Alexis was momentarily taken aback and then responded calmly, albeit somewhat curtly, with a simple, “Thank you. That's all."

After Ryan departed, Leonel took a sip of his ice water.

Leaning against the chair's backrest, Leonel asked with a smile, "Why has the standard for hiring temporary employees here been lowered? I recall that the previous requirement for even temps was to be capable of holding a basic conversation in French."

Alexis smiled and replied, “Perhaps the business isn't doing well.

The economy hasn't been favorable in recent years, and high-end consumption has clearly dwindled," Alexis remarked. "This restaurant has been open for 30 years, yet it still manages to attract a steady stream of customers. Let's not be too hard on the manager here."