hapter <b>50 </b>
Sushi Kimura was a high–end Japanese restaurant near S&G Law. All the private <b>dining </b>rooms at Sushi Kimura<b>, </b><b>except </b>for <b>the </b><b>top</b>–tier VIP suite, were filled with <b>people </b>from S&G Law.
Charlotte <b>was </b>seated in <b>one </b>of <b>the </b>private rooms.
<b>“</b>Wow, Miss <b>Riley</b><b>, </b>you really went all out. Sushi Kimura, huh?<b>” </b>one <b>of </b><b>the </b>younger female associates teased. “Thest time I was here was duringst year’s firm g<b>, </b>and that <b>was </b>on the <b>boss’s </b><b>tab</b><b>.</b>”
Yvonne <b>smiled </b>and joked, <b>“</b>Looks like Miss Riley’s had a sessful few years. With over a hundred employees <b>across </b>departments, it looks like tonight’s going to cost her a small fortune.”
Max chuckled and added<b>, </b>“Clearly, Miss Riley’s doing well for herself.”
Another woman<b>, </b>her toneced with sarcasm<b>, </b>chimed in, “Miss Riley, are you sure about this? Sushi Kimura runs about two to three hundred per person–plus drinks<b>, </b>you’re looking at three months <b>of </b>your sry. Maybe we should go somewhere more reasonable. No need to go broke trying to impress everyone.”
The woman was Yasmine Carter, a litigator. From <b>the </b>moment Charlotte <b>met </b>her that morning, she had a bad feeling about her and her first impression had clearly been right.
Charlotte smiled calmly. “It’s fine. I can afford it.”
Yasmine didn’t <b>let </b>up. <b>“</b>Oh? Then I guess Miss Yarnell was right! You must’ve made a fortune over the years. Got any tips for the rest of us?” Charlotte responded smoothly, “There’s no secret. We’re allwyers here–big cases pay more, small ones pay less. Honestly, I doubt I’ve made more than you. <b>I’ve </b>been working for three years and still don’t have a car. I heard you already bought a ce here in Jersey City?”
She wasn’t lying. The money she made from work,nough to buy a decent car.
Not that she needed to. Her father, Desmond<b>, </b>had bought her a Porsche 911 and a Rolls–<b>Royce </b>Phantom, both of which were still sitting in the garage at the Riley estate. Her cousin, Steven<b>, </b>had gifted her a Maserati she hadn’t touched in months. Lately, she had been driving the cier -blue <b>Bentley </b>Sean had given her.
Of course, Yasmine knew none of this. All she heard was that Charlotte couldn’t afford <b>a </b>car or a house. She gave Charlotte a condescending
look<b>. </b>
“Trying to look rich when you’re clearly not? How pathetic,<b>” </b>she <b>silently </b>remarked.
The awkward moment passed.
Charlotte smiled and said, “Alright, let’s order. Get whatever you’d like.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Yasmine said sweetly. She picked up <b>the </b>menu, <b>then </b>paused and handed it <b>to </b>Yvonne. <b>“</b>Miss Yarnell, why don’t you choose first?<b>” </b>
<b>She </b>wasn’t stupid<b>. </b><b>Everyone </b><b>in </b>this room was part of the litigation <b>team, </b>and Yvonne was <b>the </b>highest–ranking person here. It was smart to stay on her <b>good </b><b>side</b>.
Yvonne took <b>the </b>menu. Remembering Vivian’s instructions to <b>“</b><b>take </b>good <b>care</b>” of Charlotte, she didn’t hold back. “Let’s <b>do </b>this one<b>, </b>this, and that.”
She ordered the three most expensive signature dishes, each <b>one </b>costing <b>hundreds</b>. Then she handed the menu back to Yasmine<b>, </b>who picked two more pricey dishes.
Sitting beside Charlotte was the new intern, Jenny<b>, </b>who looked incredibly anxious. She <b>tugged </b>at Charlotte’s sleeve and whispered, <b>“</b>Miss Riley, I… I can’t afford this ce<b>. </b>If we’re splitting the bill, I won’t be able to pay my share.”
She thought <b>the </b>dinner was being <b>co</b>–hosted by her and Charlotte. When she saw the prices, she nearly panicked. This one meal would wipe out her entire year’s savings.
Tears welled in her <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>
Charlotte gently patted <b>Jenny’s </b>hand and said softly, “Don’t worry<b>. </b>I’ve got <b>this</b>. <b>You </b>don’t have to <b>chip </b>in<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Really</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Jenny whispered, face <b>red</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Thank </b>you so much<b>, </b>Miss Riley…”
By the <b>time </b>they finished ordering, <b>the </b>ten–person table had racked <b>up </b>over five thousand for food alone<b>, </b><b>and </b>another three thousand for
drinks.
Chooter 50
Charlotte nced at the receipt and smiled faintly.
<b>They </b>hadn’t just ordered like normal <b>people</b>. They were clearly picking the most expensive items just <b>to </b>take advantage of her.