âAlright, thatâs enough chit-chat. If Ivy says thatâs where we draw the line, then our job just got a whole lot easier,â said Raven with a smirk, cocking an eyebrow at Ivy. âSo, Ivy, decided which card youâre gonna use to settle the bill?â
The inevitable moment had arrived. Ivy feigned composure as she gestured for Blondie to hand her the phone.
âI havenât blown through my acting fee yet, but I canât remember which cardâs got the dough. Iâll need to checkâ¦â
Blondieâs eyes widened with envy. Was this what it was like to be loaded? So rich you could not keep track of where your money was?
âNo rush. Weâve got all the time in the world to swipe every last one until we hit that remaining two million mark. I promise youâll walk out of this dump unscathed today,â Raven said with a grin, though there was a shadow of malice in his eyes. âBut if it doesnât add up to three million, well, weâll have to find another way.â
It was a clear test, and Ivy maintained her cool, responding with a slight smile, âNo need to worry. Iâm the one who proposed this partnership. Where would I get the confidence from if I didnât have the funds?â
Raven and Ivy locked gazes, neither willing to back down first.
Ivy knew that looking away would be a sign of defeat, and even if she was penniless, she had to play the part of the wealthy patron.
Eventually, Raven was the one to look away. âGood. As long as youâve got the money, thatâs all that matters.â
Blondie stepped forward, phone in hand, and opened Ivyâs payment app for her to choose a card.
âLetâs skip the bottom card-thatâs my boyfriendâs. Try this one first; itâs a companion card to a black card.â
Ivyâs eyelashes fluttered, and it seemed like a blatant show-off to Clara.
Why should Ivy get to live so comfortably, so smoothly, after leaving home? And with a boyfriend, no less!
Ugh! What boyfriend? More like a sugar daddy!
Had Ivy not been kicking and screaming against an arranged marriage not so long ago?
Seeing Ivy apparently doing better than herself, Clara seethed with discomfort.
Between the two of them, only she was meant to be on top!
âOh, cut the act, Ivy. What man would willingly spend so much on a woman like you? Stiff as a board and charmless-Ptooey! A man must be blind to fall for you!â
Ivy replied with a calm smile, âCanât help it, my manâs got excellent taste, and thatâs none of your concern. Whether heâs willing to foot my bills or not, time will tell.â
Her words were infuriating, and when applied to Clara, their cutting power seemed to multiply tenfold.
Claraâs chest heaved with rage, and if she were not tied up, she might have lunged at Ivy to tear her mouth apart.
Blondie, oblivious to the bickering women, simply asked Ivy, âWhatâs the PIN?â
â100008,â Ivy rattled off without hesitation.
âInsufficient funds. Please try another card.â
Blondie glanced at Raven, who motioned for him to continue.
â
âMy bad, I mightâve maxed it out last month on a shopping spree abroad. Havenât topped it up this month yet,â Ivy bluffed nonchalantly, acting as though it was only a matter of time before she could fork out three million dollars with one of her cards, without a hint of panic.