Most Expensive Bite Ever

Kevin walked in, saw me, and sighed like I was the problem. "Come on, Susannah Seymour, don't make a scene. You could've just told me you were coming."

He wiped his forehead, already sweating.

Then Lillian latched onto his arm, throwing me a smug glare. "So it's Ms. Seymour. She said she was your sister—I figured she meant future sister-in-law."

I inhaled slowly. 'So that's what this is.' No wonder she felt untouchable.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Kevin glanced at her. "Maybe... give her a discount?"

My heart dropped. "Kevin, what policy lets the hotel fine guests? What regulation backs this up? Otherwise, it's straight-up illegal."

Lillian scoffed. "Our boss is the policy. Every tree, every brick here costs money. You sat here soaking in the vibes, trying to snag a rich guy. I let it slide, and now you're pushing it? I'm the manager. What I say goes. Not a cent less!"

I turned to Kevin. He braced himself. "Enough, Susannah. Stop making a scene. Just pay."

He said I was making a scene?

He knew I was here to inspect the hotel, and now he had the nerve to say that?

I almost laughed from how mad I was.

"Kevin, do you even KNOW who owns this hotel? And you're seriously talking to me like that?"

Lillian giggled behind her hand. "Please. Everyone knows who owns it. You think it's YOU?

"Our boss? Young, smart, loaded—of course girls fall for him. But stirring up drama just to get noticed? That's straight-up sad."

She slapped the bill on the table. "Here's the deal. Either pay, or say this out loud three times: 'Sorry, I'm a gold digger, I came to take photos.' Then I'll drop it. Call it a warning to the rest—stop throwing yourselves at rich guys. I get it, marrying up sounds cute. But not like THIS."

Pure venom.

And the way people looked at me? It shifted. Fast.

Demi lost it. "Do you even know who she is? She's—"

Kevin cut in, yelling. "Enough! If you still respect me, pay $100,000 and we're done!"

I couldn't believe it.

The same guy who once begged me to save this hotel—now fining me?

I stood.

Lillian flinched. "What are you doing? I'm warning you, hitting someone's a crime!"

"I'm not hitting anyone. I'm paying. But on MY terms. I want a full receipt. And to everyone here—sorry your meal got hijacked. Please line up and collect $1,000 from my assistant. Put everything on my tab. Just give me a moment to sort things out."

Every head turned.

It was obvious now—I wasn't here to argue over money. I had it, and I'd spend it how I wanted.

Guests stood. Demi sent each of them $1,000 on the spot.

Once the lobby emptied out, Kevin started to sense something was off.

"Susannah, you..."

"Let's settle up," I cut in. "What's the total?"

Lillian still hadn't gotten the memo. She told the servers, "Put every tab in the lobby on hers."

Came out to about $620,000.