Johanna pressed the switch, and suddenly the light went out. “No electricity, what’s happening?” Erica shouted after the surroundings darkened.
Johanna was surprised and pressed the switch again before the light came back on. She felt embarrassed and saw Victoria laughing. “Victoria! Are you doing this on purpose?” she angrily asked.
Victoria shook her head, “Little princess, why would I do that?” She innocently asked, smiling.
“Madam, how could Victoria do that on purpose when she doesn’t know anything about this place,” Kc said.
‘Why does Victoria seem to know something?’ Johanna wondered.
Victoria smiled before taking the small remote from the basket, “Little princess, do you know what this is for?” she curiously asked.
Johanna didn’t immediately respond but thought, ‘This person might be up to something again, I need to think,’ she looked at Victoria without answering.
“What’s up, Victoria, that’s the remote for the air conditioner, that’s what my remote at home looks like,” Erica sneered.
“Yes, that’s right, that’s also how my air conditioner remote looks like at home,” Kc added.
Victoria looked at Johanna, “Little princess?” she said with a smile.
Due to the confirmations of Erica and Kc that the remote Victoria held was indeed for the air conditioner, she spoke with confidence, “Victoria, since there’s no air conditioner in the mountains, it’s your first time seeing this kind of remote.”
Victoria grinned, “little princess, are you sure about your answer?” she cryptically said.
Johanna wasn’t sure, so she looked at Erica and Kc, seeing their confident expressions, she trusted, “Victoria, are you trying to deceive me? Do you think I’m from the mountains and have never seen the world?” she said sharply.
Victoria didn’t answer but pressed a button on the remote. Everyone looked at the air conditioner, but nothing happened.
Manager Jenn laughed, “Victoria, that remote won’t work unless you point it at the air conditioner.”
“This mountain dweller really doesn’t know about city equipment,” Erica mocked.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Johanna said.
Victoria remained silent and waited.
Kc grinned, “You’re just wasting our time, let’s go and order some food.”
Kc was about to stand up when the door of the room opened, “Hello, I’m here to take your orders,” a polite waiter entered.
Erica was annoyed, “we’ve been hungry for a while. Why isn’t anyone outside”
Kc rolled her eyes, “yeah, shouldn’t you have just waited outside to take our order?”
The waiter smiled, “ma’am, that’s not the policy of our restaurant, it’s only monitored when the room is vacant.”
“Never mind that, why did you come now?” Kc impatiently asked.
The waiter smiled, “you only pressed the remote just now,” he said with a smile.
“What remote, where is it?” Kc asked in confusion.
The waiter looked at Victoria, who signalled not to expose her. The waiter understood, “the remote that ma’am is holding,” he politely said, pointing to Victoria.
“What? Is that the remote? Isn’t that for the air conditioner?” Kc asked.
“Madam Johanna, what’s happening?” Erica asked confusedly.
Johanna paused, ‘how would I have known that was not the air conditioner remote!’ she smiled awkwardly before walking towards Victoria, “oh yes, this is the order remote, sorry, my mind is a bit confused.”
“I knew madam has been stressed lately! Let’s eat to ease her mind,” Kc interjected.
“Waiter, here’s our order,” Manager Jen said before handing the orders to the waiter.
Kc looked at Victoria and grinned, “Victoria, what food will you order? Don’t tell me you’re just going to order water?” She taunted.
Erica laughed, “maybe she can’t even afford water here.”
“As usual,” Victoria calmly said to the waiter.
The waiter nodded before leaving.
Kc laughed, “You’re really good at pretending, Victoria, ‘As usual’? Do you think of yourself as a big shot regular customer here?” she teased.
Victoria did not speak, but leaned back in her chair and sat elegantly. The casual manner in which Victoria carried herself made her appear affluent yet unattainable. Manager Jen was surprised and began to doubt if she was being deceived. After all, both Victoria and Johanna shared the same last name, Casella, but Victoria seemed more dignified and elegant, with the added observation that Victoria now seemed almost regular in this place compared to the foolishness Johanna displayed.
Manager Jen was familiar with such posturing as she often interacted with high-profile individuals, and only those with significant backgrounds could exude such an air. However, she felt this distinctly with Victoria and not with Johanna. ‘Could I have made a mistake?’ she wondered. ‘Well, I’ll just be cautious until I can confirm,’ she thought before taking a deep breath and quietly waiting.
Johanna sat sadly, feeling embarrassed and exposed. Erica and Kc tried to comfort her, trying to hide their amusement at her long face. Shortly after, three waiters entered, pushing carts laden with food. “Hmm… the aroma is delightful,” remarked Erica, feeling tempted.
“The scent is so appetizing even before the dishes are served,” added Kc.
The food was placed in front of the four before the waiters left the room. They noticed that no food was served to Victoria.
Kc grinned, “Is this the ‘as usual’ you ordered? Air?” she chuckled.
“I told you, Victoria can’t even order a glass of water,” Erica teased.
Johanna smiled teasingly, “Victoria, if you’d like to eat, don’t hesitate. Wait for our leftovers.”
Victoria retorted with a sly smile, “No thanks, little princess. First, make sure you have enough money later to pay. Don’t mind me.”
A surge of electricity seemed to flow through Johanna as she realized she was over $100, 000 short in her wallet, contemplating where she would find the money.
Erica laughed, “What are you talking about? The meals here are just spare change for madam. Why would you think whether she can pay or not?”
Victoria shrugged and did not respond.
The door opened again, and two waiters entered, pushing covered dishes alongside an elderly man. Everyone looked up, and Manager Jen recognized the man. “This is Manager Felix, the one who manages this restaurant,” Manager Jen said in surprise.
Although they both held the title of manager, Manager Felix far surpassed Manager Jen in power, wealth, and influence. Manager Felix oversaw a high-end restaurant, whereas Manager Jen managed only a small department.
Manager Jen stood up and greeted, “Hello, Manager Felix.”
Felix ignored her and went straight to Victoria, “Mistress, you didn’t inform me of your arrival; otherwise, we would have prepared early,” he said politely.
“We don’t need to be grandiose. I just accompanied my colleagues,” Victoria calmly replied.
Manager Jen’s suspicion grew stronger after witnessing the casual conversation between Victoria and Manager Felix. ‘If Johanna were Lucas’s true wife, Felix would have greeted her, but he didn’t even spare her a glance and courteously addressed Victoria,’ she thought, swallowing hard, realizing she had made a huge mistake.
Felix nodded before signaling for Victoria’s food to be served, “Mistress, here are your favorites.” As the covered dishes were unveiled, the three were stunned.
Manager Jen began to sweat, despite the room being cool; now she was certain of her earlier assumptions. Three premium and top dishes of the restaurant were placed in front of Victoria.
“Manager Felix, have you made a mistake? That person is just a country bumpkin,” remarked Erica after being amazed.
“Manager Felix, if you have a premium dish to serve, it should be for the chairman of the Luca Group’s wife,” Kc said, pointing at Johanna.
Johanna, mesmerized by what she saw, regained her composure and awkwardly smiled, “Manager Felix, hello,” she said shyly.
Manager Felix gave her a sharp look, “What are you saying? I don’t know her. If you disrespect the Mistress, I will drag you out of the restaurant!” he angrily stated.
Erica and Kc were taken aback by Felix’s coldness towards them. Johanna turned pale, regretting using the chairman’s wife’s identity.
Victoria spoke, “Manager Felix, don’t you recognize the chairman’s wife?” She said with a smile but conveying a different meaning.
Manager Felix was puzzled, but after a meaningful look from Victoria, he seemed to understand, “Ah, it’s you. I’m sorry; I didn’t recognize Mrs. De Luca.”
‘What’s happening?’ Johanna wondered. But now that it was here, she would just go along. “It’s okay,” she smiled awkwardly.
“Oh, I’ll excuse myself for now,” Manager Felix said before respectfully nodding at Victoria and leaving with the others.
“I do not know what your relationship is with Manager Felix, but can you afford those? Even if he gives you a discount, you will still have to pay over $100, 000,” Erica grinned.
Victoria ignored her but looked at the tableware in front of her. When Kc saw Victoria looking at the tableware, she tapped Erica and said, “Let’s watch a show, bring out your cellphone quickly, let’s record how a country bumpkin uses tableware.”
Erica seemed to have gotten the idea and smiled before taking out her cellphone and recording, capturing how Victoria would be embarrassed. Johanna, who had been embarrassed earlier, also looked at Victoria with a wicked smile, waiting for Victoria to make a mistake. Only Manager Jen remained silent. If all her calculations were correct, Victoria would be able to pull it off smoothly.
Victoria began to move her hands and started eating, causing the smiles of the three to widen.”