Chapter 4

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks.

Wesley froze for a moment, then followed the finance manager.

A few minutes later, he returned and waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, everyone. We've just been eating too well over the past two weeks, so the system flagged our expenses for exceeding the budget.

"I took a quick look. All the receipts are legitimate restaurant expenses. I've already signed off on them as normal departmental spending. I will take full responsibility, so everyone can keep eating whatever they want without worrying."

Joyce let out a relieved sigh. "See? I told you Wesley always knows what he is doing."

My coworkers nodded along.

I sat at my desk without saying a word. That had not been a routine approval at all. It was a second authorization required for expenses that exceeded the usual limit.

The following day was payday.

Wesley sent a message in the company group chat and tagged everyone.

[To celebrate successfully passing my probation period, I'm taking everyone to the upscale restaurant we've been ordering takeout from. Tonight, we're going all out! They have even more premium beef, sea urchin, and deep-sea king crab. Eat as much as you want!]

The group chat immediately burst into excitement. Everyone rushed to send messages of thanks.

[Thanks, Wesley! You are the man!]

[Wesley is so generous!]

Someone deliberately tagged me.

[Good thing we didn't let a certain someone handle our meal orders. Otherwise, we'd never be enjoying the good life we've now!]

I stared at the screen and ignored them.

Joyce walked over to my desk and said impatiently, "You're coming tonight, too. I'll pay for your meal. Consider it charity."

I looked up at her.

She glanced at me with a superior expression. "We've broken up, but I don't want you to say that I've never let you enjoy a decent meal. You're always walking around the office with that miserable look on your face."

Wesley came over and casually draped an arm around Joyce's shoulders. "Exactly, Griffin. Eat too much of that cheap, 30-dollar meat and you'll end up with cancer. Joyce is being generous today, so be grateful and come enjoy some decent food with us."

I glanced at the calendar and suddenly smiled. "Fine. I'll go."

Joyce raised an eyebrow. "At least you know what's good for you."

"But I'll pay for my own meal. I don't need your charity."

It was payday, after all. I wanted to see with my own eyes how they would manage to swallow this particular meal.

…

That evening, everyone arrived at the restaurant.

Wesley greeted the owner like an old friend, then pointed out the expensive dishes on the menu.

"This is top-tier beef. That is air-flown sea urchin. Order whatever you like, everyone. Don't hold back!"

My coworkers stared at the menu, dazzled by the choices. They looked ready to order practically everything on it.

Once everyone had finished ordering, Wesley pulled a document out of his bag and slapped it onto the table.

"Don't worry about the price. The owner told me that if we sign a one-year catering contract with him, tonight's meal is on the house. From now on, everyone can even celebrate their birthdays here for free!"

My coworkers immediately grew excited.

"Sign it! Of course, we'll sign!"

"Wesley, you're incredible! You even managed to negotiate a deal with the owner!"

"From now on, this will be our department's regular restaurant!"

A server brought over a group catering agreement, and my coworkers scrambled to sign it.

I sat in the corner without even glancing at the contract. Instead, I opened the food delivery app on my phone and ordered the cheapest meal on the menu for 29 dollars.

Joyce noticed what I was doing and burst out laughing.

"You're at a high-end restaurant and still ordered a discounted meal? Are you not embarrassed?

"Wesley is treating everyone to dinner, and none of us even has to pay out of pocket. Yet you insist on spending your own money on the cheapest thing available. You really have no class."

My coworkers stuffed their mouths with sashimi while shooting me undisguised looks of contempt.

"Thanks to Wesley, this hardly feels like work anymore! It is like getting paid to eat at Michelin-starred restaurants!"

Joyce picked up a piece of beef for Wesley and chimed in with a giggle, "Follow Wesley and you will always have something good to eat… Unlike certain men who are destined to be poor for the rest of their lives."

"Tell me about it! We used to get tired of our lunch boxes and have to pay out of pocket to eat at a restaurant. Now the company covers everything, so we can save our salaries!"

"Same here! I reckon I'll be able to save 7,000 dollars this month!"

Wesley grinned smugly. "Me too. Once I get this month's salary, I'm going to a luxury boutique to have a high-end suit made as a reward for myself."

Someone raised a glass. "Everything we save is thanks to Wesley!"

The room erupted in cheers as everyone started planning what they would buy with their paychecks.

Just then, notification sounds began ringing out all around the private dining room. One coworker glanced down at their phone and immediately shouted with excitement.

"Our salaries just came in!"

Everyone hurriedly opened their banking apps.