Chapter 16: Show Off
The three of them gathered at their favorite place for cheese hotpot, the Hearthstone.
Meredith loved cheese hotpot. She grew up in Auroraville, and she just adored the piping hot cheese hotpot.
She was an orphan, and she almost started to doubt if she was actually Swiss, only abandoned by her parents, or abducted by traffickers before ending up at the orphanage.
Justin arrived first, in the same private room.
When Meredith arrived and walked directly towards the room, she sighed in relief upon entering, “Finally, a good meal for today. You have no idea, ever since I got promoted, this is the first day I can get off on time.”
Justin chuckled, “Then you can feast today. What do you do now then? Is the work still manageable for you?”
“Secretary Office,” Meredith replied. “As long as I don’t have to accompany my boss for business dinners, it’s not too busy. And Fiona? Has she mentioned when she’ll be here?”
“She should be arriving soon.” Justin poured tea for Meredith affectionately and asked, “What’s going on between you two? You usually call her yourself, now you’re letting me do everything. Are you two having a disagreement?”
“Not really,” said Meredith, resting her chin on her hand. “Ever since Fiona got a boyfriend, the other day I asked her some questions about him, and she got upset for no reason.”
“I’ll ask her later,” Justin suggested. “You go ahead and order something you like.”
As they chatted, the door to the private room opened, and in came Fiona, dressed head to toe in designer labels, sunglasses on her face, and carrying a limited edition LV bag.
She looked completely nouveau riche, a stark contrast to the previously modest Fiona they knew.
Taking off her sunglasses, Fiona exclaimed, “Justin, Meredith, can’t you recognize me? You look surprised.”
Meredith and Justin were indeed surprised. Was this the same Fiona they knew?
“Fiona, you’re finally here. I’m starving,” Meredith said. “I’ve ordered for myself, but do you want anything else?”
“It’s fine, just order for yourselves,” Fiona said, striking a pose, acting all pretentious. Before sitting down, she even wiped the chair with a tissue, displaying a look of disdain in her eyes.
This wasn’t the Fiona they knew. Every time she came for cheese hotpot, she was always the most enthusiastic, not this condescending version.
Ever since she entered, Fiona seemed extremely uncomfortable.
Meredith was working in a company, and Justin was a lawyer. They both had observed quite a lot of people. They could easily see through Fiona’s facade.
Without saying anything, they placed their orders. Meredith gestured for Justin to ask about Fiona’s boyfriend.
Coughing lightly, Justin asked, “Fiona, we heard you have a boyfriend now. Do you want to introduce him and we have dinner together?”
“He’s busy. Maybe another time,” Fiona replied with the same excuse.
“He must be really busy if he doesn’t even have time for a meal,” Meredith couldn’t help but comment. “Fiona, we just care about you.”
“I’ve told you, Meredith, my boyfriend runs a company. He’s truly busy,” Fiona said firmly. “He treats me well. Look, this bag cost forty-eight thousand. It’s a gift from him.”
Her words were filled with boasting vanity.
Ever since Fiona arrived, she couldn’t stop flaunting.
From her necklace to her bracelet, from her jewelry to her designer clothes, from head to toe, she was decked out in expensive items.
Meredith noticed the LV bag, the same one she had delivered to her boss’s girlfriend today. She was surprised, “He gave this to you?”
“Yes,” Fiona bragged, “He gave me a premium card, allowing me to buy whatever I want. This bag is said to be limited edition, one of only fifteen in the world. Is there any doubt? Meredith, don’t worry. I’ve found a good man, and I’ll be happy in the future.”
Fiona was getting impatient.
Meredith wanted to say something else, but Justin tugged at her clothes under the table, signaling her to stop.
Meredith kept quiet.
Soon, the dishes were served. Meredith and Justin raised their glasses, “Fiona, forgive my chatter. I was worried about you. Since you now look so happy, I think I should feel at ease. Here’s to you, congratulations on finding such a good man.”
Justin added, “Congratulations.”
Fiona raised her glass, “Thank you.”
Former good friends, now distant in their tone of voice.
Throughout the meal, Fiona didn’t eat at all, only occasionally taking a sip of water. Meredith asked her, “Fiona, why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not very hungry. You guys go ahead,” Fiona replied. These dishes couldn’t compare to her imported salmons and steaks anymore.
At that moment, a server came through the door and accidentally spilled a few drops of the soup onto Fiona’s LV bag.
Fiona screamed, “My bag! What’s wrong with you? This is a forty-eight thousand limited edition bag. Are you blind?”