Chapter 3

With that, I walked straight to the front door and hung up the sign: "Private Event Today. Closed to the Public."

Then I went to the kitchen and told the head chef and his crew,

"My sister-in-law has booked the whole place today. Every dish goes out exactly the way she wants it. Bring out the Australian lobster, the abalone, the king crab, the seafood stew."

"For drinks, top-shelf liquor only. Load up every table. Don't hold back."

The head chef paused, then lowered his voice.

"Boss, your sister-in-law's not going to pay this time either. If we really do it her way, we'll lose a fortune."

I gave him a faint smile.

"It's fine."

"Just do it."

Seeing how firm I was, he didn't ask anything else. He turned and went to set up the prep.

Soon the kitchen was in full swing, the clatter of woks and the chop of knives rising in waves.

The rich smell of it drifted through the whole restaurant.

Out in the dining hall, meanwhile, everyone was heaping praise on Bernice, my brother, and my mother.

"Bernice, you're really something. Treating everyone every other day. I've never met anyone more generous than you."

"I envy Jim, getting a wife this capable. Walk out with her on your arm and you'd hold your head high."

"Isabel must have done something right in a past life, landing a daughter-in-law as impressive as Bernice. Look at this, throwing a birthday party for over a hundred people, renting out the whole place. Who else could pull off a spread like this?"

Under all the flattery, Bernice's mouth curled up high, her whole face smug.

My brother and my mother just smiled and said nothing, but they couldn't hide the pride and satisfaction in their eyes.

Soon the heavy dishes started coming out.

Australian lobster, braised abalone with sea cucumber, seafood stew, king crab sashimi, every plate exquisitely arranged, clearly worth a small fortune.

The top-shelf liquor came in case after case, the servers setting a bottle on every table.

Bernice's friends stared, wide-eyed, at the expensive food and drink.

"Oh my God, they're really bringing out all this good food and liquor? Bernice, you're incredible."

"Quick, take a picture for social media. Most people never eat like this their whole lives."

"I hereby declare Bernice my god, forever!"

The relatives chimed in with their own flattery.

"Heavens, abalone, king crab, top-shelf liquor. I've only ever seen this stuff on TV. Never thought I'd get to taste it myself in this lifetime."

"People always said if you run with Bernice you eat well and drink well. Turns out it's true."

"So young and already this generous and capable. She's going places, mark my words."

"Jim, Isabel, you two are truly blessed."

My brother and mother beamed so wide they couldn't close their mouths.

Bernice, delighted, stood up with a glass in hand and announced grandly,

"Everyone, eat all you want, drink all you want. If it's not enough, order more."

"Everything's on me today. Don't be shy!"

The moment she finished, the room broke into cheers.

Glasses went up all around as they toasted her.

"Come on, come on, let's all drink to the birthday girl. May she get prettier and richer every single year!"

Bathed in all the blessings and flattery, Bernice felt a satisfaction like never before.

She thumped her chest and declared to the whole crowd,

"From now on, whenever you want to eat out, come to this restaurant. Just drop my name, Bernice Fox, and put it all on my tab. You won't pay a cent."

At that, every face lit up, and they crowded around her with another round of praise.

"Bernice, you're a boss!"

"From now on we're running with Bernice!"

Line after line, until the corners of her mouth were hitched up high.

Riding the endless flattery, Bernice sauntered over to the front counter and taunted me in a low voice.

"Althea, don't you love money? Aren't you the one who counts every penny?"

"Today I'm going to spend this place dry, so you learn what happens when you cross me."