Rachel stood facing the cold plaster wall of the bustling restauraunt, cheeks blazing red as the hum of chatter and stifled laughter surrounded her. She could feel the amused stares prickling her back, and hear the quiet snaps of camera phones capturing this humiliating moment for posterity. She kept her arms stiffly at her sides, wishing she could simply disappear.
How had she—Rachel, the poised, polished one—ended up here, in an actual “time-out” in front of a room full of strangers and colleagues alike?
Rachel had arrived at the restaurant to meet her friend and colleague, Emma. It was a fancy spot, hosting a wine-tasting event that brought together a crowd of young professionals. As the evening went on, the wine flowed freely, and soon she was laughing herself silly over Emma’s latest dating disaster stories, barely noticing the attention she was attracting.
“Hey, Rach,” Emma leaned in, a teasing smile on her lips. “Let’s keep it down a little. You know how Patricia is.”
Rachel waved her off, her laughter bubbling up again. “Oh, come on! You sound like my mom. Lighten up!”
Rachel stopped though, when she realised that Patricia, the event host, was watching them across the room. Patricia had an impeccable reputation; everyone knew her for her taste and discretion, and Rachel idolised her for it. She gave a small, tight smile and began walking over, arms folded.
“Enjoying ourselves?” Patricia asked, her voice measured.
Rachel immediately felt her cheeks flush. “Yes—yes, Patricia,” she stammered. “I’m so sorry if we were a bit loud.”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s a matter of volume,” Patricia replied, smiling in a way that made Rachel’s stomach twist. “You seem…rather lively. Perhaps a short break to collect yourself might help?”
Rachel blinked, not entirely sure what Patricia meant. “Oh—of course, I can just step outside for a minute,” she offered, feeling flustered and eager to smooth things over.
“No need to leave." Said Patricia, before pointing to an empty wall just a few feet from where they were standing. How about a quiet moment over there, perhaps with your nose to the wall. That might help you calm down.”
Rachel stared, stunned. Her nose to the wall? She wasn’t a child—how could Patricia even suggest such a thing? She glanced at Emma for help, who simply waited, her eyes wide with disbelief and a slight smirk playing on her lips.
Rachel felt her throat go dry. The idea of being reprimanded in front of everyone sent a rush of indignation through her. “Patricia, I—”
“Rachel,” Patricia interrupted. “You’re smart, capable, and you know the standards we uphold here. I’m asking you to step aside for a moment to gather yourself, and I suggest you take it seriously.”
In that moment, Rachel felt herself shrink into a little girl and began to shift compliantly. “Alright… just for a minute,” she mumbled, forcing a nervous smile as she stood up from her chair.
She walked to the wall, each step feeling like a march to her execution. When she reached it, she paused for a second, looking back towards the table, as though expecting instructions. Patricia simply gave a nod, expectantly. Reluctantly, Rachel leaned forward and pressed her nose to the wall, standing awkwardly with her arms at her sides, feeling all the eyes on her back.
Patricia cleared her throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention! It seems we have a perfect example of what happens when we get a bit too carried away at a professional event. Rachel here is taking a moment to reflect on her—how shall I say it?—enthusiastic approach to networking.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, and Rachel felt her face heat Was Patricia really using her as an example? More snickers echoed around her and she swore she heard the sound of someone's phone camera. She felt herself shrinking with embarrassment, every second stretching into an eternity as she stood there, a grown woman, forced into this absurdly humiliating “time-out” in front of the very people she was supposed to be networking with.
After what felt like an eternity, she heard Patricia's voice behind her “I can see that you have calmed down now. You can go and take your seat again."
Rachel turned from the wall, cheeks flushed bright red, and rushed back to her table, forcing herself not to look at anyone. Emma’s eyes were wide.
“Did you…really just?” Emma whispered. A mixture of incredulousness and amusement in her voice.
Rachel’s voice came out in a strangled whisper. “Don’t. Even.”
"I warned you.." Emma giggled back.
