Chapter 2 - The Bill on the TableMargaret Tran let out a high-pitched, offended shriek, jumping out of her chair so fast her jade necklace clattered against her glass.
"WHAT?!" Margaret screamed, pointing her manicured finger at my face. "Thirty-two million dong?! Are you out of your mind, Emily?! I gave you one million dong! That is more than enough for a few crabs at the local market!"
"Five kilos of certified Live Red King Crab costs six million, five hundred thousand dong per kilo, Margaret," I explained calmly, my voice steady as mountain ice. "One million dong wouldn't even cover the dry ice used to ship the legs."
Daniel’s face flushed a deep, ugly red as he looked around at his thirty relatives, who were beginning to whisper frantically among themselves.
"Emily, shut up!" Daniel hissed, taking two fast steps toward me, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Stop embarrassing us in front of my family! You bought the expensive ones on purpose just to cause drama! Take the crates into the kitchen and cook them!"
"I'm not cooking anything, Daniel," I replied deadpan.
The delivery lead stepped firmly between Daniel and me, his broad frame blocking my husband completely.
"Sir," the delivery lead announced sharply, holding up his official Ocean Crown terminal. "This delivery was dispatched under an emergency commercial order. The payment must be cleared immediately upon delivery, or the shipment will be repossessed under corporate protocol."
Daniel scoffed, pulling his leather wallet from his jacket with arrogant flair. "Fine! I'll pay for it! It's just thirty-two million! I'll use my corporate card from Vance Logistics!"
He slapped his black corporate Visa card onto the delivery terminal.
BEEP. BEEP.
A harsh, crimson light flashed across the terminal screen, accompanied by a sharp, electronic rejection chime.
DECLINED: ACCOUNT FROZEN / FRAUD HOLD.
Daniel stared at the red screen, his jaw sagging open in utter disbelief. "What?! Declined?! That's impossible! Try it again!"
The driver swiped the card a second time.
BEEP. BEEP.
DECLINED: AUTHORIZATION REVOKED BY ISSUING TRUST.
Margaret gasped, her face draining of color. "Daniel! What is happening?! Why is your card declined?!"
I reached into my blazer pocket, pulling out a small black remote control, pressing the central button.
On the massive, sixty-five-inch digital television mounted above the fireplace—which Daniel usually used to play golf matches—the screen flickered to life.
May you like
The room went dead, breathlessly silent.
Displayed across the high-definition display was a certified corporate audit filing from Ocean Crown Seafood Co., Ltd., alongside a federal indictment notice issued by the Ho Chi Minh City Commercial Court.
Related Stories
