My mother-in-law showed up at my restaurant with 38 friends and announced, “Order the most expensive things. I’m treating everyone today,” even though she knew she had no intention of paying. Instead of throwing them out, I looked at the manager and said, “Serve them everything.” Three hours later, when she saw the $23,289 bill and the folder I placed on the table, she stopped smiling.

Lucas exhaled sharply, struggling to catch his breath.

“Mom, it is not our restaurant.”

Beatrice froze completely in the middle of the crowded room.

“Stop joking around with me, Lucas.”

“I am not joking! I never put a single dollar into thatbusiness! The restaurant belongs entirely to Camilla!”

 

The surrounding women began exchanging uncomfortable, confused glances with one another.

Beatrice gripped her phone tighter, her knuckles turning white.

“But you prepared the legal transfer documents!”

“Yes, I drafted them myself, but Camilla never agreed to sign anything over to me!”

A wealthy woman sitting near Beatrice leaned over and asked in a sharp whisper.

“So why on earth did you tell us this luxury establishment was practically yours already?”

Beatrice pretended not to hear her and spoke frantically into the phone.

“Lucas, explain to them right now that you are taking out loans to save this restaurant because it is going bankrupt!”