The words had clearly left the server's mouth. He had said the word Boss, and even now he was still smiling. His tone carried a kind of innocent pride, as though he had done something clever and loyal, but in this room, filled with suspicious eyes and tense silence, it was like throwing oil on a fire.
Everyone's attention shifted toward the young man standing by the door, but the real weight of the statement pressed down on Max. The server wasn't smiling at Anton, nor at Sheri, nor at Bobo Stern. His eyes were fixed across the room, steady, respectful, directly on Max.
Mayson, of course, thought he was doing the right thing.
"Boss? What do they mean by boss?" Anton finally asked, his words stumbling out in disbelief. His finger hovered accusingly toward Max, his face twisting as if he had just been insulted. "Is he saying Max is the manager here or something?"
