The day had been difficult. Maksim Vladimirovich, sitting in the stuffy office, massaged his temples — his head was splitting, and he had no desire to go home. There, his wife was waiting for him — a woman he had long grown cold towards, and who, as he believed, had never truly loved him. To distract himself, the man decided to take a walk on the restaurant’s summer veranda. He wanted to at least buy some time.
Barely stepping outside, he heard noise coming from the hall. He stopped, trying to understand what was happening. The restaurant had closed about forty minutes ago after a large banquet, so there should have been no guests. Most likely, it was another quarrel among the staff. How tired he was of all this! These endless disputes, arguments… Had they completely lost respect for one another? Maksim Vladimirovich coughed displeasedly and headed toward the source of the noise.
In the hall, at one of the tables, sat a frightened waitress. She hugged herself with her arms and slowly rocked back and forth, as if trying to calm down. Nearby lay a torn bag, from which scraps of food had spilled. Towering over the girl was the administrator Vera Petrovna — her eyes blazing, face twisted with rage. She looked like a real predator ready to sink her teeth into her prey. The other employees stood at a distance, clearly afraid to intervene. Their faces showed that no one supported her anger, but no one dared to confront the boss.
“What’s going on here?” Maksim Vladimirovich asked, drawing attention.
“Sorry to bother you,” Vera Petrovna squeaked, stretching a fake smile across her face. “This girl stole leftovers from the banquet table. She tried to take them outside the establishment, and when I caught her, she denied everything and doesn’t even think about admitting her guilt. Maksim Vladimirovich, please fire her. Employees must remember their place. Let this serve as a good lesson for everyone.”
“Fire her over leftovers?” the restaurant owner said thoughtfully. “She took what was left by the guests, and you suggest depriving her of her job? Do you consider that fair?”
He looked carefully at the administrator. She straightened up as if at the command “attention,” proudly raised her chin, and continued to smile as if the situation pleased her.
“It’s a matter of rules. Every employee, when accepting the job, gets acquainted with the internal regulations and agrees to follow them. The girl knew perfectly well what she was risking. But now she won’t admit her mistake.”
The waitress remained silent. She sat staring at a single point and never attempted to say a word in her defense. Yes, there was indeed such a rule in the restaurant: all leftover food at the end of the shift was to be destroyed. This rule was introduced many years ago, back when the family business was founded, to prevent possible recipe leaks. Much time had passed, the world had changed, but the rules remained the same. Maksim Vladimirovich understood that this was his own mistake. Clients had long been able to ask to pack leftovers in containers. Of course, usually this was done by those who wanted to spy on the secret of a dish or pass it to someone, but one couldn’t refuse guests — the customer is always right. So why should a simple waitress suffer now?
The man approached the girl and held out his hand. She looked up and visibly tensed upon recognizing the owner. It seemed only now she realized the scale of the problem and became even more afraid.
“Don’t be afraid of me,” he said softly. “Tell me why you decided to take those leftovers? You could have eaten for free if you needed.”
She cast a wary glance at Vera Petrovna.
“I understand. Let’s go out to the veranda and talk calmly. And you, Vera Petrovna, make sure everything here is cleaned up within half an hour. What a mess you’ve made here!”
The waitress followed the owner, understanding the conversation would be serious. She was afraid of losing her job — the salary was good, conditions decent, and guests behaved respectfully. But did she dare ask for forgiveness? Deep down, she believed she had done nothing wrong. Many dishes were barely touched by guests, and her conscience wouldn’t let her simply throw that food away.
“Alexandra,” Maksim Vladimirovich began, having read the girl’s name on her badge, “tell me your side of the story. Why did you break the rule and collect food from the tables?”
“Forgive me. I really broke the established order, and I have no excuse. I knew what I risked, but I just couldn’t watch the food go to waste. You understand how many people dream of even a piece of bread? Grandmothers who live on a pension, barely making ends meet, who don’t even dream of a piece of sausage in their sleep. I didn’t want to do anything bad — I just wanted to help those in need. Sometimes I help a local center that feeds the homeless and clothes those in need. We prepare or collect food ourselves. This food could have fed a dozen people, but by the rules, it simply had to be thrown away. No one would try to decipher the recipes. People would just be thankful.”
Alexandra didn’t finish and lowered her eyes. She had no more words. Maksim Vladimirovich could fire her or fine her at any moment. It was all the consequence of her own actions: she signed the contract, agreed to all the terms, but couldn’t hold back and broke the rule. Now she had to answer for everything.
“I’ve noticed several times that Vera Petrovna herself…” Alexandra began but bit her tongue in time and fell silent. She shouldn’t complain about the boss. Everyone gets what they deserve, and she had no proof. One wrong word could lead to even greater trouble.
“Are you saying Vera Petrovna also breaks the rules?” Maksim Vladimirovich asked calmly.
“No, I don’t want to accuse anyone. I have no proof. I apologize for my offense. I’m ready to accept any punishment. It was my mistake, and if you allow, I will write a resignation letter.”
Maksim Vladimirovich thoughtfully paused. He himself had long forgotten about that rule. Sometimes he saw the administrator taking food from the kitchen but never forbade it. Who hasn’t been guilty of that? There was so much that needed reviewing… If only he could do that instead of tormenting himself over past mistakes that had made his life gray and tasteless.
“I won’t allow it,” he said sharply, showing no emotion. “You will not write a resignation letter. Take a couple of days off. On Wednesday, come to me. We will discuss your future status.”
Alexandra nodded, but inside it only grew more anxious. Waiting for a decision was scarier than receiving it immediately. If they didn’t intend to fire her — why not say it outright? And if they planned to — why drag out the inevitable?
Questions buzzed in her head without answers. She scolded herself for the impulsive impulse — she wanted to feed at least someone, to make happy those who had no idea about such food. But now she suffered herself. At home, she had a sick grandmother, money was needed for medicine, and she could be left without a job. Maybe she would even get a fine for breaching contract terms.
Alexandra left, and Maksim Vladimirovich decided to end his workday himself. He walked through the hall, looking at the interior, which had already bored him. Luxury and elegance that dazzled the eyes.
The man remembered his youth. Once, he knew a passionate girl like Alexandra. They dreamed together of changing the world for the better, but Maksim couldn’t endure reality. He had a choice: be with the beloved and build a future with her or refuse for the sake of inheritance and well-being. He chose the latter. The marriage of convenience gave him nothing. He could buy anything — cars, houses, apartments… But he could not buy the most important thing — happiness. It was always in the little things.
He smiled remembering how he and Olesya did volunteer work, cooked soups for the homeless, felt part of something bigger. And now he had become a toy in others’ hands — wife’s, relatives’, clients’. The golden cage turned into a prison, and he was a bird who had long forgotten how to fly.
If he had chosen right then, he and Olesya would probably have a daughter like Alexandra. Now he had a son whom he barely knew. The boy valued only money, and the wife supported him in everything, considering her husband cold and heartless.
“Only now do I realize how much I’ve done wrong. I hope you are happy now and have what we dreamed of,” he said, pushing away memories.
At home, Maksim silently began packing. He decided it was time to change his life. Alexandra, without realizing it, had strongly influenced him. The changes had to affect not only the restaurant but also his personal life. Enough of enduring a marriage that had long turned into mutual hatred. Better to part ways while there was a chance for each to be happy separately.
The wife did not stop him. She seemed to have been waiting for this for a long time. She knew that the house and car would remain hers, as well as a sufficient amount for the first time. Maksim moved to a small studio apartment he had rented out before. The tenants had recently left, and he hadn’t found new ones — the perfect time to start a new chapter.
He immediately filed for divorce. His parents would call him crazy — his father definitely would. But this was his life, and now he understood it more clearly than ever. Late, but better late than never.
On Wednesday, Alexandra came to him as agreed. She was still nervous but had calmed down inside. She didn’t consider herself guilty. She did not regret her action and was ready to defend her righteousness.
“I want you to resign from your position as waitress.”
The girl expected that. She laid a pre-prepared resignation letter in front of him. Maksim smiled.
“Transferring you directly to deputy is difficult — you lack the education. But I see that you are smart, quick-witted, and I need exactly such people. I offer you the position of my assistant. I will send you for distance learning. When you get your diploma — you will become deputy. Meanwhile, you can start work and offer your ideas. Which rules are outdated? What can be done to increase attendance? How to improve our rating?”
Alexandra didn’t expect such a turn. She didn’t know how to thank him but understood from his look that it wasn’t necessary. She had many suggestions and gladly began to share them. Maksim had no doubt about his decision. He felt that with this girl the restaurant would rise to a new level. And personal life would improve.
With Alexandra’s help, Maksim found Olesya — the very girl from the past. It turned out she was running a volunteer center where Alexandra sometimes helped. Olesya lived alone, raising two children after a divorce. Maksim understood he had lost a lot, much water had flowed under the bridge, and he simply couldn’t ask for a second chance. He decided to act slowly. If fate would bind them again — he would be happy. Meanwhile, he just wanted to get to know her better.
Without hesitation, he signed an agreement with the center: twice a week, the restaurant would send leftover food for free.
“At least some of our old plans have come to life,” he smiled at Olesya. “Maybe not just that?”
“Don’t look too far ahead. Life is ahead. Trust is a fragile thing. It can’t be glued back like a broken cup. But a new path can be laid. Although the road will be difficult. Are you ready for this?”
“Fate brought us together a second time. And I am ready to overcome anything if you promise to wait for me at the end of the path.”
Olesya smiled but didn’t answer. She had long stopped being angry, let go of the past. She didn’t know what the future would bring but was ready to watch and wait. Nothing more was required of her. And Maksim decided: he would definitely prove the sincerity of his feelings.