The Waitress Who Never Trembled

Part 2: The Secret Behind Her Calm

The two men in black suits approached Sebastian immediately.

“Mr. Gallow, are you injured?”

“No.”

“Should we call the police?”

Sebastian glanced toward Marcus, who was now standing completely still.

“Not yet.”

Norah folded her arms.

“Excuse me, but shouldn’t you call them? Three armed men just robbed this diner.”

One of Sebastian’s men looked at her in disbelief.

“Ma’am, do you know who you’re talking to?”

Norah sighed.

“Unfortunately, yes. He’s the gentleman who has been standing in front of my coffee machine for the last twenty minutes.”

Sebastian actually laughed.

It was brief, but genuine.

Something his men hadn’t heard in months.

Marcus suddenly stepped backward.

“Wait. Gallow?”

His eyes widened.

“You’re Sebastian Gallow?”

Sebastian turned toward him.

“Apparently.”

Marcus’s face lost every trace of confidence.

He lowered his pistol.

“Sir, we didn’t know you were here.”

“That much is obvious.”

“We weren’t targeting you. We just needed money.”

Sebastian looked at the scattered bills on the counter.

“Six hundred dollars?”

Marcus swallowed.

“Things have been difficult.”

“Then perhaps you should have found employment.”

Jesse looked close to tears.

“Please, we didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

Norah stepped between them and the frightened customers.

“Then put the weapons down.”

Sebastian glanced at her.

“You’re remarkably comfortable giving orders.”

“And you’re remarkably comfortable letting people point guns at your customers.”

His expression changed.

He looked at his men.

“Take the weapons. Nobody touches the customers.”

The two security officers moved quickly. Within seconds, Marcus and Jesse were disarmed.

Sebastian then turned to Norah.

“Now, perhaps you can explain why you weren’t frightened.”

Norah picked up the fallen napkin holder.

“I was frightened.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“You didn’t look frightened.”

“Being frightened and losing control are two different things.”

She straightened the napkins.

“My father used to say that panic makes people forget to think. I learned to breathe before making decisions.”

Sebastian studied her.

“Your father sounds like an interesting man.”

“He was.”

The quiet sadness in her voice made him pause.

Before he could ask anything else, a loud crash came from the kitchen.

Everyone turned.

A young dishwasher named Tommy had accidentally knocked over a metal tray.

Norah immediately rushed toward the kitchen.

“Tommy! Are you okay?”

The teenager nodded nervously.

“I’m sorry, Miss Bennett.”

“Don’t apologize. Did you cut yourself?”

“No.”

“Good. Go sit down and drink some water.”

Sebastian watched her carefully.

She had just faced three armed criminals, yet her first concern was whether a teenager had hurt himself.

His phone vibrated.

One of his men approached.

“Sir, we checked the camera footage. The robbery was recorded.”

“Good.”

“There is something else.”

Sebastian turned.

“What?”

“The two men weren’t acting alone. Someone gave them information about your meeting tonight.”

Sebastian’s expression hardened.

“Who?”

“We’re still checking.”

Norah, who had overheard the conversation, slowly stopped wiping the counter.

“Your meeting?”

Sebastian looked at her.

“Yes.”

“You mean those men came here because of you?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

That was enough.

Norah placed the cloth down.

“Wonderful. I’ve been working here for three years without a single robbery. You arrive for one evening, and suddenly my customers are hiding under tables.”

One of Sebastian’s men looked horrified.

“Miss, you should be careful how you speak to him.”

Norah gave him a tired look.

“Then perhaps you should teach him to choose quieter restaurants.”

Sebastian smiled faintly.

But his eyes remained serious.

“Norah, I need to ask you something. Have you ever worked in law enforcement or the military?”

Her hand stopped.

For a moment, the diner seemed unusually quiet.

“No.”

“Security?”

“No.”

“Then how did you recognize the danger before anyone else?”

Norah looked toward the customers.

“Because I pay attention.”

She turned away.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have tables to clean.”

Sebastian didn’t move.

He had spent years surrounded by people who wanted his money, his protection, or his approval.

But this woman wanted him to leave her alone.

And strangely, that made him want to know more.