CHAPTER THREE - CLASSROOM CHAOS

The evening rush at the restaurant was in full swing when a group of well-dressed college students sauntered in, their laughter and chatter drawing attention from other patrons. Anna, who had been wiping down a recently vacated table, straightened up and plastered on her best professional smile. "Welcome to Ivory Tower," she greeted them warmly. "Table for six?" A tall, blonde girl at the front of the group looked Anna up and down, her lips curling into a smirk. "Yes, and make it snappy. We have places to be." Anna nodded, maintaining her composure. "Of course. Right this way, please." As she led them to a table, Anna couldn't help but overhear their conversation. "God, can you imagine having to work in a place like this?" one of the boys said, not bothering to lower his voice. "I know, right?" another girl replied. "So glad Daddy takes care of everything for us." Anna felt her cheeks flush, but she kept her head high as she handed out menus. "Can I start you off with some drinks?" The blonde girl, who seemed to be the leader of the group, raised an eyebrow. "I'll have a Triple Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino with extra whipped cream, a shot of espresso, and caramel drizzle. Oh, and make it sugar-free." Anna blinked, realizing this wasn't even on their menu. "I'm sorry, but we don't actually-" "What? You can't make a simple coffee drink?" the girl interrupted, her tone dripping with disdain. "I thought this was supposed to be a high-end place." "Lauren, be nice," one of the other girls said, though she was giggling. Anna took a deep breath. "I apologize, but that particular drink isn't on our menu. However, I'd be happy to recommend something similar that we do offer." Lauren rolled her eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Just bring me the most expensive coffee you have." The rest of the group placed their orders, each one more complicated than the last. As Anna walked away, she could hear them snickering. "Did you see her face?" Lauren said. "Priceless. These service people need to learn their place." Anna's hands shook slightly as she relayed the orders to the barista. She tried to push the group's comments out of her mind, focusing instead on her other tables. When she returned with their drinks, Lauren took one sip of her coffee and made a face. "This is disgusting. I want a refund." Anna's heart sank. "I'm sorry to hear that. Is there something else I can get for you instead?" Lauren smirked. "No, I don't want anything from this place. And I'm not paying for this swill." "But you ordered it and drank some," Anna pointed out, trying to keep her voice level. "Our policy states-" "I don't care about your policy," Lauren snapped. "The customer is always right, isn't that what they say? Or do they not teach you that in waitress school?" The group laughed, and Anna felt her face burning with humiliation. She was about to respond when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Is there a problem here?" Mr. Vega, the restaurant manager, asked calmly. Lauren's smug expression faltered slightly. "Yes, actually. Your waitress here is trying to make me pay for a drink I didn't even want." Mr. Vega nodded thoughtfully. "I see. And did you order this drink?" "Well, yes, but-" "And did you consume any of it?" Lauren shifted uncomfortably. "I took a sip, but-" "Then I'm afraid you'll have to pay for it," Mr. Vega said firmly. "That's our policy, and it's non-negotiable." Lauren's face turned red with anger. "Do you know who my father is? He could buy and sell this whole place!" Mr. Vega remained unfazed. "Be that as it may, the rules apply to everyone equally here. Now, you can either pay for your drinks and enjoy your meal, or you can leave. The choice is yours." The group fell silent, looking to Lauren. After a tense moment, she pulled out her credit card and thrust it at Anna. "Fine. But don't expect a tip." As Anna processed the payment, Mr. Vega turned to her. "Anna, when you're done here, I'd like to see you in my office." Anna's stomach dropped, worried she was in trouble. But when she entered Mr. Vega's office a few minutes later, he was smiling. "Anna, I want you to know that you handled that situation exceptionally well," he said. "Your professionalism in the face of such rudeness is exactly why you're one of our most valuable team members." Relief washed over Anna. "Thank you, Mr. Vega. I really appreciate that." "Keep up the good work," he said, dismissing her with a nod. The rest of Anna's shift passed without incident, but the encounter with Lauren and her friends lingered in her mind. As she walked home that night, she couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and determination. Back in her apartment, Anna settled at her desk, surrounded by textbooks and notes. Despite the late hour, she knew she couldn't afford to slack off. Her upcoming exam in Advanced Culinary Techniques loomed large in her mind. "Okay, Anna," she muttered to herself, cracking open a thick textbook. "Time to tackle molecular gastronomy." Hours ticked by as Anna pored over her notes, scribbling diagrams and memorizing complex techniques. Her eyes grew heavy, but she pushed on, fueled by determination and copious amounts of coffee. "Just... one more... chapter," she yawned, her head nodding. The next thing Anna knew, sunlight was streaming through her window. She jerked awake, momentarily disoriented. A Post-it note was stuck to her cheek, and her textbook had left an imprint on her arm. "Oh no," she groaned, glancing at the clock. She had fallen asleep at her desk and now had less than an hour before her first class. As she rushed to get ready, the weight of her upcoming exam pressed down on her. "You've got this, Anna," she told her reflection as she brushed her teeth. "You've studied hard. You're prepared." But as she hurried to class, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she should have studied more. Anna slid into her seat in her Food Science class just as the professor walked in. She let out a sigh of relief, grateful she hadn't been late. "Good morning, class," Professor Zhang said, a stack of papers in her hands. "I hope you're all well-rested and ready for a pop quiz." A collective groan rose from the students. Anna felt her heart sink. She had been so focused on her upcoming exam that she hadn't reviewed the material for this class. "You have 30 minutes," Professor Zhang announced, passing out the quizzes. "Good luck." Anna stared at the questions, her mind racing. She took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay calm. Slowly, the information began to come back to her. She worked through the questions methodically, finishing just as Professor Zhang called time. As she handed in her quiz, Anna's phone buzzed. It was a text from her manager at the restaurant: "Emergency shift. Can you come in ASAP?" Anna bit her lip, glancing at her schedule. She had a presentation in her Business of Hospitality class in three hours. If she went to work now, she'd have barely any time to prepare. "I can do this," she muttered, texting back a quick affirmative.