My Husband Is a Million Years Old Vampire-Chapter 109

At that moment The murmurs around the table grew heavier as the tension in the air thickened. Everyone’s gaze was locked onto Valentina, their expressions was a mixture of curiosity and unease. They were trying to understand what was going on, why she was so adamant about proving her point.

From their perspective, the price they saw on their menus was exactly what had been calculated on the bill.

There was no discrepancy, no sudden change in figures. So why was Valentina reacting like this? Was she truly incapable of paying, or was there something else at play?

More Whispers spread across the room. Some of the employees exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of their director’s reaction. They couldn’t outright question her, not when she was the highest authority in the company, but the doubt was clear in their eyes.

At that moment, the two managers, Hudson and Camille, exchanged a knowing glance before stepping closer to Valentina.

Their voices were low, careful not to make the situation worse.

"Director Valentina," Hudson whispered, his tone calm yet firm, "the workers are starting to get anxious. This... this doesn’t look good, please let’s give a solution immediately."

Camille nodded slightly, her expression unreadable. "We should resolve this quickly before it becomes a bigger issue."

Hudson and Camille exchanged a quick glance, their eyes reflecting both concern and frustration. They had been watching the situation escalate, and now it was reaching a point where the tension could no longer be ignored.

"Director Valentina," Hudson spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying enough weight to get his point across.

"They’re watching you. You’re supposed to be their role model, someone they respect. If this drags on any longer, it won’t just be about a dinner bill—it’ll be about your credibility now." freeweɓnøvel.com

Camille nodded in agreement. "This could easily turn into something bigger. We all saw the menu. The prices match the bill. Whether there was a mistake or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. Pay it, and we walk out of here with our dignity intact."

Hearing what both of them were saying Valentina’s jaw clenched. Every part of her wanted to argue, to stand her ground and refuse to be played for a fool. But the weight of their words sank in. If this made headlines—Sterling Design’s Director Refuses to Pay for a Meal—it would be a disaster.

At that moment she exhaled sharply, her fingers tightening around the napkin in her lap. Then, without another word, she reached for her purse.

The weight of the situation pressed down on Valentina like a stone. The murmurs from her employees, the scrutinizing glances, the impatience in the air—it was all suffocating now. This wasn’t how she envisioned her first day at Sterling Design.

Hudson and Camille had made their point clear.

If she didn’t end this now, the consequences would stretch far beyond a simple dinner bill.

If word reached her father-in-law about this, the disappointment in his eyes would cut deeper than any scandal. He had placed trust in her, given her the opportunity to lead, and she wasn’t about to let something as trivial as this ruin everything.

Then she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before nodding.

"Fine. I’ll pay."

Immediately Relief washed over the table as the tension dissipated slightly.

The staff members who had been quietly observing exchanged glances, some looking satisfied, others simply moving on from the issue.

But just as Valentina reached into her purse, a realization hit her.

Her fingers stiffened over the leather strap, and her expression hardened.

She didn’t have that kind of money on her.

At that moment Valentina’s fingers trembled slightly as she tightened her grip on her purse.

Then her mind raced. She still had money—of course, she did. The $200,000 she had set aside was untouched. But standing here, caught in this moment of humiliation, she found herself frozen.

She had agreed to pay, yet now, reality struck. She doesn’t have that kind of money with her.

A tense silence lingered in the air as she hesitated, and that was when Camille’s eyes flickered with sudden realization.

’Could it be? Could it be that Valentina didn’t have the money to pay?’ The pieces fit together too perfectly. The stubbornness, the insistence that the prices had changed, the way she had refused to back down until this very moment—it all pointed to one thing, Valentina couldn’t afford to pay.’

At that moment Camille’s lips curled into a slow smirk, though she quickly masked it. Hudson glanced at her, as if coming to the same conclusion, and the look they exchanged spoke volumes.

It explained everything, She didn’t have the money.

They knew If she had the money, she would have paid by now. That much was clear.

Camille leaned closer to Hudson, whispering just loud enough for him to catch her words.

Immediately his eyes flickered with understanding, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Again they exchanged a glance.

This was an opportunity. A perfect one.

They knew the restaurant wouldn’t let them leave without settling the bill. They also knew that there was only one way Valentina could pay if she truly didn’t have the money on her.

And they were going to make her take that option.

Camille turned back toward Valentina, lowering her voice just enough to feign concern.

"Director, could it be you have another issue, or maybe you didn’t bring your right card with you. If that is the problem there’s an easy solution."

She leaned in slightly.

"Why not just pay from the company’s account first?"

Hudson nodded in agreement, his expression carefully neutral.

"Yes, Sterling Design handles expenses like this all the time. Just make the payment now, and you can settle it personally later. No need for unnecessary trouble again."

Their words were laced with artificial reason, but Valentina saw the trap for what it was.

Then, later, maybe tomorrow or the day after, she could refund it back—at least, that was the reasoning Camille and Hudson were trying to push onto her.

Valentina clenched her fists under the table. She understood their so-called "concern," but she wasn’t a fool. She saw right through them.

She would never—under any circumstances—dip her hand into Sterling Design’s funds for something like this.

"Never."

Lifting her chin, she kept her tone even.

"There’s no need for that," she said firmly.

"I just need to make a phone call."

Without waiting for a response, she stepped away from the table, putting distance between herself and the watching eyes. She exhaled, trying to steady her emotions, before pulling out her phone.

There was only one person she could call.

And he was the last person she wanted to call.

"Raymond."