Chapter 4

The old me would have bristled at a line like that from Samuel.

Now, thinking it over, what about him was worth getting angry about.

I didn't even lift my head. My voice stayed flat.

"Whatever makes you happy."

Seeing how calm I was, Samuel's face darkened, his eyes full of displeasure.

Then his gaze dropped to the watch on my wrist, and a nasty smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"So the new Head of Surgery has money to burn. Nice watch you bought yourself."

"Good watch. Give it to me."

Then, in a tone like an order, he said to me,

"Take it off. It's mine now."

I calmly slid the watch off and handed it over.

He studied it for a while, still not satisfied, and called a staff member over.

"Bring me your VIP menu. I want to add more dishes."

The staff member flattered him as he passed Samuel the menu.

Samuel went straight for the priciest items, his voice easy.

"A bowl of aged fish-maw soup for everyone."

"One steamed wild grouper each."

"Bring out all the broth-stuffed yellow croaker you've got."

He finished ordering, satisfied, then threw a taunt my way.

"The invite's in my name, but you're the one paying."

"Doesn't that hurt?"

I took an unhurried spoonful of the seafood bisque, then wiped my mouth.

"Whoever ends up paying is the one who'll be hurting."

Samuel figured I was just talking tough, and his eyes went to the foam cooler beside me.

"There's a big foam cooler over here. Let's see what's inside."

I deliberately stepped in front of him to block his view.

"Samuel, that's not something you should touch."

The way I blocked him only made him more curious. He signaled two of his friends, and they pinned me off to the side.

With everyone watching, he pulled the lid off the cooler.

Inside was a fish, gray-brown with irregular dark markings and a pure white belly.

Someone gasped and suggested,

"That fish has a pretty unusual look. It should taste amazing."

"Why not have the chef stew it up?"

Hearing this, Polly walked over to Samuel and quietly warned him,

"Samuel, there's already so much food, plenty for everyone. Stop ruining your brother-in-law's fish."

Samuel raised an eyebrow at me and gave a scornful snort.

"This is nothing. Me taking a little of his stuff is me doing him a favor. Sis, stay out of it. I'm just curing him of that penny-pinching attitude."

The mother-in-law jumped in too, all arrogance.

"I say Samuel's doing the right thing."

"You can't just keep coddling this man, or he'll walk all over you. He made Head of Surgery and didn't even tell us. Does he still see us as family at all?"

Polly looked at me, opened her mouth, and in the end said nothing.

The mother-in-law and Samuel shot me a smug, taunting smile, triumph all over their faces.

I acted like nothing was wrong and kept sipping my soup.

Someone suggested, practically drooling,

"So how do we cook this fish?"

"Shouldn't we leave it to the head chef?"

Samuel's eyes darted around, and I knew he was cooking up something rotten. Sure enough, he volunteered on the spot.

"I'll cook this fish. Let everyone taste what I can do."

Hearing that, I smiled to myself. Exactly what I wanted.

Behind this fish's pectoral fin was a large black spot rimmed with a pale outline. Anyone who knew fish would recognize it as a tiger pufferfish, one that had to be handled by someone holding a professional chef's certification.

The others went back to their seats. Samuel shooed off all the chefs and went in to prepare the fish himself.

Soon the staff carried out the dishes Samuel had newly ordered, plate after plate.

And the tiger pufferfish Samuel had prepared and cooked himself was set on the table along with them.

Watching this, the friends and relatives in the room started praising Samuel all over again.

"Never knew Samuel was this generous. And he can cook, too, no trouble at all."

Samuel didn't bother with modesty.

"It's nothing. Anytime you want more, just come find me."

I looked at the fish on the table, its liver and intestines still inside, the very parts loaded with deadly poison. They were in for it soon enough.

I hadn't touched a single bite of that pufferfish. I waited until they'd all eaten their fill, a smile playing at my lips.

Samuel patted his belly, let out a burp, and said with all his usual bluster,

"Eric Graves, don't forget to pay for this meal."

The words landed, and the whole group, just about to move their legs, suddenly didn't dare take a step.

Because Melvin Greer had come in with a group of bodyguards and blocked their way out.

"You'd be the first person to try dining and dashing at my Fresh Breeze Grand."