Mrs. Rodgers was surprised to see her son’s girlfriend, Isabel, cooking in her kitchen, just as she had started a new job. Isabel, who had cruelly rejected her in a previous job interview, now pretends to be nice, but the tension is palpable and conflict is brewing beneath the surface.
Let me tell you about the day my world turned upside down.
A woman looking serious | Source: Pexels
First of all, you should know that I have been a chef for over thirty years. I had a great job, but it ended in chaos when the building burned down. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the restaurant never reopened, leaving us all without jobs.
I was forced to look for a new job at age fifty-five, and it wasn’t easy. Looking for a job is never fun, but last month I had the worst interview of my life.
A sad woman | Source: Pexels
I was ready to meet Isabel, the manager of a health food restaurant. This place swore by its organic ingredients and boasted of its vegan and paleo-friendly menu options.
I was excited to work on such an interesting menu and entered the office with a big smile. My smile quickly faded when I saw the woman at the front desk looking me up and down with a look of barely disguised disdain.
“Isabel?” I approached the desk and extended my hand. “I’m Mrs. Rodgers. It’s nice to meet you.”
A woman sitting at a desk looking down | Source: Pexels
“No.” She shook her head and grimaced. “We have a large open kitchen that allows customers to watch their food being prepared. You’re way too old and fat to work here. It would reflect poorly on our establishment to have someone who looks like you preparing our food.”
I was stunned. I just stood there, staring at her.
“Hello?” She waved at me. “The interview is over. You may go.”
A woman sitting at a desk, making a face | Source: Pexels
I walked out of there feeling like a piece of trash. The restaurant industry is fast-paced and most people in it tend to be abrupt, but this was downright disrespectful!
Luckily, I landed a job shortly after at a popular steakhouse. It’s a demanding job, but I love it! The food isn’t fancy, but the place is always busy and the pay is great.
This job was a godsend, but I never forgot the attitude of that arrogant little headmistress. Little did I know that one day I would have the opportunity to teach her a lesson she would never forget!
A serious woman | Source: Pexels
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day at work, I came home to an unexpected sight. In my kitchen was Isabel, the same girl from maintenance. She was stirring a pot on my stove, looking at ease.
“What are you doing in my kitchen?” I asked him.
She jumped and frowned at me. “I know you…”
A woman cooking | Source: Pexels
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you don’t even remember kicking me out of that interview last month before I could even talk about my job.” I pointed at the door. “Get out of there.”
But then my son Alex walked in, grinning from ear to ear. “Mom, I thought I heard you! Sorry if she startled you, but let me introduce you to Isabel, my girlfriend!”
I was trying to digest the information when Isabel jumped up to me and hugged me, her smile as fake as her sincerity.
A woman smiling | Source: Pexels
“It’s SO nice to meet you, Mrs. Rodgers!” she gushed, before leaning over and whispering in my ear, “Let’s forget about what happened last month.”
I was tempted to throw her into the fire at that point, but I thought better of it. Instead, I smiled and hugged her tighter than necessary.
“Sure, sweetheart,” I said, my mind already spinning around the implications of her bonding with my son. Alex was usually a good judge of character, so I decided to give Isabel a chance.
A woman lost in thought | Source: Pexels
Over the next few weeks, Isabel showed her true colors. She had this way of being nice to Alex while making sly remarks about my age and weight when he wasn’t around.
One day, while I was cleaning the kitchen floor, she “accidentally” spilled a glass of juice, watching me with a smirk as I cleaned up the mess.
“Oops, sorry Mrs. Rodgers. I guess I’m a little clumsy.”
“No problem, Isabel,” I said, forcing a smile, but inside I was fuming.
Spilled liquid | Source: Pexels
His behavior escalated from there. One afternoon, I was making cookies for a charity event, humming in the kitchen. I reached for the sugar and realized, too late, that Isabel had replaced it with salt.
The batch was ruined. Isabel came in just as I discovered the mistake, her face a mask of mocking innocence.
“Oh dear, did I mix them up?” she said, her eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Rodgers.”
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s okay, mistakes happen.”
Two women in the kitchen | Source: Pexels
Then there was the dinner incident. Isabel had decided to prepare a special meal for Alex and me. When we sat down, she placed a steaming bowl of chili con carne in front of me. I took a bite and felt the fire spread through my mouth.
I gasped and grabbed my glass of water, tears streaming down my face.
Isabel feigned concern, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh no, Mrs. Rodgers! Did I put too much chili? I’m so sorry!”
I forced a smile despite the pain. “It’s okay, Isabel. Really.”
A bowl of chili con carne | Source: Pexels
His cruelty knew no bounds, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide my frustration from Alex. I knew that one day, all the biting remarks I had been holding back to keep the peace would explode inside me.
I decided it was time to teach Isabel a lesson. But I had to be strategic. Losing my cool wouldn’t do any good.
I proposed a special family dinner, suggesting that Isabel help me prepare it.
A woman smiling | Source: Pexels
She agreed, probably thinking it was another opportunity to weaken me. Little did she know I had something else in mind.
In the kitchen, the air was thick with tension. Isabel was chopping vegetables while I was browning meat. We finished preparing dinner and I called Alex.
He walked in, oblivious to the undercurrents of hostility. “That smells great, Mom! You too, Isabel.”
“Thank you, Alex,” we said in unison.
Two women cooking together | Source: Pexels
I asked Isabel to help Alex set the table while I prepared our plates. As soon as her back was turned, I added a generous dose of chili to Isabel’s portion.
The three of us sat down at the table. Isabel dove into her stew with gusto, her arrogance blinding her to my careful machinations. I watched her intently, waiting for the spices to take effect.
It didn’t last long.
A plate of beef stew | Source: Pexels
Her face turned bright red and she began to sweat. She grabbed her glass of water with shaking hands.
“Are you okay, Isabel?” I asked, feigning concern.
She nodded, but her eyes were watering. “Just… a little warm, that’s all.”
Alex looked puzzled. “Are you okay, honey? You’re very red.”
Isabel forced a smile, her voice tight. “I’m fine, Alex. The stew is just a little spicier than what I’m used to.”
A woman looking at her meal doubtfully | Source: Pexels
I hid my smirk behind my towel. “I’m so sorry, Isabel. I hope it’s not too much for you. I tried to make it gentle.”
Isabel excused herself to go to the bathroom, practically running from the table. Alex looked at me, concern etched on his face. “Mom, do you think she’s okay?”
I patted his hand. “I’m sure she’ll be fine, honey. Sometimes spices catch you off guard.”
She returned a few minutes later, pale and trembling, but determined to keep up appearances. I watched her carefully, satisfaction blossoming in my chest.
A woman with a shy smile | Source: Pexels
After dinner, Alex went to the living room to watch television. I seized the moment and pulled Isabel aside into the kitchen.
“Isabel, we need to talk,” I said calmly.
She glared at me, still red and angry. “What did you do to me?” she asked.
I smiled. “Oh, nothing much. I just added a little spice to your meal. You see, Isabel, I know every trick in the book. Remember that the next time you think about running into me.”
A woman who speaks seriously | Source: Pexels
She was speechless, her face a mixture of anger and fear. “You…”
I held up a hand, cutting her off. “Isabel, it’s important to respect others, especially in their own homes. You may think you’re smart, but rudeness and meanness have consequences.”
His anger flared again. “You had no right…”
“Now,” I continued, ignoring his outburst, “if you want to stay in this house and be part of this family, you’re going to have to show some respect. If not, you can leave and never come back.”
A stern woman | Source: Pexels
Isabel stared at me, her eyes wide. She opened her mouth to argue, then seemed to think twice. She nodded stiffly and walked away.
From that day on, Isabel’s behavior towards me improved. She was more respectful, and her derogatory remarks and petty actions completely disappeared. She even started helping around the house without being asked.
I made sure that Alex was not aware of the events, in order to maintain harmony in our home. The dynamics of our relationship evolved positively and, for the first time, I felt a sense of peace.
Here’s another story: Daphne’s life was thrown into chaos when her mother-in-law, Helen, moved in and began taking over the house, criticizing every detail. Helen’s constant meddling and scathing comments pushed Daphne to her limit. Determined to teach the old lady a lesson, Daphne made a surprising phone call that changed everything.
This work is inspired by real events and persons, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims as to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is” and the opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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