9
It was a steak restaurant located downtown that looked very high-end.
It was not yet the opening hours. The shop was empty, and there was only the sound of music flowing quietly.
Kathleen and Joyce sat on the seats toward the inside. In order to ease the slightly stiff relationship from before, Kathleen said she would pay for the meal.
Joyce raised her eyebrows and did not say anything. But when ordering, she asked for an expensive bottle of wine.
After the order was taken, the waiter left.
Joyce took out a glittering iron box from her bag and opened it. It made a cracking sound. Two rows of long, thin cigarettes were held in place by spring-loaded metal.
She took out one of them, ignited it with a lighter, and placed it between her lips. A slightly tilted cloud of smoke puffed out.
Kathleen was nervously looking for the anti-smoking sign in the shop. Before she could find it, she heard Joyce say, "Don't worry. This place allows people to smoke."