Chapter 761

Chapter 761

Darien’s smirk deepened as he glanced at Ellie. “$336,000… sure you can handle that?”

Even among trust-fund kids, it was rare for anyone to throw around that kind of money so casually. Both Ryan and Ellie had never been the type to flaunt wealth; their family always believed in keeping a low profile. Unlike most of the business elites, they didn’t enjoy showing off in public, which was why Darien had no clue about Ellie’s real background. In his eyes, Ellie was just another rich girl—decent money, but nothing extraordinary. Sure, she had a nice car, but even that wasn’t particularly impressive by his standards.

What irked him most was her frugal tab—always keeping it under two hundred grand while the real players around here dropped millions like it was nothing. He scoffed at the thought.

Mollie chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. “Of course we’re sure! What’s with all the questions? Maybe that’s a fortune to you but to Darien? That’s just pocket change.”

“Yeah, seriously! Why’s she acting so high and mighty, anyway?”

“Get moving already, would you? Darien’s made his call, and you’re just standing there like a fool!”

Ellie’s eyes stayed locked on Darien, unwavering.

He waved her off. “Go ahead.”

Ellie gave a slow nod. “Alright then, just remember—you asked for it.”

She turned and strode confidently toward the bar, her steps firm, though there was a haunting sense of finality in the air. It was like watching someone walking into the storm. Reaching the bar, she leaned over and spoke to the manager. “Open up those two bottles from the reserve for them.”

The manager blinked in surprise. “Miss Cobb, are you sure? Your credit limit is set at two hundred thousand…”

The wine was exquisite, but there weren’t only two bottles in stock. It was just that Ellie’s personal tab couldn’t exceed the limit.

Still, the manager was flustered.

Ellie let out a dry laugh. “Who said it’s going on my tab?”

The manager hesitated. “I’m sorry?”

Ellie nodded toward Darien. “Whoever orders, pays. Simple as that.”

The manager’s gaze followed hers, and realization quickly dawned. His face lit up with excitement. “Of course, Miss Cobb, I understand.”

He was thrilled. Ellie might outrank the Gill family in status, but every time she brought Darien here, the guy acted like a big shot, only to stick Ellie with the bill in the end. It had rubbed him the wrong way for ages.

What a fool. Leeching off the boss’s daughter, and instead of appreciating it, he’d treat her like a servant. Well, today, it looked like he was in for a surprise.

Snapping out of his thoughts, the manager hurried to fetch the bottles, personally escorting them back to the group with Ellie in tow.

“Mr. Britt, your wine’s ready. Would you like me to pour it now?”

Darien nodded smugly. “Yeah, go ahead.”

The manager moved forward to pour the wine, but Darien raised his hand to stop him.

“Wait. No, let her do it,” he said, pointing at Ellie.

The room fell deathly silent.

Ellie stared at Darien, incredulous. Was this a joke?

A small fire kindled inside her, burning brighter with every second she looked at his smug face. How had she ever fallen for this guy?

She snorted. “Darien, don’t push it.”

Mollie immediately butted in, her voice shrill. “What’s so wrong with it? You should be honored he’s even asking you! Honestly, have you ever even touched a bottle this expensive before?”

“Yeah, exactly! You’ve probably never been near something so high-class. Maybe the price is scaring you—afraid you’ll mess it up?”

“Come on, Darien, why are you keeping her around? Just get rid of her already. Useless.”

A chorus of jeers and taunts followed, only further inflating Darien’s ego. His expression darkened, and he looked back at Ellie, ready to assert his control. “So, are you pouring or not?”

Ellie’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

She laughed coldly. “No.”

Darien shot to his feet. “You really wanna do this, Ellie?”

Mollie quickly tried to smooth things over. “Come on, Darien, let’s not ruin the vibe tonight. Who cares if she doesn’t pour? Just enjoy the wine.”

The manager, unsure of what to say, went ahead and poured for the group, casting a quick glance at Ellie for approval.

Mollie clung to Darien’s arm, urging him to take a sip. “Let’s just enjoy this incredible wine! Wow, this is next level!”

“It’s like liquid gold, I swear.”

“Man, how much do you think one sip is worth?”

“This isn’t just wine. It’s pure luxury in a glass!”

The crowd’s compliments circled around Darien, but Ellie wasn’t even paying attention anymore. She turned to the manager. “They’ve had their drink. Go ahead and bring over the bill.”

“Right away, Miss Cobb.”

The manager turned to leave, but Ellie stopped him again. “Oh, and grab a few security guards on your way back. We’ve got someone trying to dine and dash, and this isn’t the kind of bar that lets things slide.”

The manager’s face lit up even more. “Understood!” Finally, he was going to see Darien get what was coming to him. All those times he’d pretended to be the big shot, never paying, while making Ellie foot the bill—it was about time someone put him in his place. Today, the tables were about to turn.