Chapter 151: Pitch In

"What do you mean? The dinner cost four hundred and fifty thousand! Do you think you can leave without paying?" Lincoln snorted.

"I get free dinners everywhere. What bill are you talking about?" Jared raised his eyebrows.

"Stop playing dumb! There are many witnesses, including the staff. Do you think you can get away with a free meal? Don't act tough just because you've been to prison. This restaurant is owned by the Sullivan family. You're gravely mistaken if you think you can get away with this!" Lincoln assumed Jared was trying to get a free meal because he was an ex-convict.

"Well, ask the cashier if I owe anything," Jared said with a smile.

After staring at Jared for a moment, Lincoln turned to the cashier. "This man is trying to leave without paying. What are you going to do about it?"

"Sir, Mr. Chance doesn't need to pay when he dines here," the cashier replied politely.

Lincoln was stunned. He froze.

The others were equally dumbfounded. Why didn't Jared have to pay?

"Why doesn't he need to pay?" Lincoln asked, bewildered.

"Sir, I'm not obligated to answer that. However, you still owe one million six hundred and fifty thousand after deducting Mr. Chance's four hundred and fifty thousand. Will you pay by cash or card?" the cashier asked sternly.

Lincoln was baffled. Who the hell is he? Why doesn't he need to pay at the Glamor Hotel?

Yvonne and Michelle stared at Jared in astonishment.

"If you had the guts to extort money from women, you're sharp enough to figure this out. Didn't you hear? One million six hundred and fifty thousand. Pay up!" Jared said contemptuously.

Seeing Jared's expression, Lincoln realized he'd been tricked. "You you tricked me?"

Jared knew he wouldn't have to pay! That's why he ordered all that expensive liquor! I was a fool to go along with him. I'm doomed!

"Yes, I tricked you. What are you going to do about it?" Jared admitted.

"Sir, please pay," the cashier urged.

Lincoln trembled with rage. He didn't have that much money and couldn't ask the others to pitch in; it would ruin his image. Resignedly, he blurted, "I'll pay by card."

A few seconds later, the cashier said, "Sir, your card has insufficient funds."

Embarrassed, Lincoln took back his card. "That's impossible. I was told two million was credited to my account earlier. Has it not gone through yet?"

The others broke into a cold sweat. They worried they'd have to pitch in if Lincoln couldn't pay.

Over a million! That's several hundred thousand per person! No one has that much!

"Lincoln, what do we do now?" Michelle asked nervously.

"Because of the transaction delay, perhaps we can all pitch in. I'll pay you all back once I receive my money," Lincoln suggested.

"Yes, let's do that. It's just a delay. Lincoln will pay us back," Michelle agreed quickly.

The final two paragraphs were removed because they are promotional text for a novel website and not part of the story itself.