Sophia yanked her wrist free with a strength that clearly caught Beatrice off guard, the older woman's grip breaking instantly as Sophia stepped back half a pace, her composure remarkably intact despite the red mark blooming across her cheek. Before Beatrice could register what was happening, Sophia's hand moved swiftly, delivering a sharp slap directly across her face.
The sound cracked through the lobby even louder than the first strike, silencing the scattered conversations completely. Several guests rose slightly from their seats, phones already emerging from pockets and handbags, sensing they were witnessing something far more significant than a routine staff dispute.
Sophia's eyes remained locked on Beatrice, unwavering and calm despite the tension crackling between them. "You will not touch him again," she said, her voice carrying a firmness that felt entirely disproportionate to a simple slap over a delayed reservation.
Beatrice blinked, momentarily thrown by both the retaliation and the cryptic statement, her earlier confidence flickering for the first time since the confrontation began. "Him?" she repeated, genuine confusion briefly cutting through her fury. "What are you talking about?"
Sophia said nothing further, her expression carrying a quiet, unshaken determination that unsettled Beatrice far more than any verbal response could have.