The restaurant fell silent, the tension in the air thick and palpable. All eyes were on Jeremy, their gazes full of curiosity and concern. How was he going to pay for the expensive bottle of wine? The thought weighed heavily on everyone's minds.Avery, her eyes wide with concern, immediately tried to interrupt, her voice laced with worry. "Jeremy, let me help you with this," she said, reaching for her own purse. "I can split the bill with you, I insist."Jeremy, with a firm but gentle shake of his head, turned to Avery, his expression reassuring. "Avery, it's okay," he said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I can handle this. You don't need to worry."As Jeremy pulled the sleek, matte black card from his wallet, Steve and the waiter couldn’t help but stare, their eyes widening in surprise. The card, emblazoned with the emblem of a luxury brand, was the epitome of elegance and exclusivity, reserved for only the wealthiest of clientele.Steve’s anger and envy grew as he consi
As the waiter’s words sank in, a wave of confusion and suspicion washed over Jeremy. He couldn’t imagine Jefferson, had betrayed him or made an error of this magnitude. The thought was simply inconceivable.“There must be some mistake,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. “I don’t understand.”The Williams and Peterson made merry in Jeremy’s momentary discomfort, their faces breaking into satisfied grins. For once, Jeremy was off-balance, his usual aura of confidence and control shattered by the unexpected twist of fate.Steve, his eyes gleaming with malice, leaned forward in his seat. “Looks like the tables have turned,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “Now you can explain how you got that card. I’m sure the police will be interested in hearing your explanation.”"I'm sure you customized this card to look like the black card just to deceive people and get a woman on your bed," Steve said bitterly. Steve’s words, loaded with insinuation and scorn, sent a surge
The table erupted into uproarious laughter, cackling with amusement at the sight of Jeremy’s sudden comment.“The waiter should follow him!” Mr. White suggested, his booming voice cutting through the boisterous noise. “Make sure he doesn’t get away!”“We can’t let him off the hook that easily!” Mr. Williams chimed in, his face flushed with excitement.The waiter, a look of confusion and uncertainty on his face, shifted from foot to foot. “I have no problem with you following me,” he declared, his words brimming with audacity.The waiter, understanding his signal, nodded curtly to the burly bodyguard stationed at the restaurant entrance. Without hesitation, the muscular man set off in Jeremy’s direction, his pace brisk and purposeful.“Be careful!” Mrs Williams cautioned, her words ringing with a note of warning. “Jeremy’s a cunning one. Keep an eye on him, and make sure there’s no escape route in that bathroom for a criminal.”The bodyguard, his face betraying a hint of worry, ackno
Everyone on the table exchanged looks of disbelief, whispers of astonishment filling the air. They concluded that he had either lost his mind or was high on drugs, his bold announcement affirming their suspicions. Mr. Williams, his face a mask of resentment, turned his gaze towards Jeremy, his eyes searing with contempt. “Jeremy,” he began, his voice dripping with condescension, “you’ve exhibited a different level of madness tonight. And I’m curious, just how far down this rabbit hole of lunacy have you descended?”Mr. Williams’ eyes narrowed into slits, his tone sharp and tinged with incredulity. “You are aware, aren’t you, that Dan Stone is one of the most prominent CEOs in this city?“And yet, here you are, speaking of him as though he’s nothing but a street vendor. A mere commoner!” Mr. Williams shook his head in disbelief, his voice rising to a sneer.“Your arrogance, your lack of respect…I don’t know what’s gotten into you. But I’ll tell you this,” he spat out the words with v
Steve stared at the real Dan Stone, who had just walked into the room, and let out a frustrated sigh. "Great. Just great," he muttered, shaking his head. "What a coincidence that the very person you're trying to impersonate just happens to walk in. We're in deep now." He rubbed his temples, already feeling a headache brewing.Everyone was scared. They didn’t know what the CEO would do next. They watched him walk towards them and were very worried.Steven ran towards Dan Stone, his face flushed with panic. "Mr. Stone! I'm so sorry, sir!" he stammered, desperately trying to keep up the charade. "I'm sure your manager has already contacted you. We had no idea that man was an imposter. He convinced us that he has money to pay what we ordered. We're all victims of his deception!"He tried his best to sound convincing, pouring out his words with an air of sincerity that he hoped would be enough to convince Dan Stone. Dan Stone remained silent as he walked towards the table. His eyes fixed
The power and prestige Dan Stone enjoyed had been built upon the foundation of his relationship with Nathaniel, Jeremy's father. For years, Dan had served as his most trusted aide, loyal and devoted to the man who had given him a new lease on life. When Nathaniel had finally decided to retire, he had gifted Dan with a generous sum of money, connections, and a reputation that had allowed him to establish his own empire.It was this bond, this shared history, that had forged a deep sense of duty and gratitude in Dan towards Nathaniel and, by extension, Jeremy.The moment he had received the message from Jefferson, Dan Stone knew he had to act swiftly. With Jeremy being a guest of the Nathaniel family, he recognized that this was a crucial moment for him to prove his loyalty and devotion to his former employer's legacy.Without hesitation, Dan had excused himself from a crucial business meeting, knowing that this opportunity was more valuable than any deal he could strike in his office
Steve seethed in anger, his mouth curling into a knot. He burned to speak, to lash out at Jeremy for putting the bill on his neck, but the presence of Dan Stone and his intimidating bodyguard kept him rooted in place.His jaw clenched, fists balling at his sides, he shot fiercely at Jeremy with his gaze, his disgust made clear in every tensed muscle of his body. Yet, he held his tongue, because of the fear of further consequences.Dan Stone watched the exchange, a perplexing smile playing on his lips. Mrs. Peterson, her voice a trembling whisper, spoke up, mustering her courage to address Jeremy. "I apologize for the disturbance. I thought the bet was for you to pay the bill since Steve forgot his wallet. I assure you, once we get home, I’ll make sure he sends the money back," she pleaded, the words escaping in a desperate rush.Although she knew full well that she and her son were in no position to repay such a large sum, she was desperate to find a way out of this escalating situat
Mrs. Peterson’s fury was a force of nature, her words like fiery arrows. "We were minding our own business when you called us here! You and your arrogant son-in-law have brought shame upon our family name. He humiliated us with that contract, just like you intended!"Avery, fed up with her ranting, turned to her with an icy stare. "No one forced that document on Steve. He gambled and lost. Stop acting like you’re the victim here."Mrs. Peterson’s rage was reaching its boiling point, her words becoming more and more venomous. "Shut your mouth, you spoiled little princess! This was all a setup from the start, wasn't it? You and your grandfather planned to extort money from us to prop up your pathetic company!" she seethed, the bitterness of her words souring the air.Avery, stung by her accusations, returned the venom in kind. "Why can't you just admit that your golden boy got what he deserved?Mrs. Peterson, her face flushed with fury, glared at Avery. "How dare you! My son is a good