<b>Chapter </b><b>30: </b><b>Encounter </b><b>at </b><b>the </b>Restaurant<b>–</b><b>1 </b>


    Chapter 30: Encounter at the Restaurant


    (Olivia’s POV)


    The Silver Moon Steakhouse buzzed with activity as I entered with my new colleagues from Moow Legal Services. The restaurant’s elegant interior gleamed with polished wood and soft lighting, creating an atmosphere of refined luxury.


    Ourrge group was escorted to a private room, nearly filling it to capacity. I noticed that only the top VIP rooms remained unupied, likely reserved for the truly elite of


    Riverdale.


    “Lawyer Winters, you’re so generous–Silver Moon Steakhouse!” A young femalewyer named Rachel teased with a bright smile as we settled around therge table. “Last time we came here, it was the Alpha treating us duringst year’s annual party.”


    I maintained a pleasant expression, though I wondered which Alpha she was referring to. Connor? Or perhaps Alexander?


    Heather Phillips, the Litigation Department Supervisor, adjusted her sleek bob haircut andughed lightly. “Lawyer Winters is young and promising. Looks like you’ve made a fortune over the years; there are over twenty of usbined from all departments. Are you going to bleed money tonight?”


    Her tone was joking, but I detected something calcted beneath her friendly demeanor. I remembered how quickly she’d hired me, how readily she’d agreed to my


    sry requirements.


    Gregory Thompson, my office partner, chimed in good–naturedly from across the table. “Lawyer Winters is truly capable.”


    His kind eyes crinkled at the corners, seemingly genuine in hispliment. But before I could respond, another voice cut through the pleasant atmosphere.


    “Oh, Lawyer Winters, can you really afford this<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    I turned to see Valerie Pierce, a sharp–tongued litigationwyer with naturally narrowed eyes


    <b>that </b>seemed perpetually judgmental. From the moment I’d met her at the office, I’d sensed her <b>hostility</b>.


    < Chapter 30: Encounter at t..


    +8 Points >


    “Silver Moon is two or three hundred per person–add wine, and tonight’s bill might be


    three months of your sry,” she continued with a smirk. “Shouldn’t we switch to


    somewhere cheaper, so you don’t have to fake it?”


    The table fell silent, colleagues exchanging ufortable nces. I kept my


    expression neutral, refusing to show any reaction to her obvious baiting.


    “No worries, I can afford it,” I replied calmly.


    Valerie’s eyes narrowed further. “Wow, so Supervisor Phillips was right, you really raked in money these years. Care to share your money–making tricks with everyone?”


    Her sarcasm was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel my wolf bristling inside


    me, but I maintained myposure.


    “What tricks do we have? We’re allwyers; if you get a big case, you make more, small cases pay less,” I responded evenly. “Actually, I surely don’t make as much as you, Lawyer Pierce. I’ve been working for three years and still can’t afford a decent car. I heard you already bought a property in Riverdale.”


    This wasn’t entirely untrue. My sry alone wouldn’t buy a nice car. Of course, I didn’t mention the garage full of luxury vehicles from my father, my cousin Alexander, and Connor’s recent gift of the cier blue Bentley Continental GT I now drove.


    Valerie’s expression shifted to one of even deeper contempt. She clearly thought I was a low–ranking wolf pretending to be wealthy, when in reality, I was simply being modest about my actual status as the Winters Pack heiress.


    “Let’s order, everyone pick what you like,” I suggested, smoothly changing the subject.


    Valerie quickly grabbed the menu but made a show of passing it to Heather first. “Supervisor Phillips, you go ahead.”


    Heather smiled, her eyes briefly meeting Valerie’s in what seemed like silentmunication. She proceeded to order three of the restaurant’s most expensive signature venison dishes, each costing hundreds.


    “And let’s add the chef’s special moonlight wine,” she added with a smile in my


    direction.


    Valerie followed suit, ordering two more pricey dishes and another bottle of premium wine. Others around the table began orderingvishly as well, clearly taking


    こ


    < Chapter 30: Encounter at t….


    advantage of the situation.


    +8 Points>


    I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve and turned to find Jade Mitchell, the shy new intern,


    looking distressed. Her face was flushed as she leaned close to whisper, “Lawyer


    Winters…….I can’t afford to split this meal. It’s too expensive.”


    The poor girl assumed this would be a split bill. Given her entry–level sry, her share


    would likely consume her entire month’s pay.


    I gently patted her hand, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m treating


    everyone tonight. You won’t pay a cent.”


    Her eyes widened, cheeks reddening further. “Really? Thank you so much, Lawyer


    Winters.”


    By the time everyone had ordered, the bill would clearly be astronomical. Ten people, thousands in food, over three thousand more in drinks–far beyond normal spending


    for a wee dinner.


    I nced at the running tally and smiled faintly. This was obviously a ploy to fleece me as the neer. But with my bank card restored by my father Richard Winters, this amount was insignificant. I decided to treat it as a fee to smooth workce


    rtions.


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