Chapter 543
Chapter 543:
A friend?
Fiona froze, her poise cracking at the edges as uncertainty seeped in, her thoughts tangling somewhere between pride and quiet panic.
Her parents had always indulged her, but if they ever discovered where she was tonight, the fallout would be brutal.
And her so-called friends?
One whisper of her being at a club like this, and her carefully polished reputation would be in ruins.
𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯
With a shaky sigh, Fiona slipped off her diamond-encrusted watch and handed it to Roderick. “This is worth five million. Use it to settle the bill. Keep the rest as your tip p>
Roderick didn’t even blink. “You’ve spent thirteen million tonight p>
Her jaw dropped, heat rushing to her cheeks. “Thirteen million? It’s robbery p>
The Dewitt family was rich beyond measure, and yes, thirteen million meant little in the grand scheme of their wealth, but that didn’t mean she’d stand there and be bled dry like a fool.
Unruffled, Roderick’s tone remained maddeningly patient.
“Our pricing is completely transparent. Nothing underhanded. For example, booking this private room is three hundred thousand. My service fee is one million p>
She blinked, still reeling but able to stomach that much. “That’s not even two million. So where’s the rest p>
“This bottle,” he interrupted smoothly, lifting the half-empty vodka with an elegant flick of his wrist, “costs eight million p>
Fiona’s stomach dropped like a stone.
A nightclub charging that much for wine was unheard of.
“And this one,” Roderick continued, his smile polite but cool, “three million p>
Her expression hardened, her face darkening like a gathering storm.
“This isn’t even a famous brand. Why are you charging me so much?” Fiona’s voice trembled with disbelief.
In her world, ordinary labels never came with such staggering price tags.
Roderick’s smile didn’t falter. “Wines like these can rival the big names,” he said smoothly. “And because you’re beautiful, I’ll waive the room fee and the service charge p>
It was a courtesy no other wealthy patron had ever received.
Fiona could afford it, of course. But that wasn’t the problem.
“I don’t have any money on me right now!” she snapped, her tone sharp with embarrassment.
Her phone and bank card were both lost in the cab.
“Then call your family or friends,” Roderick suggested, his voice still polite, though the warmth was slipping. “Surely you remember someone’s number p>
“I can’t,” Fiona muttered, her jaw tightening.
If she called her parents, she’d be grounded into oblivion. If she called her friends, she’d be the joke of the year.
Her refusal made the temperature in the room plummet.
Roderick’s gaze hardened. To him, she suddenly looked less like a valued guest and more like a freeloader playing games.
“Fiona,” he said, his voice sharp now, “we run an honest business. You don’t get to walk away without paying p>
“I told you,” she shouted, her pride burning hot, “I’ll come back tomorrow and settle it p>
Her card had no limit. She didn’t care about the amount, just the humiliation of being cornered like this.
But to Roderick, her defiance was just arrogance.
His eyes darkened, and with a sharp, commanding clap of his hands, the room seemed to tense.
Moments later, a line of towering, broad-shouldered bodyguards strode in, their steps synchronized, their presence suffocating. Shirtless, their torsos were inked with bold, menacing tattoos that twisted under the stark lights.
Fiona froze. Her pulse spiked, fear curling cold and tight in her chest. She had never been in a situation like this.
With trembling hands, she gave in and dialed the only person she could bear to face. Brenden.