Asher paused, slowly putting his fork down and wiping his mouth with the napkin before turning around to see who dared to interrupt his dinner.
It was a middle-aged man in a suit with a face full of annoyance as if Asher were doing something offensive by simply eating.
The man had a glass of wine in his hand and a woman on opposite him, probably his wife or mistress, who looked embarrassed by his behavior.
"Young man... Don't you think it's rude to eat like a pig in a place like this? We're all trying to enjoy a peaceful evening here, and you're just... stuffing your face like there's no tomorrow." The man's words were sharp, his tone filled with mockery.
The surrounding tables quieted down a little, sensing a conflict in the air. Even the waitress nearby stiffened, looking worried as to how Asher might react. The man didn't look like a regular customer, and his attitude screamed "I think I'm someone important."
And the woman with him also had the kind of face that seemed to be used to getting whatever she wanted... Both of them reeked of entitlement.
Asher simply stared at the man for a few seconds, completely unbothered, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.
"Are you done?" he asked calmly, leaning back in his seat as if this were just an annoying fly he had to deal with.
"What did you just say to me, boy?!" The man raised his voice, standing up from his chair, clearly pissed that his attempt to humiliate Asher didn't have the effect he wanted. "I'll have you know that people like you shouldn't even be allowed in this place! You're a disgrace! I can't believe the management would even let someone like you in!"
His wife, or whoever she was, tried to pull on his sleeve to make him sit down, but he shook her off with a scowl, his gaze fixed on Asher.
"Darling, stop it. This is not the time..."
"Shut up! Just looking at this brat disgusts me! He doesn't even know how to behave! Probably from some lower-class family who somehow got in here after saving pennies!" the man spat out, his words growing nastier.
By now, some other diners were also glancing at their table. Most of them seemed uncomfortable, while others looked entertained. Still, Asher remained completely calm... almost bored.
Without saying a word, he wiped his hands with the napkin one more time and then pushed his chair back. Slowly, he stood up and walked towards the angry man.
The sudden move made the waitress nearby tense up even more, as if she expected a full-on fight.
"You seem really bothered by the way I eat, old man," Asher finally said as he stopped just inches from the man, looking down at him with cold eyes.
The man blinked, slightly taken aback by Asher's height and the intensity of his gaze. "So what? Are you planning to do something about it, punk? Do you have any idea who I am?!"
Asher let out a low, dangerous chuckle. "I honestly couldn't care less about who you are... You're nothing more than a noisy bug trying to act like a big deal in a fancy glass cage."
Then, before the man could react, Asher reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his expensive shirt, pulling him closer in one swift motion.
"Tell me... does acting all high and mighty in a restaurant make you feel important? Do you think shouting at someone who's just enjoying a meal makes you powerful?" Asher's voice was deadly calm, which made it even more chilling.
"You... you fucking brat! Let me go! Do you want to end up in jail?!"
"Oh... Now you're scared? After all that talk? How pathetic," Asher sneered, his grip on the man's shirt tightening for a moment. Then he suddenly released him and stepped back as if the man had lost all of his worth.
Then, just as everyone thought things would get worse, Asher simply turned on his heel and returned to his seat. The man stumbled back, almost tripping over himself as he regained his balance, his face bright red from anger and embarrassment.
With his heart beating fast, the man started screaming. "You! How dare you lay a hand on me?! Someone! Call the manager! I demand to speak with him right now! That brat attacked me!"
Immediately, the atmosphere became tense, the murmurs growing louder. Some people were pulling out their phones, probably ready to record everything in case it got out of hand.
But Asher? He sat down as if nothing had happened. Casually, he picked up his glass of wine and took another sip, acting as if the whole commotion were beneath him.
Within moments, the manager of the restaurant, a man in his forties with a composed look, rushed towards the angry guest's table.
"What is happening here?!" the manager asked, glancing at Asher and the man who was fuming with rage.
The angry man immediately pointed at Asher. "This bastard! He grabbed me! I demand he be thrown out of here! I'm a respectable businessman, and I won't tolerate such disgraceful and disrespectful behavior!"
Before the manager could respond, the waitress quickly approached, her tone apologetic and worried as she whispered to him. "Sir... this gentleman here was just eating, and the other man insulted him first. Then... he got physical, but only for a moment, and... he didn't really hurt him!"
"Quiet! Who cares about that? He laid a hand on me! He needs to be punished!" the man shouted, clearly not willing to admit his role in the incident.
The manager seemed conflicted as he looked between Asher, who hadn't moved an inch, and the screaming man. On one hand, he didn't want to upset a guest who was just enjoying his meal... and on the other, this angry man wasn't making things easy for anyone.
In the middle of all the chaos, Asher finally spoke up. "Why are you even bothering to listen to this clown? I came here for a nice meal... And now some old, bitter man who's clearly insecure about his tiny dick decides to ruin the mood for everyone. I think it's pretty obvious who needs to be removed."
His blunt words made the man's face turn an even darker shade of red. "You fucking...!"
"Alright, Sir, please calm down..." the manager tried to reason, raising his hands in an attempt to defuse the situation.
But the man wasn't done. With a sneer, he glared at the manager. "Is this how you treat your guests? If you don't handle this, I swear, I'll make sure your restaurant..."
Before he could finish his threat, however, a soothing yet firm female voice cut through the air.
"What will you do?"