Bittersweet Obsession
Chapter 8: Making Things Hard for Her

When Judson Beauregard was standing in the doorway, Tamara felt a distinct shift in the atmosphere. His presence carried a sense of authority and power. The other guests in the room who had been engaged in polite conversation, turned their focus toward him. It was as though an invisible force field radiated from him, demanding their attention.

Tamara had been moving around the room discreetly, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible, but she couldn't help but freeze for a moment. She felt a wave of dread wash over her, and her heart skipped a beat.

At that moment, she wished she could blend into the background and become invisible, avoiding any direct interaction with the influential figure who had just entered.

As Judson took a step ahead into the room, the other people there immediately started greeting him with respect and enthusiasm.

"Welcome, Mr. Beauregard. It's great to see you here at last. We had just been talking about the latest advances in technology," said the man, a distinguished figure with salt-and-pepper hair and an air of authority about him. Another man chimed in, his voice full of enthusiasm, "Indeed, Mr. Beauregard, we've been amazed at the remarkable progress our teams have made recently." He was a younger executive with glasses and a sharp, thoughtful look in his eyes. "Mr. Beauregard, please come over and join us," a woman with a warm smile said. She was dressed perfectly, giving off an air of luxury that fit her high-ranking position. "We're enjoying ourselves while talking about how our new discoveries could be used. Your insights would be very valuable."

As they chatted and caught up with each other, their voices filled the VIP room with a lively atmosphere.

Tamara instinctively lowered her head to avoid looking into his eyes, her thoughts racing as she mused about the unexpected encounter.

All eyes were on him as he took his seat and commanded attention with his presence. Next to him, a stunningly beautiful woman, who was probably his companion, took her place elegantly, adding to the air of elegance and power that surrounded him.

In the center of attention, Judson held his commanding presence. Tamara felt uneasy when his piercing gaze suddenly settled on her for a brief moment with his inscrutable expression and silent acknowledgment, devoid of any discernible emotion.

He made it clear that he wanted her attention right away. As she turned to face him, he looked at her with a condescending smirk and spoke arrogantly, "Hey there! Do you think you can make our visit special today?"

After their first unnerving encounter in the Beauregard estate, Tamara was worried that he might be trying to make things hard for her on purpose. She raised her head to look at him, keeping her professional manner even though she knew this would not be a pleasant conversation.

Despite his arrogance, Tamara replied with a polite smile, "Of course, sir. I'll do my best to ensure your visit is exceptional. What would you like to order today?"

He placed his order without making much eye contact, his tone was dismissive as he said, "I'll have the steak, cooked medium-rare."

The woman seated beside Judson seemed uninterested in engaging further. She ordered her meal with a lack of enthusiasm, saying, "Grilled chicken for me, please."

Tamara nodded and replied, "One medium-rare steak and a grilled chicken. Is there anything else I can get for you today?"

Judson glanced at the woman beside him before replying, "Well, actually, we'd like to try the special drink you have here."

Tamara nodded and replied, "Of course, I'll have our kitchen prepare something unique for you. I hope you enjoy it."

With those orders in hand, Tamara made her way to the bustling kitchen, where the chefs were hard at work preparing meals for the restaurant's numerous patrons. She carefully relayed the VIP guests' requests to the kitchen staff, making sure that each dish was prepared to perfection.

When the food was ready, she brought it quickly to the table and set each dish in front of the right guest. The guests took their first bites, savoring the flavors of the delicious foods that had been carefully made.

Around the table, people started talking again, and now and then they would say something nice about the delicious food. It seemed like the excellent cuisine at the restaurant had taken their minds off any problems they had been having, and a wave of happiness washed over them.

After delivering the last treat, she stood to the side and waited. She couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment as she observed the VIP guests enjoying their meal and engaging in lively conversation. Her earlier mistakes seemed to have been forgiven or forgotten in the wake of the delightful dining experience she had helped create.

The relieved smile on her face reflected her satisfaction in ensuring that the guests' visit had turned out to be special and memorable.

Out of the blue, the tranquil VIP room was suddenly disturbed by a commotion that got everyone's attention.

When the buzzing got louder, the quiet talks and clanks of cutlery stopped all at once. Chairs scraped against the floor as people turned to see what was going on. All eyes were pulled to the source of the noise, which caused whispers of surprise and interest to spread through the room like a soft wave.

As curiosity got the better of her, Tamara couldn't resist walking over to get a closer look and figure out what was happening.

One man exclaimed, "What on earth is going on?"

Another man sitting nearby whispered, "Mr. Beauregard? Is there some sort of problem?"

In the middle of the madness, everyone in the room crowded around Judson. They looked worried and rushed over as they tried to check his condition.

Filled with panic and concern, Tamara rushed forward and asked, "What's going on? Can someone please tell me what happened?"

The woman who seemed to know more about what had happened responded in panic, "Something bad happened to Mr. Beauregard. He seems to be in pain."

When people heard what she said, they realized how serious the situation was and whispered to each other in worry.

As Tamara rushed closer, she was taken aback by the horrifying sight unfolding before her eyes. Judson, who had been calmly dining just moments ago, was now in the throes of severe symptoms. His face had swelled considerably, his skin taking on a reddish hue. His breathing was labored, accompanied by wheezing sounds, indicating a restricted airway.

It was a terrifying and life-threatening situation. Judson's condition had deteriorated rapidly, and he was struggling to draw breath. The fear in his eyes was evident as he clutched his throat, desperately trying to get air into his lungs. Within seconds, he lost consciousness, slumping in his chair, completely unresponsive. It was a harrowing scene, and nobody in the room knew the cause of his severe reaction.

The room was filled with a sense of unease as everyone tried to make sense of the sudden incident.

A younger man wearing glasses spoke urgently, "Please, everyone, move aside! We need to give him some space so he can breathe more easily." Another guest leaned in and said in worry, "I hope everything is alright."

The woman nearby nodded in agreement and her face filled with concern as she said, "Yes, we need to make sure he's okay. This is quite unexpected."

The younger man with glasses, who seemed to be Judson's assistant, moved faster than expected. He quickly took a small box out of a bag that, to everyone's surprise, held an epinephrine auto-injector. With a steady hand, he gave Judson the injection, delivering a life-saving dose of epinephrine into Judson's thigh.

Everyone in the room could feel the tension as they waited with bated breath to see if the treatment worked.

"Everyone, don't worry," the younger man with glasses reassured, his voice carrying authority and calm. "I believe Mr. Beauregard had an allergic reaction to something he ate. Fortunately, he always carries this with him wherever he goes." He gestured to the epinephrine auto-injector he had just used.

His words seemed to ease some of the tension in the room, but everyone was still worried as they watched for signs of improvement in Judson's condition.

A few moments later, Judson's condition began to stabilize. The epinephrine had taken effect, and his breathing had improved. However, he still looked pale and weak, and he was conscious but visibly shaken.

The incident had not gone unnoticed, and it had created quite a commotion in the restaurant. Guests were whispering to each other, and some had even gotten up from their seats to get a closer look at what had happened. The atmosphere had become tense, and everyone was concerned about the well-being of the influential guest.

In the middle of all the chaos, Ronan, the restaurant manager, rushed over to the VIP room. He had been informed about the situation and was concerned about the reputation of the restaurant and the safety of its high-profile guests. He approached Judson with a look of genuine concern, asking, "Mr. Beauregard, are you feeling any better? We'll do everything we can to assist you."

Tamara, who was standing nearby, was worried about Judson's situation and ready to help in any way she could. The incident had given her a challenge she hadn't expected, and she was determined to make sure the VIP guest got the best care possible for the rest of his stay at the restaurant.

As she stood in the middle of the chaotic situation, she had no idea that she was about to face another challenge that would test her patience and persistence even more. The day had already been full of surprise turns and turns, and it looked like fate had more in store for her.