I knew Janet was only a manager. The actual owner of Harborview House was someone else entirely.
Anyone capable of running a place this size wouldn't operate like this.
Janet heard me and let out a cold laugh.
"Ms. Dickerson, who do you think you are? Our owner doesn't come when someone like you snaps her fingers."
"I'm the manager of this restaurant—anything happens, that's on me!"
"What are you all standing around for?"
"Move! Now!"
Janet turned to the security guards behind her and barked, "I don't care how you do it. Get those watches off their wrists!"
The moment she finished, the guards had no choice. They started toward me.
Watching this unfold, I was so furious my face had gone pale.
They weren't even bothering to pretend anymore.
"Stop! I'll pay. Let my clients go first!"
I shouted, and at the same time glanced past the private room door.
The police still hadn't arrived.
I had to pay first—keep my clients safe now, sort the rest out after. The payment record would exist. They couldn't wriggle out of that.
The second I relented, a smug look spread across Janet's face.
"See, Lucille? Would it have killed you to just pay up from the start?"