYUM!" I stuffed the chicken in my mouth. Life's good.

"I have the perfect job for you," Mr. Gale said. He stared at his watch and looked at me again.

"I have to go now. This is my card," he dropped his card on the table beside me, and I stared at it: 'MR BLACKBURN.'

"You can call me, and you start work next week at my house. I'll send a driver to pick you up," he patted my head. I smiled back.

"Thank you, Mr. Gale, I really appreciate it," I bowed.

"Oh no, I should thank you. I'll make sure Rose meets your needs, okay?" he said before leaving. Rose came over with a sinister look.

"You filthy piece of shit," she hissed at me.

"What did I do now?" I wiped my hands with a napkin.

"I see you are senseless as always. You couldn't ask for money," she snapped.

"So I can give it to you or what?" I spat back. She pulled my ear immediately, and I slapped her hands off.

"What are you trying to do?" I was so mad at her. She gritted her teeth at me.

"Who do you think you are just because you saved Mr. Gale, huh? I'll show you, YOU ARE FIRED!" she yelled at me.

"I QUIT!" I shot back. "I got a job with Mr. Gale," I showed her the card, and she tried to grab it, but I dodged her hand.

"Nah huh huh!... I want all this food packed, or else I'M CALLING MR. GALE!" I grinned wickedly.

"You'll pay for this, you just watch," she stomped off. Two waiters came to pack the rest of the food to take home.

Late at night, I walked out of Crystal Dinners with a lot of packs. It felt like I won a lottery. I stopped a taxi and gave him the address to my house. As we passed by Crystal, I bid it goodbye. I guess it's my last time.

"Woooh!" I screamed excitedly, and the driver stared at me through the mirror like I was some lunatic.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" he asked.

"Never felt better," I replied, laughing at the day's events.

The taxi zoomed off into the cold night.

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