Scandal and Intrigue!

At work yesterday, Security was called to the Bistro to answer a 'disturbance'.

Since the tasting room is immediately in front of the Bistro, we saw the uniforms come in, speak to the manager, and leave again. Shortly thereafter, a middle aged lady, looking very high maintenance and forlorn, came out of the Bistro weeping and red-eyed, led by sympathetic looking friend of similar standing. Graham, who was covering till at the time, was closest to the action, so, being the ravenous voyeur of human behaviour I am, that's where I headed.

Me: What's going on at the Bistro?
Graham: The table that ordered the million oysters is being kicked out.
Me: ... What's going on at the Bistro?
Graham: No idea- Talk to Chantelle, she's in the know.

So, because I am clearly someone who minds her own business and doesn't hold with gossip, I found Chantelle to learn the news.

Chantelle, who had been nearer the Bistro than us all and chatting with a worker there, filled me in on the savoury details.

The weepy high-maintenance woman had been in the washroom with aforementioned friend, causing a fuss and loudly lamenting her cheating husband. Facebook photos were involved.
While woman and friend were deciding whether or not she ought to divorce him (Chantelle had been in the other stall at the time, bless my luck) her husband, and another man at the table (Her brother? Lover? Who knows!) start physically fighting in the Bistro. Tapas and fisticuffs all 'round, apparently.

Security was called, but by the time security arrived the two men had settled down, and all was apparently well at table. Because the table was a group of particularly high rollers (hence the expensive looking ladies) management didn't want to kick them out entirely, so were instead quickening service and giving the security men a cup of coffee in order to have them hanging around the bar area just in case.

Over the next 45 minutes, we kept catching periodic glimpses of domestic unrest. First-off, the lady and friend came out of the Bistro again, and hung about the hall in front of the Tasting Room and Bistro entrance, talking loudly about what her perceived options were, and whether or not she ought to "Just make a decision and go".

I was having a word with Chantelle near the merchandise about the implications of a grown woman monopolizing a busy thoroughfare with dramatic talk of divorce and adultery, and the entire conversation seemed more appropriate to a quiet morning coffee than a group dinner in a high end restaurant, but, to quote Chantelle, "To be rich, eh?".

After the ladies had returned to the Bistro, the first one came to the Tasting Room yet again, this time with one of the men. This time, they snagged a portion of our wine bar, and began what Graham and I suspected was the first of many state-of-the-relationship discussions. Still tearful, the woman allowed herself to be petted and comforted in a way quite inappropriate to public venue. I assumed this was perhaps the Husband, but after a few moments a different man arrived from the Bistro, and also began hugging and talking to her, while man the first was still present. The first man left, the second man stayed, and after more drunkenly affectionate maneouvering, yet another man arrived, with man the first again, and everyone apparently had a go at talking this woman off her mental ledge. The female friend was lurking near the Bistro entrance, apparently keeping a wary eye on proceedings.

At this point, Graham and I were speculating about the dialogue from a safe distance.

Graham: What-? What are they doing? Are they taking turns trying to convince her not to divorce him and take all the money?
Me: Maybe trying to coax her back into the restaurant?
Graham: Never a dull moment, eh?

Never a dull moment indeed. This was all taking place at 5:00pm, which put at closing time in less than an hour. It was very trying to attempt to keep up with eavesdropping without neglecting the closing duties. I needed to collect bits and pieces from other workers.

Perhaps, more Scandal to follow!