“Calling the principal won’t help.


    Are you really trying to sabotage our date on purpose, Allison?”


    Mny had barely finished her scathingment when a middle-aged man appeared, drawn by themotion.


    Colton, recognizing the restaurant manager, swelled with arrogance.


    He waved his silver card like it was a trophy.


    “We imed the top floor room!”


    Seeing the manager approaching, Mny smiled smugly.


    “My apologies, Allison and Reba.


    I didn’t mean for things to get so awkward.


    How about I treat you two to dinner to smooth things over?”


    "Fuck you! I don''t need your pity party.


    "


    Reba was determined; they weren''t going to give up the VIP room on the top floor.


    But the manager’s focus had changedpletely.


    As soon as he saw Allison, his surprise turned to amazement and then to pure joy.


    Ignoring Colton’s silver card, he stepped forward and bowed deeply to Allison.


    “You should have called earlier! We would have rolled out the red carpet for you.


    ”


    “How has your boss beentely?” Allison asked, her demeanor calm and collected.


    “It’s been a while since I’ve dined here.


    I seem to have misced my ck card, but I trust the promises made to me still stand.


    ”


    The manager froze momentarily, bewildered.


    Allison was the one in charge here, but why had she put it that way?


    His confusion quickly evaporated.


    As soon as he caught her gaze, he understood.


    “Of course, Miss rke.


    Not only do you still have your ck card, but you enjoy exclusive privileges.


    When you dine here, we clear the ce just for you!”


    He turned to the stunned waiters.


    “What are you waiting for? Start preparing the upstairs dining room! From now on, treat Miss rke as if she were the owner of the ce.


    ”


    Mny was speechless, her confident smile frozen in disbelief.


    Allison had a ck card?


    Colton was equally stunned.


    “There has to be a mistake! There are only ten ck cards in the world, and there’s no way this woman has one!”


    Mny raised her voice, trying to get the attention of the curious onlookers.


    “Colton is right! How can you close the restaurant to anyone whoes in?”


    The manager''s attitude turned icy.


    “I am fully aware that you are a silver card holder,” the manager replied stiffly.


    “But ording to our rules, Mrs.


    rke’s status exceeds even that of a ck card holder.


    And if Mrs.


    rke wanted to close the restaurant permanently, we wouldply without batting an eyelid.


    ”


    Colton''s jaw dropped.


    This was beyond outrageous.


    He couldn''t get his head around the idea of ??Allison having a ck card.


    Angry and feeling cornered, Colton turned his sarcasm on Allison.


    “Where’s your ck card? Do you have any proof? Or are you going to do like Reba and say you conveniently forgot it?”


    A cold sweat ran down the manager’s back, but since Allison remained silent, he didn’t dare speak up.


    Deep down, he was already considering revoking Colton’s silver membership.


    He was afraid that if another scene like this urred, he wouldn’t be able to smooth things over.


    Allison looked at Colton with a puzzled expression.


    “It’s just a card.


    Why would I carry it around? And regardless of someone’s status, Jasmine Restaurant rules don’t allow cutting in line.


    ”


    She reflected on how Colton had fallen further since her divorce.


    It was just a dinner reservation, but here he was, trying to jump the queue and create a spectacle.


    The more she looked at him, the more repulsive he seemed.


    Mny stepped in, pleading innocence.


    “Don’t be upset, Allison.


    It’s okay if you forget your ck card.


    There’s always the fingerprint check.


    I know you have integrity, but not everyone will believe it.


    Someone less trustworthy might even spread the suspicion that you get special treatment…” Her voice was syrupy, her eyes wide as she batted her eyshes.


    “I’m just being honest.


    I hope you don’t take this the wrong way.


    But if you really do have a ck card, it wouldn’t hurt to confirm it, right?”


    “You wouldn’t dare!” Colton scoffed, fully convinced that Allison was lying.


    “If she wasn’t bluffing, she wouldn’t trust the manager without proof.


    I didn’t expect Jasmine Restaurant to lower their standards.


    Letting anyone in these days… One wrong move, and you can piss off the real bigwigs.


    I wouldn’t be surprised if this ce goes bust before long.


    ”