Chapter 9 — Oliver takes his rightful seat
Oliver stands near the desk in the quiet manager’s office.
He reaches up to his collar.
His fingers untie the tight black knot.
He pulls the silk fabric free from his neck and holds it in his hand.
Next, he unbuttons the cuffs of the crisp white work shirt.
He slips off the shirt he was forced to wear during his grueling hours of labor.
Underneath, he wears his original casual t-shirt that he arrived in earlier that afternoon.
The father watches his son with a soft, relieved expression.
“Let’s go join the rest of the family,” the father says gently.
Marcus leads them out of the management office and down the carpeted hallway.
The ambient hum of the upscale dining room grows louder as they approach.
Waiters glide past balancing silver trays and wine glasses.
The restaurant is bustling with dinner guests enjoying their evening meals.
They walk toward the center of the main dining floor.
Table Four sits right near the large front windows overlooking the city lights.
The other family members look up as Oliver and his father approach.
Aunt Clara and the younger cousins smile brightly when they see Oliver returning without the server apron or work tie.
The father pulls out a chair for Oliver, welcoming him back to the party.
Oliver slides into his seat next to his cousin, feeling the heavy burden of the afternoon finally lift from his shoulders.
Within moments, the kitchen swinging doors push open.
The head chef personally emerges carrying a large silver platter.
He walks directly across the dining room toward Table Four.
He sets the platter down in the center of their table with a flourish, revealing an elaborate first course of seared scallops and artisan bread.
“Compliments of management,” the head chef says with a polite bow.
Oliver smiles across the table at his father as the restaurant settles into a peaceful, elegant evening.
The family begins to pass the serving plates around the table.
Then, the restaurant’s front entrance doors swing open once again.
A sharp-dressed man wearing a district supervisor badge steps inside, holding a printed tablet and looking directly toward the manager’s desk.