When Lisa got a well-deserved promotion, she wanted to celebrate with her boyfriend Sergei. At the restaurant, Lisa discovered that Sergei was just trying to look ‘manly,’ disrespecting her and her labour victory. And when he handed his number to the waitress, everything changed: Lisa embarrassed Sergei and left, putting an end to their relationship.
This evening was to be an evening of pure celebration. After six months at my new job, I had finally received a significant promotion and was ready to share the joy with Sergei, my boyfriend.
He suggested we go to a new high-end restaurant in town, known for its atmosphere and exquisite menu.
- Let’s just get dressed and go out, Lisa,’ he said. – We so rarely do this, so let’s savour the moment.
I agreed; we really rarely gave ourselves an evening like this.
- Okay,’ I replied. – We could certainly use an evening like this.
I believed we needed one. Mostly because, as much as I wanted to think that Sergei and I were made for each other, I was beginning to see cracks in our relationship. Something had changed.
I was happy in my job, but Sergei wasn’t happy in his.
- I do so much, but no one even thinks to appreciate me,’ he said gloomily one evening when he came over to my place for a salsa night.
Sergei sat on the sofa, dipping chips in salsa and guacamole, complaining about work all evening.
Because of his work-related moods, I tried not to tell him anything good about mine.
- Maybe you just need more time,’ I said, handing him a frozen margarita. – You just started working there a few months ago, didn’t you?
- Lisa, please,’ he replied. – You wouldn’t understand. Just let me be.
But when I found out about my new promotion, I just couldn’t hold it in. I wanted to celebrate and be celebrated, and I hoped Sergei would want to do the same.
To my surprise, he looked very pleased and said he was proud of me.
- Really, honey,’ he said when he picked me up. – This is a big event and I’m proud of you.
The evening started off beautifully. Sergei came with a bouquet of flowers and waited for me to finish getting ready. Usually it annoyed him if I wasn’t ready for him, but this evening was different.
- Let’s go,’ I said. – I’m ready!
Sergei put the phone away and was the first to leave my flat, heading for the car that was waiting for us.
We drove in silence, but this time the silence wasn’t tense-it was peaceful, and I felt that maybe Sergei was changing. That he was becoming someone who wanted to be here and now with me.
The soft light and the stunning view of the cityscape from our table created a romantic setting for the evening. We toasted to my success and Sergei raised his champagne glass high.
- To the most amazing woman I know,’ he proclaimed as he clinked glasses with me. – And here’s to the many successes ahead.
- To us and the future! – I echoed, caught up in the moment.
Everything was going fine until the waitress brought us our food. Sergei kept glancing at her, trying to catch her eye-he winked at her twice.
I didn’t want to make a scene out of it – Sergei always did that when he was drinking. It seemed like flirting was something natural to him.
Toward the end of dinner, however, I noticed a change in Sergei. His usual easy smile became strained when the bill was brought to the table. He smiled at the waitress as she stepped away.
- You have to let me pay with your card,’ he said with a note of insistence in his voice.
I wondered. On the one hand, I didn’t mind paying for dinner, because it was my holiday, and I was earning a lot more now. But on the other hand, I hoped that Sergei would want to treat me this evening.
- Why can’t you pay with your card? – I asked, surprised at his frown.
Sergei’s irritation was barely concealed.
- Obviously because you’re the one who got the promotion and I don’t have enough money for dinners like this, Lisa! You know that, but you still pretend you don’t know.
I was confused by his logic.
- I’ll just pay with my card,’ I said, putting my purse on the table. – It wasn’t a problem.
My boyfriend’s face went rigid as he took a sip of whiskey-he’d switched from champagne to whiskey in the middle of dinner.
- It’s humiliating, Lisa,’ he said. – It’s like you’re deliberately trying to humiliate me by not letting me be the man who pays.
Then I decided I’d had enough….
