These were people I'd worked with for years. Most of them knew exactly what I was worth. A two-hundred-thousand bill was nothing to me, and they knew it.
They believed me. Simple as that.
A flicker of surprise crossed Janet's face as she looked at the clients.
Not one of them had moved. Not one had even glanced her way. They just sat there, untouched by everything she'd thrown at them, and something behind Janet's eyes went tight.
"Janet, if that's all you've got, don't bother."
I looked at her, my voice cool and flat. "These are my clients, and they trust me."
"They're not going to take your word over mine."
"And your restaurant has surveillance cameras."
"I want to see the footage—prove this supposed mother-in-law of mine even knows me."
"You said she's been here with me multiple times. Show me."
The moment those words left my mouth, Janet's expression shifted visibly.
I could see it in her face—she was the nervous one now.
Then her face darkened, and she fixed her eyes on me. "Ms. Dickerson, you obviously already know our cameras have been down recently."
"That's why you're so confident."
"Besides, I trusted you. When your mother-in-law came in, she said you'd come pay the bill."