The Rich Groom Slapped Me Before Checking The Trash

Elena stood frozen against the catering table, her left hand pressed tightly against her throbbing, red cheek where his hand hit. The sheer embarrassment and unexpected physical pain made her entire body tremble uncontrollably as she looked up at the angry groom. Carter stood over her, breathing heavily, his eyes cold and full of arrogant pride as he adjusted his expensive silk tie. He looked at her not as a human being who deserved respect, but as an incompetent employee who ruined his day. Elena took a deep breath, fighting back her rising tears because she refused to let him break her quiet dignity completely.

Elena: You had absolutely no right to lay your hands on me!

Carter: You ruined expensive food at my wedding, so keep quiet and pack your things!

Elena: I threw it away because there was a giant live insect crawling right across the meat!

Carter: That is the most pathetic excuse I have ever heard in my entire life!

Elena pointed her shaking finger directly at the dark grey trash bin sitting just two feet away from his polished shoes. She was not going to let him slander her reputation or physically assault her without showing him the absolute truth first. She took a step closer to the bin, ignoring the sharp pain in her jaw and the stares of gathered guests. She grabbed the plastic lid of the trash bin and pulled it back firmly, revealing the fresh food sitting right on top. The roasted chicken breast lay face up, and the large black beetle was still crawling across the glazed sauce clearly.

Elena: Look right there with your own eyes if you think I am a liar!

Carter scoffed arrogantly at first, bending over slightly only to prove to everyone around that she was completely making up stories. But as his cold eyes focused on the warm food sitting inside the dark plastic liner, his expression froze completely instantly. The large insect was plain as day, moving slowly across the surface of the meat in the bright afternoon sunlight. The sight was so obvious that several wealthy guests who had walked over gasped out loud in utter disgust and shock. Carter stepped back slowly, his face suddenly losing all of its bright red color as total realization hit him hard.

Guest: Oh my goodness, there really is a huge bug in that food dish!

Carter: I... I did not see that from across the yard.

Elena: Because you did not bother to look or ask me a single question first!

Carter: Elena, I thought you were just being reckless with the catering equipment.

The air grew thick with awkward silence as Carter stared at the helpless young woman he had just brutally struck in public. The red handprint on her pale cheek was glowing brightly under the harsh California sun for every single guest to see. He looked around the gathering crowd, seeing the horrified expressions on his mother's face and his new bride's wealthy parents. His arrogance completely shattered into tiny pieces right there in front of the people whose respect he cared about most. He had committed a terrible, violent mistake based entirely on his own hasty judgment and wild temper.

Elena: My name is not just staff to be hit when you get angry.

Carter: Please, let me make this right before everyone starts talking about it.

Elena: You cannot fix a physical assault with money or quiet excuses, Mr. Miller.

Carter: I am so sorry... I truly lost my temper and I was completely wrong.

Carter reached into his inner suit pocket, pulling out a thick leather wallet full of cash to try and hand her money. He held out a stack of hundred-dollar bills, his hands shaking slightly as he realized how terrible this situation looked for him. Elena looked at the cash with pure disgust, stepping back away from his outstretched hand without taking a single bill. She did not want his dirty money; she wanted full accountability for the horrible act he had just committed against her. She pulled out her mobile phone from her apron pocket and began dialing three digits right in front of everyone.