Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Summit & Vale Solicitors were nestled among some pretty swanky eateries, and they were dining at the famous La Belle Maison that evening. All the private dining rooms, except for the super exclusive VIP one, were packed with folks from the firm.
Allison found herself in one of these packed rooms.
Wow, Allison, you’re treating us to La Belle Maison? That’s quite generous!” a young attorney said with a grin. “The last time I was here, it was on the firm’s dime during the holiday party!”
Nicole, playing along, quipped, “Allison, looks like you’ve been doing well! With everyone from the firm here, you’re really going to splurge tonight!”
Brody chimed in, “Allison, you’re quite something!”
Then a young girl, with a bit of a sarcastic edge, said, “Oh, Allison, you sure you can swing this? The average tab here is a couple hundred bucks per person, and with drinks, tonight could cost you three months‘ salary. Maybe we should find somewhere cheaper?”
Elliott was a lawyer too. Allison had pegged Elliott as a bit sharp on her first day, and it turns out she was right–Elliott was a tough cookie.
Allison just smiled and said, “No worries, I can cover it.”
Elliott continued, “Wow, Nicole wasn’t kidding. You’ve been raking it in. Care to share your secret with us?”
Allison replied smoothly, “No secret here. We’re all in the same boat. Big cases pay more, small cases less. And honestly, I don’t make nearly as much as you, Elliott. I’m still saving up for a car after three years. But I heard you bought a house in Oak Lake!”
Allison wasn’t lying. Her paycheck didn’t cover a fancy car. But she didn’t need to save for one. The Porsche 911 and Rolls–Royce Phantom that her father had gifted her were just gathering dust in the family garage, and she hadn’t taken the Maserati from her cousin Zack out in forever. Lately, she’d been driving Joshua’s Bentley
Continental.
Elliott didn’t know any of this, though. She just assumed Allison was genuinely strapped for cash. Satisfied, she gave Allison a smug smile, thinking she was putting on a show to impress everyone.
With that little drama out of the way, Allison encouraged, “Alright, everyone, let’s order whatever you fancy.”
Elliott picked up the menu but then handed it over to the supervisor. “Nicole, you go first.”
Elliott was savvy with social pecking order. In this room full of litigation department colleagues, Nicole was the top dog.
Nicole took the menu, remembering Lillian’s advice to keep an eye on Allison, and ordered three of the priciest dishes without hesitation. Just those three were over a grand.
Elliott added two more expensive choices.
The new intern, Joy, sat next to Allison looking flustered. She tugged at Allison’s sleeve, whispering, “Ms. Allison, I can’t afford this.”
Joy had been anxious ever since she saw the menu. Splitting this bill would wipe out her savings. Allison patted Joy’s hand gently. “Don’t worry, Joy. Tonight’s my treat. You don’t have to chip in.”
Joy’s face lit up with relief. “Really? Thank you, Ms. Allison.”
After all the orders were in, their room had racked up over five thousand in food and more than three thousand in drinks. Glancing at the receipt, Allison smirked. They weren’t ordering based on average spending; they wer definitely treating her like a cash cow, picking the priciest items.
