CHAPTER 2: THE MANAGER'S REVELATION
Fifteen minutes passed.
The laughter had vanished.
The expensive restaurant suddenly felt much quieter.
Don Roberto checked his watch.
Alejandro drummed his fingers against the table.
Victoria forced a smile.
“Well? What’s taking so long?”
Mariana calmly sipped her water.
“You’ll see.”
Then the restaurant manager appeared.
Not alone.
Two security officers followed behind him.
The manager stopped beside the table and looked directly at Don Roberto.
“Mr. Mendoza?”
Don Roberto smiled confidently.
“Yes. We're ready to settle the bill.”
The manager nodded.
“Actually, sir, there is a problem.”
The smile faded.
“What problem?”
The manager opened a folder.
“The reservation was made under special authorization.”
Nobody understood.
Victoria frowned.
“What does that mean?”
The manager turned toward Mariana.
“Miss Mariana Mendoza, would you like me to proceed?”
Mariana nodded once.
“Please.”
The manager faced the family.
“Three weeks ago, Miss Mendoza contacted restaurant management and informed us there was a possibility her family intended to pressure her into paying for an expensive dinner under false pretenses.”
Silence.
Alejandro sat up.
“What?”
The manager continued.
“She requested that every order, every conversation with staff, and every payment request be documented.”
The family stared at Mariana.
Don Roberto's face darkened.
“You planned this?”
“No,” Mariana said calmly. “I prepared for it.”
The manager pulled out several papers.
“We also recorded who ordered each item.”
His finger moved down the list.
“Three bottles of reserve wine ordered by Mr. Roberto Mendoza.”
Don Roberto swallowed.
“Extra lobster ordered by Alejandro Mendoza.”
Alejandro's confidence vanished.
“Imported caviar requested by Victoria Mendoza.”
Victoria looked horrified.
“Premium cocktails ordered by six additional family members.”
The manager closed the folder.
“Therefore, according to restaurant policy, each person is responsible for the items they personally ordered.”
The table erupted.
“That’s ridiculous!”
“You can’t do that!”
“Yes, we can,” the manager replied calmly.
Then he delivered the final blow.
“And because Miss Mendoza informed us beforehand, no charges were ever assigned to her.”
The room froze.
Not one peso.
Not one cent.
Mariana wasn't paying anything.