Thomas, a wealthy restaurant owner in his early 50s, prided himself on being smart and charming. He had built a successful business and was used to getting what he wanted. However, he couldn’t stand being called “bald” or “pot belly man” behind his back—insults that still stung no matter how much he tried to ignore them.
Confident in his ability to charm any young woman, Thomas never missed an opportunity to flirt. Though he wasn’t a full-time flirt, his sharp eye always landed on attractive, younger women, whether they were customers or staff. For him, age was merely a number, and he would never hesitate to unleash his best pick-up lines or flash his most intense stares, even toward the waitresses and dishwashers working in his restaurant.
One such employee was 20-year-old Giselle. She was young, reserved, and caught Thomas’s attention just like the others. However, her quiet demeanor and humble role in the restaurant’s kitchen made her stand out to him in a way that was more puzzling than intriguing.
When Thomas noticed her frequently entering the locker room, he began to suspect something wasn’t right. His mind wandered to the worst-case scenario—he feared she might be stealing. His suspicion grew to the point where, without hesitation, he decided to confront her.
In front of everyone, he publicly shamed Giselle, accusing her of theft. With a sneer, he snatched her bag, intending to check its contents. However, when he looked inside, his smug confidence faltered. What he found inside wasn’t what he expected—and in that moment, he regretted his actions.
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Giselle was relatively new to the restaurant, having only worked as a dishwasher for about a month. She was a widow, having recently lost her husband, Mason, the love of her life. Struggling to make ends meet after the devastating loss, she had spotted a “We Are Hiring” sign outside Thomas’s eatery. Needing the job, she applied as a dishwasher and quickly threw herself into the work, determined and committed.
One day, Thomas hurried over to her and grabbed the bag from her hand. It was heavier than he’d expected, and he had no clue what was inside.
Her co-workers had already given her a heads-up about the boss’s behavior toward the female staff. “That man likes to flirt and has even asked some of us out. He thinks money can get him anything,” one of them warned.
Giselle brushed off their concerns. She was determined to keep her job no matter what. “I know my boundaries!” she said confidently.
But one day, she would witness the darker side of her boss.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels“Do you have any idea why I hired you, Miss Giselle?” Thomas blocked her path as she tried to leave after her shift. He picked up a red rose from a nearby table.
“No, sir. Please excuse me, I need to get home soon,” she replied, trying to sidestep him.
“Don’t call me sir, Miss Giselle. Call me Tom!” he insisted, stepping closer.
Giselle felt trapped, the last one left in the eatery with a pile of dishes still to do. She glanced at the clock, growing anxious.
“It’s getting late… I really need to go. Good day, sir!” she said firmly.
But Thomas wasn’t letting her go that easily. “The first time I saw you, I was captivated by your beauty,” he said in a syrupy tone. “I could sing about your smile all day long! What do you think? Let’s go to a resort, have some drinks, shop for whatever you like… Hmmm?”
Annoyed, Giselle gently pushed him aside and headed for the door. “I’m here to work, sir. Nothing more. I respect my job and my workplace. Thank you, but I’m not interested. Good day, sir!”
Thomas’s expression darkened, his pride wounded. “She’s just a simple dishwasher… How dare she turn me down? Wait until I show her what I’m capable of.”
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Days went by, but Thomas couldn’t shake off what had transpired. He wasn’t ready to accept his embarrassment or rejection. Instead, he continued searching for ways to put Giselle down.
One day, he noticed her coming into work with a large bag, heading straight to the staff room. An idea, dark and vindictive, struck him. He decided to watch her closely over the next few days to make sure she brought this bag with her daily.
Thomas kept a sharp eye on Giselle, often observing her trips to the locker room during her shift. His suspicions only grew, and he patiently waited for a busy afternoon at the restaurant, planning his moment to confront her.
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“Have a great day! I’m heading to the market. Took half a day off,” Giselle said to her colleagues.
Just as she was about to step out the door, Thomas called out sharply, “Hold on, Miss Giselle! What’s in your bag today? Have you been STEALING leftovers and dish soap? You’re FIRED!”
Giselle froze in shock. She turned around, her heart racing and a cold sweat forming. The guests stared at her, murmuring amongst themselves. Her coworkers gathered behind Thomas, equally stunned.
“I know you’ve been stealing from me. I saw you visiting the locker room three times during your shift. Hand over your bag. Let me see what’s inside,” Thomas demanded.
Giselle, terrified, felt the urge to run. “It’s nothing, sir. Just my lunch and a spare change of clothes,” she tried to explain.
But Thomas rushed toward her and grabbed the bag. It was heavier than he had expected.
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A crowd of curious guests and staff gathered around Giselle and Thomas as he placed the bag on a table and pulled out a small blanket. “Oh my God! What is this?!” he exclaimed, while everyone else stared in disbelief.
“Mawww… Mawww… Mawww.” A tiny newborn baby girl wriggled inside the bag, gazing up at Thomas with wide, brown eyes. He was completely taken aback.
“Sir, I can explain,” Giselle began, her voice trembling.
“My husband passed away a few months ago while I was pregnant. After my baby was born, I couldn’t find work, and I had no one to care for her while I worked here. I couldn’t leave her home alone, so I hid her in the bag and brought her to work with me. I would sneak away to feed her and make sure she stayed quiet. I was only trying to protect my baby. I’m not a thief. I didn’t take anything from here.”
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Thomas was overcome with emotion as the baby reminded him of the child he had lost years ago. That moment broke him, and he cried openly in front of everyone, revealing a side of himself no one had ever seen. With trembling hands, he immediately turned to Giselle and apologized.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss Giselle,” Thomas began, his voice cracking. “I lost my wife and child in an accident many years ago. After that, I remained single, afraid of losing anyone else. I never found love again. My loneliness transformed me into someone I’m not proud of. I’m not bad at heart, but I convinced myself that money could buy anything, even love. I was wrong.”
Giselle’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to Thomas’s story. “Sir, I’m so sorry for what you’ve gone through. But I’m glad you’ve come to realize your mistake, at least now.”
With that, Thomas returned the bag with the baby to Giselle. “Take a month off. It’s paid leave so you can spend time with your child.”
Giselle smiled gratefully before leaving the restaurant with her baby.
Upon her return, Thomas decided to double Giselle’s salary, hoping it would help her afford a nanny to care for her child while she worked. But did this mark the end of his flirting?
Not entirely. Some old habits die hard, as they say, and Thomas was no exception. While he stopped flirting with his female staff, he still couldn’t resist hitting on random women. Only time will tell if Thomas will ever find true love again. However, everyone—including Giselle—was relieved to see that Thomas now understood that money isn’t everything.
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