8
365words
He thought he was slick, but Sophia and I saw everything.
He tapped his phone, clearly transferring money to Lauren.
Lauren returned, confident, handing her card to the server."Charge it."
She turned to me." Emma, I could've shared a few grand, but you're so cold."
"You're getting nothing from me now."
The server returned." Miss, this card's empty. Wrong one?"
"What?!”
Lauren, stunned, shot the boss a furious look."Impossible!"
The boss, in the corner, was panicking.
Sophia stepped in," Dear, you look pale. Something wrong?"
He scrambled to close his phone." Honey, a client payment got delayed. They need it now, but my card's frozen. Can you transfer$150,000..."
Sophia cut him off coldly."I froze it."
He gaped."What's that mean?"
She pointed at Lauren."That client you mentioned—it's her, isn't it?"
He froze, speechless."Honey, what're you talking about?"
Sophia continued," Lauren stepped out to call you for help, right?"
The boss opened his mouth, but Lauren interrupted."Mrs. Grant, how could you think that of me?"
"You just said I'm no mistress!"
"I called a friend."
She pulled out her phone, paid the $150,000 bill.
"Now you believe me?"
I was shocked—moments ago, she had no money. How'd she manage?
But I quickly figured it out.
Sophia's face softened."My apologies, I misjudged you."
"There's been office gossip lately, so I got suspicious."
The boss thumped his chest."Honey, you know I'm completely loyal to you!"
Lauren wiped nonexistent tears." Mrs. Grant, I understand. I don't blame you."
"Blame the schemers spreading lies!"
Her hateful glare landed on me, clearly pinning it on me.
Sophia clapped."Misunderstanding cleared, bill paid. Let's call it a night."
"Lauren, your bonus will hit your account tomorrow."
Lauren's face lit up." Thank you, Mrs. Grant!"
As Sophia and the boss left, Lauren sneered at me." Emma, you think you can take me? You're out of your league!"
"Tomorrow, I'll use Mrs. Grant's bonus to treat everyone, then expose how you slandered me!"
I smiled at her arrogance."Might not be a tomorrow."
That night, Sophia announced in the company chat a ten-day holiday.
Lauren's promised bonus was delayed.
