Miranda, a hard-working young Mexican woman, faces a challenge when her ex tries to humiliate her at work. Miranda is afraid to act because her job is at stake, but the pain caused by her ex pushes her. Despite the risk of losing her job, she finds a way to make him pay for his actions.
Miranda’s break-up with her ex had been a public affair, which had plunged her into depression. As an immigrant trying to build a life in a new country, she knew she had to keep working to stay afloat. But it seemed as if her problems would never end. One day, she was late for work at the restaurant again and had to explain the situation to her boss, Michael, in the restaurant kitchen.
“I’m really sorry I’m late again, Michael. A lot has been happening… my boyfriend and I have broken up, and everyone knows it,“ Miranda said in a low voice.
“Miranda, what happens in your life is up to you, but it’s a problem for me if it interferes with your work. I need you here on time, ready to work. This is your last warning,” Michael said seriously.
Miranda said she would do better, but things got more difficult when she saw her ex, Colin, and his girlfriend, Leslie, at a table in the restaurant. She asked Michael if he could avoid serving them, but he said no, pointing out the need to maintain professionalism.
“We all have difficult things to deal with, Miranda. We’re short-staffed, and I need you to do your job, not run away,” said Michael, without even looking at her.
Miranda had no choice but to serve Colin and Leslie, who were rude and made crude jokes about her background.
“Look who we have here, Miranda, waiting tables. I guess people from your background do find their calling in the service industry, huh?” Colin said unpleasantly.
Miranda forced a smile and asked if they were ready to order, hiding her annoyance.
Just then, Colin deliberately dropped his fork, forcing Miranda to pick it up.
And while Miranda was doing so, Leslie laughed out loud and clapped. “Look at Miranda! She’s good at picking things up!”
Now everyone was looking at her, which made Miranda feel even worse. She handed Colin back his fork with a barely steady hand. “Thank you,” said Colin, but it was clear he didn’t mean it. “You’re a good teammate.”
Miranda tried to stay calm and quickly brought them their order, Mexican stew, hoping they would stop being mean. But Colin said the stew wasn’t spicy enough and made a mess of himself by overturning his plate. Miranda’s clothes were stained.
“It’s okay,” she said, trying not to look angry as she cleaned up. But Leslie kept laughing and people were staring at her. All these eyes on her completely shattered the confidence and strength that Miranda had tried to muster until now.
She could no longer hold back the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She had to go to the kitchen and hide in a corner, and she was so upset that she started to cry.
As she broke down in sobs, a voice distracted her. “Here, take this,” he said.
Miranda looked up and saw chef Robert with a tea towel in his hand. She knew him as a kind man who helped all his colleagues. Something about his presence made her cry even harder as she accepted the towel.
“Look, I don’t want to meddle in your personal life, but you are stronger than you think, Miranda. You have a spirit that is much greater than the problems you face.”
Miranda sniffed, knowing that she really needed to talk to someone, so she opened up to Chef Robert. And he, like a gentleman, listened as she talked about her early days with Colin and recalled the moment that ruined everything for her. That time, Colin wanted to go to a party with her, but she was worried about her homework.
Miranda, Colin and Leslie were university classmates.
“I should study, Colin,” she had said. ”My grades don’t look very good.”
But Colin shook his head, refusing to take no for an answer. “Come on, Miranda. You’re smart and you work hard. A night off won’t hurt. Please come with me.”
Miranda was stuck. She liked the idea of spending time with Colin, but she knew she should study. ‘Let me think about it. I’ll tell you tonight,’ she finally said.
After kissing him and Colin promising her a fun night, Miranda went back to her room excited, but also a little stressed. As soon as she entered, her flatmate – Leslie, no less – interrupted her.
“What’s wrong, Miranda? You seem very happy. And where did those flowers come from?” she asked. If Miranda only knew that this girl was a wolf in sheep’s clothing…
“It’s Colin. He’s been really sweet and I like him a lot. He’s invited me to a party, but I’m worried about the exams.”
“Miranda, you have to enjoy life too. Don’t miss out because of the exams,” said Leslie. ”Come on, it’s time to have fun!”
“Les, I really have to study.”
“You’re very smart, Miranda. Taking a night off won’t ruin your future. Have fun at the party with Colin. Trust me, and go!”
Feeling a little more confident that one night wouldn’t hurt her studies, Miranda decided to accept Colin’s invitation and called him. “I’ll be there, Colin. Tonight is important to you, so it’s important to me too,” she said.
But that night, when Miranda entered the noisy club where the party was being held, she felt a little out of place. Colin noticed and gave her a drink: “Here, drink this. It’ll make you feel better.”
Miranda couldn’t refuse. As the alcohol took effect, she forgot all her worries, enjoying the music and the dancing, feeling truly free.
The next morning, Miranda woke up in a strange place, with her clothes on the floor. She was scared to find herself without clothes, surrounded by other girls and boys, also barely dressed, simply sleeping around.
Remembering fragments of the night with Colin, a chill ran down her spine. She quickly called a cab to take her back to her university residence, worried about what the others would think if they found her like that.
Back at the university, everyone was whispering and looking at her. Miranda didn’t know why.
She felt upset and alone and really wanted to talk to Leslie, but Leslie wasn’t there. Neither Leslie nor Colin answered her calls. Then she received a call from the university dean, who had been upset by some embarrassing videos and photos, and he told her that she would be expelled.
Miranda was devastated and went to find Colin to help her. But when she found him, he was with Leslie, and they were both laughing wickedly.
“Look who’s here,” Colin sneered, in a mocking voice. ”Did you come running to see me, Miranda? Did you think I could solve your little problem?”
Leslie’s smile was equally mocking. “Miranda, did you really think Colin was interested in you? It was all a bet,” she revealed. “Two weeks. That’s all it took for you to play the fool. And now look at you, practically begging him for help.”
Miranda felt so hurt and alone as she listened to them laugh at her. She knew she had been deceived and that she had lost a lot, but she also felt a spark of determination to overcome it.
After sharing the details of her past that had led her to this restaurant as a waitress, Miranda decided she wanted revenge on Colin and Leslie. “Robert, can you help me? Can you make their food super spicy, just once?” she asked him.
Robert was unsure, worried about the image of the restaurant, but Miranda remained firm. “I really need it,” she said. “Please, just this once.”
Robert didn’t want to do it, but somewhere, he too felt that people like Leslie and Colin deserved to taste his medicine. ‘All right, Miranda. But let’s do it discreetly,’ he suggested.
Miranda prepared a hot sauce, without thinking about what might happen to her if her plan was discovered. She only thought about getting her revenge. “Use this,” she said, handing Robert a napkin soaked in sauce.
When Colin and Leslie received their food, Leslie made fun of it again. “Is this spicy? Is this what you call a SPICY Mexican stew?” she teased.
Just then, Colin wiped his mouth with the napkin and was hit by the strong spice. His skin turned an intense red, as if he had been slapped by the very essence of spice, and his breathing became shallow and desperate gasps.
“Colin, breathe, try to breathe,” Leslie urged, patting him on the back. However, when the people in the restaurant started to look and laugh, Leslie’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She realized that she had been mean to Miranda and now the others were having fun with her and Colin’s situation.
Unable to bear the embarrassment, she blurted out: “This is unbearable! We’re through!” and left quickly.
Miranda watched the scene in silence, with a hint of a smile on her face. She remembered how she had been deceived, thinking they would be happy together. It seemed that fate had other ideas.
Although hurt, Colin shouted that Miranda should lose her job, claiming that Miranda “had messed with his dish”, and that’s when Michael intervened with a cool head. He tasted the stew and saw no problem. “This dish is perfect, sir. There’s nothing wrong with it,” he declared, seeing the napkin saturated with spice but discreetly hiding it.
“Besides, Miranda has been with us for a long time. She wouldn’t spoil a meal on purpose,” he said, siding with Miranda. At that moment, Miranda exchanged a silent look of understanding with her boss, grateful for his help.
Colin looked around for someone to agree with him, but found no one. Leslie had left, and the other customers were just watching.
Then Michael gave Colin some friendly advice. “You know, Colin, sometimes the heat doesn’t come from the food, but from how we act towards others. Think about it, okay?”
Colin was speechless, and Miranda felt a wave of satisfaction. She had found a clever and strong way to defend herself and had witnessed how empathy and understanding brought people together.
Michael’s decision to defend her and teach Colin to be humble and respectful showed her that, even in difficult times, there are friends everywhere.