Bruno left with Ellie without a backward glance.
I acted like nothing had happened and went on eating and shopping with my friend.
The next day, right before the end of business, I walked straight into the executive suite.
"Everyone, stop what you're doing. We're leaving early today. Dinner's on me!"
Nobody moved.
Not until Bruno said, "Go ahead, everyone. You're dismissed."
Only then did they set down their work and follow me to the restaurant.
It was a wonderful dinner.
Once the last person set down their chopsticks, I spoke up. "Everyone's finished, right?"
They all confirmed they were done.
I flagged down a waiter and asked for a large bowl, then placed it in front of Bruno.
I stood, went around the table, and scraped everyone's leftovers into that bowl. Half-eaten rice, gnawed bones, wilted greens, sauce-smeared scraps. The bowl filled up fast.
Bruno stared at me, confused.
I smiled at him. "Eat up. You hate wasting food, don't you? So go ahead and finish what your colleagues left behind."
The temperature in the private dining room dropped about twenty degrees.
Bruno's expression darkened. "Honey, I'm already full."
"You're not leaving this room until that bowl is empty."