"Take a good look in the mirror before you embarrass yourself. You think a broke nobody like you can afford to eat here? Get out. Go on, get lost before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."

Contempt twisted every line of Toby's face as he kicked the table in front of me.

A deafening crash.

The coffee cup rattled violently, brown liquid sloshing over the rim.

I stared at the dark stain spreading across the white cuff of my shirt, and my expression hardened.

This shirt was a birthday gift from my wife. Today was the first time I'd worn it.

I fixed Toby with a cold stare:

"Apologize."

Toby let out a scoff:

"You want me to apologize?"

"Duke Gilbert, you must be out of your damn mind."

"If anyone's apologizing, it's you. Breathing the same air as a lowlife like you is already killing my appetite."

With that, Toby turned toward the entrance and barked:

"Security!"

"Where the hell is security? You people letting any stray off the street walk in now? Do you all want to lose your jobs?"

Two security guards approached, hesitation written across their faces.

Right then, the restaurant manager came rushing over.

One look at Toby's expression and the manager broke into a jog to reach him.

"Mr. Weiss, what seems to be the problem? Whatever it is, just tell me and I'll take care of it right away."

Toby let out a cold snort.

"What's the holdup here?"

"The service standards in this place are really going downhill. Can't you see there's a broke nobody here ruining the atmosphere?"

The manager froze, then followed Toby's gaze toward me.

"So sorry, so sorry. I'll take care of it right away."

He bowed and scraped before Toby, his voice dripping with flattery.

Then he turned to me, his expression hardening.

"Sir, this is a fine dining establishment, not a homeless shelter. I'm going to have to ask you to leave immediately."

He gestured toward the door with an open palm.

"You hear that?"

Toby slapped me lightly across the cheek, grinning with satisfaction.

"Broke losers need to know their place. If you can't afford it, don't come in here pretending you can!"

I didn't move.

Toby took my stillness for fear, and it only made him bolder.

His hand came down harder the next time.

"Tsk, tsk. Should've made sure you rotted in that cell a few more years. At least then you wouldn't be out here embarrassing yourself."

I smiled. It was the kind of smile that carried no warmth at all.