Chapter 2The $125,000 Mistake

"Since your manager is so by-the-book, why don't you have her explain this hundred-and-twenty-five-thousand-dollar bill to me." I ignored Leo, my gaze fixed squarely on Vanessa.

She was clearly annoyed that I was dragging this out, but she maintained her air of superiority. "The services at Aura are priced for a certain clientele. If you don't understand, it simply means you're not on that level."

She gestured for a server to lead us from the private room to the main lounge area.

It was bustling with the evening's patrons.

She was going to humiliate me publicly.

My friends had seen enough. One of them stood up. "Ethan, why don't we just go? I'll take care of this."

I held up a hand to stop him.

This was no longer about the money.

Vanessa had the ridiculous bill mounted on a display stand and placed on a coffee table. Her voice was perfectly modulated—not shouting, but loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear every word.

"The Exclusive Suite Ambiance Curation, fifteen thousand dollars. Every suite at Aura has had its metaphysical harmony professionally calibrated to ensure our guests' business dealings are blessed with fortune. It's an energy science. You might not get it, but there are plenty who will pay for it."

"The Elite Network Integrity Fee, thirty thousand. The people who frequent Aura are the city's movers and shakers. Do you have any idea how many wannabes and grifters we turn away at the door? This fee covers the service of filtering out the social static, protecting you from potential risks. Isn't that worth it?"

"And this one: Impromptu Artistic Accompaniment. While you were dining, one of our resident musicians was performing a custom composition just outside your suite, adjusting the melody in real-time based on the rhythm of your conversation. That is the price of true artistry."

With every item she announced, a low murmur rippled through the lounge.

Eyes turned towards me, a mixture of curiosity and contempt.

I was the clown who had crashed the gates of high society, only to find he couldn't afford the ticket.

Leo stood off to the side, his face pale. He tried to speak several times, but Vanessa silenced him with a sharp glance. He just stood there, watching, letting his girlfriend publicly crucify me.

The last thread of affection I held for him was beginning to unravel.

"Are you finished?" I asked calmly when she was done.

Vanessa crossed her arms, her chin held high. "I am. So, Mr. Shaw, are you ready to pay? Or are you going to continue wasting our time?"

"Of course," I nodded, pulling out my phone. "But I don't carry that kind of cash on me. I'll need to have my assistant bring it over."

She scoffed. "Oh, this again? Trying to stall?"

"You don't have to believe me," I said, dialing my assistant. "Bring three million dollars in cash to Aura. Immediately."

I made sure to emphasize the words "three million."

Vanessa's pupils contracted for a split second, then her eyes lit up with a raw, greedy fire.

She probably thought I was intimidated, trying to buy my way out of the humiliation.

Her gaze shifted, now sizing me up like a fool with too much money. A whale.

"Now you're talking," she whispered, leaning in so only I could hear. "Consider the extra a little tip for the trouble you've caused me and Leo tonight."