hapter b50 /b

Sushi Kimura was a high–end Japanese restaurant near S&G Law. All the private bdining /brooms at Sushi Kimurab, /bbexcept /bfor bthe /bbtop/b–tier VIP suite, were filled with bpeople /bfrom S&G Law.

Charlotte bwas /bseated in bone /bof bthe /bprivate rooms.

b“/bWow, Miss bRiley/bb, /byou really went all out. Sushi Kimura, huh?b” /bone bof /bbthe /byounger female associates teased. “Thest time I was here was duringst year’s firm gb, /band that bwas /bon the bboss’s /bbtab/bb./b”

Yvonne bsmiled /band joked, b“/bLooks like Miss Riley’s had a sessful few years. With over a hundred employees bacross /bdepartments, it looks like tonight’s going to cost her a small fortune.”

Max chuckled and addedb, /b“Clearly, Miss Riley’s doing well for herself.”

Another womanb, /bher toneced with sarcasmb, /bchimed in, “Miss Riley, are you sure about this? Sushi Kimura runs about two to three hundred per person–plus drinksb, /byou’re looking at three months bof /byour 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 bthe /bmoment Charlotte bmet /bher 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 blet /bup. b“/bOh? 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. bI’ve /bbeen 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, Desmondb, /bhad bought her a Porsche 911 and a Rolls–bRoyce /bPhantom, both of which were still sitting in the garage at the Riley estate. Her cousin, Stevenb, /bhad gifted her a Maserati she hadn’t touched in months. Lately, she had been driving the cier -blue bBentley /bSean had given her.

Of course, Yasmine knew none of this. All she heard was that Charlotte couldn’t afford ba /bcar or a house. She gave Charlotte a condescending

lookb. /b

“Trying to look rich when you’re clearly not? How pathetic,b” /bshe bsilently /bremarked.

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 bthe /bmenu, bthen /bpaused and handed it bto /bYvonne. b“/bMiss Yarnell, why don’t you choose first?b” /b

bShe /bwasn’t stupidb. /bbEveryone /bbin /bthis room was part of the litigation bteam, /band Yvonne was bthe /bhighest–ranking person here. It was smart to stay on her bgood /bbside/b.

Yvonne took bthe /bmenu. Remembering Vivian’s instructions to b“/bbtake /bgood bcare/b” of Charlotte, she didn’t hold back. “Let’s bdo /bthis oneb, /bthis, and that.”

She ordered the three most expensive signature dishes, each bone /bcosting bhundreds/b. Then she handed the menu back to Yasmineb, /bwho picked two more pricey dishes.

Sitting beside Charlotte was the new intern, Jennyb, /bwho looked incredibly anxious. She btugged /bat Charlotte’s sleeve and whispered, b“/bMiss Riley, I… I can’t afford this ceb. /bIf we’re splitting the bill, I won’t be able to pay my share.”

She thought bthe /bdinner was being bco/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 beyes/bb. /b

Charlotte gently patted bJenny’s /bhand and said softly, “Don’t worryb. /bI’ve got bthis/b. bYou /bdon’t have to bchip /binb./bb” /b

bReally/bb?/bb” /bJenny whispered, face bred/bb. /bb“/bbThank /byou so muchb, /bMiss Riley…”

By the btime /bthey finished ordering, bthe /bten–person table had racked bup /bover five thousand for food aloneb, /bband /banother three thousand for

drinks.

Chooter 50

Charlotte nced at the receipt and smiled faintly.

bThey /bhadn’t just ordered like normal bpeople/b. They were clearly picking the most expensive items just bto /btake advantage of her.