Chapter 5 - The Fifty-Thousand-Dollar Default
A collective gasp swept through the three hundred guests as the realization struck the room like a physical blow.
The "poor girl" the Ashford family had publicly degraded was actually the billionaire owner of Charleston’s most exclusive estate.
The senior waiter took the signed leather folder back, his respectful smile instantly hardening into a cold, professional mask as he turned his attention toward Nathan and Graham Ashford.
"Mr. Ashford," the senior waiter announced loudly, "your corporate booking deposit check of twenty-five thousand dollars was returned by the bank twenty minutes ago due to insufficient funds."
Vivian’s face turned paper-white. "Insufficient funds?! That's impossible! We are the Ashford family!"
"Furthermore," the waiter continued, pulling out a secondary legal notice, "because you violated Section 12 of the venue's guest dignity agreement by mistreating the estate owner on the premises, your commercial lease is terminated effective immediately."
Graham Ashford stood up from Table One, his silver hair disheveled as he looked at his son in pure terror. "Nathan! What did you do with the venue deposit money?!"
Nathan stammered, backing away as guests pulled out their smartphones, filming every second of his public downfall.
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He had secretly used the twenty-five thousand dollars to buy a luxury sports car to flex his fake wealth to his business partners.
👉 Read Part 6 to see the arrival of the local sheriff and venue security.
