Yaw entered El-Salvador restaurant and scanned the room, searching for an empty table. The ambiance was elegant, with soft music playing in the background and the clinking of glasses adding a touch of sophistication. He felt out of place in his simple attire, but he was here to meet Mariam and Queenstar, and that was all that mattered.
Yaw spotted a small table near the window and started walking towards it. Just as he was about to sit down, a waitress, dressed impeccably in the restaurant's uniform, stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
“Excuse me,” she said, her tone sharp and condescending, “but all the seats here are reserved. You should try somewhere else... maybe the orphanage you came from.”
Her words stung, and Yaw felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. He had grown accustomed to being underestimated, but the sting of such blatant disrespect still hurt. With his head lowered, he turned to leave the restaurant, deciding it would be better to wait outside.
Just as Yaw was about to step out, the door swung open, and in walked Mariam and Queenstar. They were dressed in beautiful, high-end outfits, exuding an air of elegance and class. The sight of them made the entire restaurant pause, as heads turned to admire the two striking young women.
Mariam and Queenstar were momentarily confused by the commotion, especially when they saw Yaw with his head down, seemingly about to leave. Without hesitation, Queenstar, with a radiant smile, walked up to Yaw and took his hand. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked warmly. “We’ve got a table reserved.”
Yaw looked up, surprised but grateful. Queenstar led him back to the table she and Mariam had reserved, and the two sisters’ presence immediately changed the atmosphere. The patrons who had been staring in disdain at Yaw now looked on in astonishment, wondering how a simply dressed young man could be so familiar with such beautiful, high-class ladies.
They reached their reserved table, and Queenstar, ever the picture of grace, gestured for Yaw to sit down. As they settled in, they ordered food and drinks, with Mariam engaging Yaw in light conversation. Yaw’s spirits lifted as the warmth of their company melted away the sting of the earlier encounter.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, Mariam’s cousin Sandra walked into the restaurant with her boyfriend, Jonas. Sandra, heavily made up and dressed to turn heads, immediately spotted Mariam, Queenstar, and Yaw at the table. A smirk crossed her face as she decided to join them, eager to show off her boyfriend’s wealth.
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Sandra walked over, her high heels clicking against the polished floor, and greeted Mariam and Queenstar with exaggerated enthusiasm. She completely ignored Yaw, treating him as if he were invisible.
“Sandra, this is Yaw,” Mariam said, attempting to include him in the conversation.
But Sandra waved off the introduction, focusing instead on Jonas, whom she introduced with great pride. “This is Jonas,” she announced, “nephew to the regional minister, Peter Quaye. He’s going to be working with Scholar Groups soon, so you should get to know him.”
Mariam and Queenstar politely greeted Jonas, who only managed a distracted “hello,” as he was too busy staring at Mariam, captivated by her natural beauty. Sandra, noticing this, had to nudge him back to reality, her expression souring.
Jonas quickly recovered, calling over the waiter. He ordered all of the restaurant’s signature dishes and the most expensive wine on the menu, clearly trying to impress the group. As the food arrived, he began to brag about his connections and how he could easily secure contracts with Scholar Groups because of his uncle’s influence. He sneered at Yaw, subtly hinting that they shouldn’t rely on an “errand boy” to help them with anything important.
Yaw merely smiled and continued eating, unfazed by Jonas’s condescension. Mariam and Queenstar, on the other hand, felt uneasy, regretting that they had brought Yaw to a place where he would be ridiculed. But Yaw didn’t seem to mind; he was used to such treatment and focused on enjoying the meal.
As the meal came to an end, the waitress brought the bill, a staggering $12,000. Jonas’s face went pale as he realized the enormity of the amount. He had only $5,000 on him, his entire monthly allowance. Trying to remain composed, he asked Sandra and Mariam to contribute. They both pooled their money, but it wasn’t enough; they were still $5,000 short.
Sandra, feeling the pressure, discreetly called her father, Collins El-Duah, lying that she needed the money to secure a better contract from Scholar Groups with the help of the minister’s nephew. Proud of his daughter’s initiative, Collins immediately transferred $10,000 to her, announcing to the El-Duah family that Sandra was making headway with important business deals.
Mariam watched this unfold in silence, her disappointment growing. She knew that when she had asked for money to take Yaw out and thank him, her request had been denied. It became painfully clear to her why their family’s business had declined after their grandfather’s death—greed and favoritism had taken precedence over integrity and sound judgment.
Yaw, observing the situation, simply shook his head. He stood up, excusing himself from the table. “I have some errands to run for Mr. Akrobeto,” he said calmly, giving them all a small, polite smile. “It was nice having lunch with you. Goodbye.”
Mariam, feeling guilty, insisted on calling an Uber for Yaw, but he declined. “I’ll take a taxi,” he said, gently refusing the money she tried to give him for transportation.
As Yaw walked out of the restaurant, leaving the chaotic scene behind, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver Mr. Akrobeto’s address.