Manipulation Met Its Match

Mr. Peters revealed the couple’s game plan, one they’d played at countless restaurants before. Their strategy was simple: target unsuspecting spots, make outrageous demands, and threaten scathing reviews if their unreasonable requests weren’t granted.

When they failed to manipulate the café, they turned their sights on me. They must have noticed my inexperience and decided I was an easy mark. Their behavior was a calculated attempt to assert dominance and inflict harm on someone they deemed vulnerable. The truth stung, but it also brought clarity. Their cruelty wasn’t personal; it was a script they’d run one too many times. This time, though, their routine hit a wall.