Chapter 192: Is it A Scam? (Bonus - )
Catharine saved her final reports, shut down her computer, and grabbed her leather purse. The clock on the wall read exactly 4:15 PM. For the first time in days, she was actually leaving the office while the sun was still up.
As she took the elevator down to the parking garage, her mind drifted away from work. Her little sister, Melissa, was on the afternoon bus from their home village. Melissa was in her final year of high school, with her final matric exams just a month away. Since the school was on a short mid-term break, Catharine had practically begged her to come to the capital. It was the perfect excuse to get her away from their home—away from the constant shouting matches, the heavy smell of cheap beer, and the empty cupboards left by their father’s nonstop gambling benders.
In the basement parkade, Catharine pulled out the heavy metallic key fob Jake had left on the kitchen counter that morning.
She pressed the unlock button, and the Audi RS 6 flashed its sharp LED headlights against the concrete wall. When she pushed the start button, the twin-turbo V8 engine came to life with a deep, low growl that she could feel right through the soles of her shoes.
The central bus station was a loud, chaotic mess of exhaust fumes, honking horns, and crowds of people pushing past each other.
Standing right by the main iron exit gate, gripping a faded denim duffel bag with both hands, was seventeen-year-old Melissa. Her eyes were wide, darting nervously between the giant flashing digital billboards and the rushing waves of city commuters. She looked terrified, trying her best to put on a brave face.
"Mel!" Catharine shouted, waving her arm as she pushed through the crowd.
Melissa’s head snapped toward her. The moment she spotted her older sister, all the fear vanished from her face, replaced by a massive, gap-toothed smile. "Cathy!"
She ran forward, almost tripping over her own duffel bag, and threw her arms tightly around Catharine’s neck. Catharine squeezed her back, holding her close and noting with a sudden pang of worry just how light her little sister felt.
"Look at you, you’ve gotten so tall," Catharine smiled, pulling back to look at her and gently patting her dusty cheeks. "Are you hungry? How was the trip?"
"The bus got a flat tire right before the highway junction, so we just sat on the side of the road for an hour," Melissa breathed, still looking around at the towering buildings. "But it’s fine! Cathy, everything here is so huge. Where’s the taxi? Are we walking to the mini-bus lines?"
"No mini-buses today," Catharine smiled, taking the heavy duffel bag from her. "Come on, the car is parked just around the corner."
When they reached the loading zone, Catharine led her to the low, aggressive-looking Audi. Melissa stopped dead in her tracks, her jaw dropping as she stared at the massive wheels and the shiny carbon-fiber trim.
"Cathy... what is that?" Melissa whispered, pointing a trembling finger. "Are we stealing a spaceship?"
"It’s Jake’s car," Catharine laughed, tapping the door sensor. The door swung open smoothly, revealing the spotless black leather seats and the glowing blue strip lights inside. "He told me to take it so you wouldn’t have to drag your bag onto the subway. Get in."
Melissa slid into the passenger seat as if she were sitting on glass, her fingers lightly brushing the soft dashboard. Catharine closed the door, and it pulled itself shut with a soft, expensive thwip sound, completely sealing out the noisy city traffic. When Catharine started the engine and the digital dashboard lit up with colorful gauges, Melissa let out a loud squeak.
"Oh my gosh, it smells like a fancy hotel!" Melissa giggled, instantly bouncing in her seat. She accidentally bumped a button on the side panel, and the seat began to gently pulse against her back. "Wait! Cathy! The chair is biting me! It’s moving!"
Catharine burst out laughing, shifting the car into drive. "It’s just a seat massager, Mel. Calm down and enjoy it."
As they drove through the financial district, Melissa’s face was practically glued to the passenger window, her eyes wide with total innocence.
"Cathy, look at that glass tower! It’s so tall," she gasped, tracking it until her forehead hit the glass. "Do you think our entire village could live in just that one building? I bet the chief would take the top floor."
"Probably," Catharine chuckled.
"And look at that lady over there!" Melissa whispered loudly, pointing at the sidewalk. "She’s pushing a dog in a baby stroller! And the dog is wearing a knitted sweater! Do city dogs not know how to use their legs?"
Catharine shook her head, thoroughly entertained. "Welcome to the capital, Mel. People here have a lot of strange habits."
"And the streetlights!" Melissa continued, completely unfazed. "They’re already on. Does the government not worry about the electricity bill? Back home, the power goes off if a single breeze hits the lines."
Catharine just smiled, a deep warmth filling her chest as she listened to her sister’s endless stream of questions. For the first time in years, Melissa sounded like a normal teenager instead of a girl worrying about family debts.
Instead of going straight to the penthouse, Catharine turned the Audi toward the upscale northern district, pulling up under the grand archway of the Meridian Crown.
The restaurant looked incredibly expensive, with massive glass walls overlooking the river. As they walked inside, a maître d’ in a sharp tuxedo immediately bowed his head, recognizing Catharine on sight.
"Good evening, Ms. Catharine," the manager said politely. "Your table by the terrace is ready. Mr. Rivers left specific instructions to ensure your sister gets the full tasting menu tonight."
Melissa looked around at the sparkling crystal chandeliers, then down at her worn-out sneakers and simple denim jacket. She grabbed Catharine’s sleeve, her face turning pale. "Cathy... we can’t be here. Just looking at the menu will probably cost more than our monthly rent back home. Let’s just find a grocery store."
Catharine put an arm around her sister’s waist, steering her toward a private velvet booth. "Mel, relax. You don’t have to look at the prices. Not tonight. Jake has already taken care of the bill. Whatever you want to eat, just order it."
Melissa’s eyes went completely round as she sank into the soft booth. "He already paid? How can he pay when he doesn’t even know what we’re going to order? Cathy, are you sure we aren’t being scammed? I really don’t want to get arrested for eating rich people’s food on my first day here."
"We aren’t getting scammed, I promise," Catharine smiled warmly, picking up a cloth napkin and placing it on Melissa’s lap. "Everything is taken care of, so just pick whatever looks good."
Within twenty minutes, the waiters began filling their table with plates of seared wagyu beef skewers, rich truffle pasta, and bright fruit drinks topped with real flakes of edible gold leaf. Melissa picked up a beef skewer with trembling fingers, taking a hesitant bite. Her eyes instantly widened as the savory, tender meat practically melted on her tongue.
"Oh my gosh," she whispered, chewing slowly as if it were a religious experience. "This is illegal. Food shouldn’t taste this good."
When the chocolate dessert arrived later, Melissa took a bite, closed her eyes, and let out a dramatic sigh. "I’m definitely dreaming. If I wake up tomorrow back in the village and hear Dad screaming about his missing poker chips, I think I’ll actually cry."
Catharine’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a serious, protective look. She reached across the table and held Melissa’s hand.
"Bear with it for a little longer, Mel. Just focus on passing your exams next month, and then you’re moving in with me. We’ll look at university applications right here in the capital. You’re going to be free, too."
Melissa looked up, her eyes suddenly bright with tears. She squeezed Catharine’s hand back, her playful mood softening into deep gratitude. "Thank you, Cathy. For everything."
"Alright, enough of the heavy stuff, eat your dessert," Catharine teased gently, using a napkin to wipe a bit of chocolate from Melissa’s lip. "Tomorrow, Jake is joining us for lunch, and he said you get to choose exactly where we go."
Melissa’s sad look vanished instantly, replaced by a mischievous grin. She leaned over the table, wiggling her eyebrows. "So... this Jake guy. He has a spaceship car, and he pays for food before we even eat it. Cathy, is he secretly an eighty-year-old businessman with a bald spot?"
Catharine’s cheeks immediately flushed a deep pink. "Melissa! Shut up and eat your cake!"
"I’m just saying!" Melissa laughed, dodging as Catharine playfully reached across the table to pinch her arm. "You’re blushing! Is he handsome? How did you even land a guy like that? Did you use your scary corporate boss voice on him?"
"One more word out of you," Catharine scolded, trying and failing to hide her massive smile, "and I’m going to make you wash the dishes in the back. Eat your chocolate!"
"I’ll be quiet!" Melissa giggled, taking another huge forkful of cake. "But I’m picking a really expensive lunch spot tomorrow. He can afford it!"
---