They Called Me a Thief,Then the $20 Seafood Feast Destroyed Them All

My boss was the cheapest man alive, but God forbid anyone know it.

So when he announcedWhy does everyone make such a fuss over Mother's Day but ignore Father's Day? I've decided to treat every employee's father to a banquet,

I knew I was in for a nightmare.

Sure enough, every hole-in-the-wall was too low-class, and every seafood restaurant was too expensive.

I was handing in my 105th proposal when our purchasing assistant snatched it out of my hands and flipped through it.

She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly stuckBeryl Dickerson, you're his secretary and you can't even find a good deal? You act like the company's money grows on trees.

I asked her, impatiently, if she had a better idea.

She'd clearly been waiting for me to ask. A smug grin spread across her face.

I've got a connection. All-you-can-eat seafood at a high-end restaurant, and it's only this much per person.

She held up two fingers.

Derek Harrington frownedTwo hundred?

She announced it like she was dropping a micOmakase seafood tasting. Twenty bucks a head, all you can eat.

Derek's jowly face twitched. The gleam that sparked in his eyes made it obvious the price had him hook, line, and sinker.

Still, he couldn't quite let goThis isn't some sidewalk stand, is it?

Kathy Swanson lifted her chinUpscale restaurant.

Derek frowned againThe seafood's not frozen, is it?

Kathy wagged a fingerWhatever the regular customers get, that's what we get. Fresh as it comes. This is my inside connection we're talking about.

Derek shot to his feet with an excited yelp, rubbing his hands together, admiration written all over his face.

How did I not know we had this kind of talent in the company?

Kathy's cheeks flushed pink, all coy modesty, though she didn't miss the chance to take a swipe at me.

Well, Beryl's always had a monopoly on planning the company dinners. I never really got a chance to show what I could do.

The corner of my mouth twitched. I took several deep breaths to fight down the urge to slap her.

Derek seemed to be tallying up every dollar he'd spent on past banquets, because he turned on me next.

Beryl, I'll let your past performance slide. From now on, Kathy has full authority over all business dinners.

My fists clenched at my sides. Inside, I laughed bitterly.

What exactly about my "past performance" needed to slide?

That comment was a thinly veiled accusation that I'd been skimming kickbacks, when every single menu and budget had been set and signed off by him.

If I hadn't already squeezed prices to the bone while keeping things respectable, he never would have approved them in the first place.

And now Kathy waltzes in with a number that screamed scam, and he ate it up like a man possessed.

I swallowed the urge to talk some sense into him and chose to respect his decision.

I just smiled and noddedWell then, Kathy, I'll leave it all in your capable hands.

Privately, I was thrilled someone was willing to take this hot potato off my plate.

Haggling with restaurants over prices and menus only to have Derek slash the budget every time had already worn me down to nothing.

Kathy's cheeks glowed, and she was so giddy she could barely contain herselfLeave all future business dinners to me. I've got the connections.

Derek looked at Kathy with open approval, more convinced by the second that he'd discovered a hidden gem.

He clapped her on the shoulderThis company needs to give young people more opportunities. Too many old-timers around here sitting on their titles and pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.

The words turned my stomach, but the smile on my face didn't waver.

I reminded myself there was no point arguing with a fool.

At the same time, I was genuinely curious what kind of upscale restaurant could serve an omakase seafood tasting for twenty dollars a head.

Kathy and I filed out of the office one after the other. She couldn't hide the gloating if she tried.

Sorry, Beryl, for stealing your job. I hope the boss doesn't hold it against you. I really do feel bad about it.

I didn't even spare her a glance. I turned and walked away.

But I should've known Kathy was the type who didn't need to bite to get under your skin.

Before long, she came looking for me with a whole pack of coworkers in tow.

The first words out of their mouths nearly knocked me off balance.

Beryl, you need to pay us back!

I blinked, half-convinced I was so overworked I'd started hearing things.

Pay you back for what?

I ran through everything in my head, making sure Derek hadn't mentioned any employee reimbursements recently.

Before I could say another word, Sarah Rowe shoved her way to the front. She was Kathy's closest friend in the office, and it showed.

She jabbed a finger right in my face, practically shaking with righteous furyWe trusted you! Every time we had a team dinner, we let you handle it. You charged us eighty bucks a head! And look at Kathy, only twenty, at a top-tier restaurant. Have you no shame?

My expression went stone cold.

Someone caught the shift in my face and tugged lightly at Sarah's sleeveDrop it, Sarah. Maybe there's been a misunderstanding?

What misunderstanding? She was skimming off the top. Disgusting. Ripping off the company wasn't enough, she had to rip off her own coworkers too.

I wasn't about to stand there and take it. I smacked her pointing hand away and cut her off coldSarah Rowe, accusations require proof. You come at me with nothing but your mouth running, and I will see you in court. I'll sue you for defamation.

I still have every receipt and every payment record. We can go through them line by line.

Sarah, so full of fire a second ago, shrank back and shot a look at Kathy.

Only then did Kathy step forward to smooth things overOh, come on, I only got the twenty-dollar rate because I know someone at the restaurant. Maybe Beryl just doesn't have those kinds of connections, that's all!

Someone latched on immediatelyFor a rate that low, it's gotta be someone high up. Don't tell me your family owns the place?

Kathy didn't deny it. She didn't confirm it either.

She stomped her foot in mock annoyanceOh, stop asking! My family told me to keep a low profile.

Just like that, every pair of eyes in the room looked at Kathy differently.

The flattery came pouring inI knew it the first time I saw you, Kathy. You've got that old-money aura about you.

After all, anyone who could run a high-end restaurant downtown had to come from serious wealth.

These were the same coworkers who'd always punched down and sucked up. Now they were practically wagging their tails at Kathy.

And naturally, they looked at me with even more contempt than before.

If you can't get the job done, don't volunteer. You couldn't land a decent deal, so we ended up overpaying for lousy food. Thanks for nothing.

That was Gina Palmer. At every dinner, company or otherwise, she was the type who'd eat everything in sight and pocket the leftovers just to feel like she'd gotten her money's worth.

Nobody volunteers for extra work unless there's something in it for them!

Exactly. No wonder she fought so hard to be the one planning everything. Secretary brains, right?

I rapped my knuckles on my desk and said flatlyIf you have proof, show it. If not, get back to work.

The crowd around my desk drifted apart, slowly, though the looks they threw me on the way out were anything but friendly.

Like I was the rotten apple poisoning the whole team.

Saying it didn't sting would be a lie. When they needed me to find a cheap, decent restaurant for their little get-togethers, they couldn't say enough nice things.

And when the check came, they'd drag their feet splitting it. Some of them still owed me to this day.

On any normal day, when I treated them to boba or ordered afternoon snacks for the office, every single one of them called me "Beryl" with a smile on their face.

Seeing their true colors now was enough to make my stomach turn.

I propped my chin on my hand and stared at the sunlight outside the window. It hit me all at once that I had no reason to keep wading through this swamp alongside them.

I opened my laptop and began typing my resignation letter, word by careful word.

I had just finished and was about to hit send when Kathy dropped a message in the group chat.

It landed like a drop of water in hot oil. The whole chat erupted.

The banquet venue is The Peony Grand.

The moment she posted the full address and name, everyone lost it.

Are you serious? The Peony Grand is the most famous seafood restaurant in the city. Last time I took my mom there for her birthday, one table alone cost me close to ten grand.

Derek, who never passed up a chance to wine and dine on someone else's tab, immediately fired off a message the second he heard "Peony Grand"It's really twenty-one dollars a head?

He was terrified of spending a cent more than necessary.

Kathy sent back a sticker that said "No problem."

That's the price, Mr. Harrington.

I already talked to someone on the inside. As soon as we show up, it's twenty dollars a head.

Derek fired off a string of thumbs-up emojis, then, still not fully convinced, addedSend us the menu first. I don't want them passing off cheap dishes as the real deal.

Before Kathy could even respond, her loyal lapdog Sarah jumped in.

Boss, omakase doesn't come with a menu. That's the whole point.

Derek caught himself and quickly backtrackedRight, right, right. Got ahead of myself. This is a company perk for the employees, so Kathy, make sure you put your heart into it.

Absolutely. I'll make sure everyone eats and drinks like royalty.

Watching the group chat glow with warmth and camaraderie, I couldn't help myself. I threw a bucket of cold water on it.

The Peony Grand is a Cantonese seafood house. I've never once heard of them doing omakase.

A place where a single plate of greens cost over fifty dollars. Did anyone honestly believe they offered a twenty-one-dollar-a-head omakase?

Anyone with half a brain could figure it out. But this crowd wasn't thinking. They were too busy hoping they'd scored the deal of a lifetime.

The group chat went dead, as if someone had pulled the plug on the internet. For a long time, no one typed a word.

Finally Kathy resurfacedOf course you guys wouldn't know. This is an insider-only thing.

That was all it took. A wave of sycophants flooded the chat, falling over each other to praise Kathy, gushing about how she was obviously some heiress slumming it in a regular job for the experience.

Derek bought it too. If Kathy had the nerve to promise The Peony Grand at that price, she had to be a rich girl playing office for fun.

With the mindset that passing up a bargain was the same as losing money, he typedAny chance we can add more people? I'm thinking we invite our clients to dinner too.

After all, at twenty bucks a head, not milking this for everything it was worth would be criminal.

He didn't even notice it himself, but somewhere along the way his tone toward Kathy had started to border on fawning.

Kathy waved her hand with grand generosityNo problem at all. Just give me the headcount and I'll reserve the spots. Let's invite the suppliers too while we're at it!

In the end, Derek scraped together every contact he had. He practically wanted to drag along his distant aunts and third cousins twice removed. The final tally came to a staggering 150 people.

Ten to a table. Fifteen tables.

Derek made a show of hesitatingIs that going to be too much trouble for you?

Kathy, the same woman who wouldn't normally spring for a single cup of boba, was suddenly the picture of magnanimityNot at all. The more the merrier.

A table that normally ran close to ten grand, now supposedly two hundred.

Was that even remotely possible?

I shook my head with a quiet laugh, content to sit back and wait for Father's Day. The show was going to be spectacular.

What I didn't expect was that after I submitted my resignation, Derek's response nearly made my jaw hit the floor.

He waved it through without a second thought, but not before squeezing in a few backhanded jabs.

You've been with the company for a few years now. Ask yourself honestly, what have you actually brought to the table?

Your salary is well above market rate, but your contributions? They don't even measure up to Kathy's, and she's brand new.

Anger shot straight to the top of my skull. My nails dug into my palms so hard they left crescents in the skin.

I forced myself to stay calm, refused to let the fury steer.

Mr. Harrington, the company's annual performance reviews are all on record. Every project and contract I've handled has been error-free. If I were really that useless, someone as budget-conscious as you would never have paid me a premium salary.

He clearly hadn't expected me to push back. Surprise flashed across his face first, then curdled into indignation.

His face turned the color of raw liver. He jabbed a finger at me, sputtering "You you you" without managing a single coherent sentence.

I stood upIf there's nothing else, I have work to finish.

I walked out without looking back.

I'd already resigned. Who in their right mind would sit there and let him gaslight them?

That same afternoon, Derek made two announcements in the company group chat.

First, Kathy Swanson's title was changing from purchasing assistant to secretary.

Second, any employee who had submitted a resignation would not be eligible for the Father's Day company benefit.

I was the only person who'd resigned recently.

I almost laughed. Petty and cheap to the bone. Classic Derek.

The group chat erupted with cheers.

Kathy's talent speaks for itself. Making her secretary is long overdue.

Just thinking about future team dinners at places like The Peony Grand makes me realize how much we were missing out before!

Hear, hear! People who quit shouldn't be shameless enough to mooch off company perks.

I watched the messages scroll by, then got up, walked right over to the people typing them, and held my payment QR code in front of their faces.

You still owe me your share from the last team dinner.

Their expressions went pale in an instant, mouths opening and closing without producing a single word.

I posted the receipts, the invoices, and my payment code directly into the group chat.

Would everyone who hasn't paid their share from the last dinner please send me the money? I'd rather not have to come collect in person and make things awkward.

They grumbled and cursed under their breath, but one by one, the transfers came through.

I felt nothing. These were people I'd never have to see again after I left. They weren't worth the energy.

Besides, they had no idea that I was looking forward to Father's Day even more than they were.

Because I'd already called ahead to check. Our company had no reservation at The Peony Grand. None.

So I was genuinely curious: where exactly were fifteen tables' worth of people going to sit?

Father's Day arrived before I knew it. I brought my parents to The Peony Grand early.

I studied the welcome board at the entrance carefully. Our company wasn't listed anywhere.

I also asked around and confirmed that every private room, banquet hall, and VIP space had been booked well in advance. Only the main dining hall on the first floor had any availability.

And if there was one odd thing, it was this: the first-floor hall clearly had extra tables sitting empty.

Yet the sharp-eyed hostess steered us straight past them and up to the second floor.

I'm sorry, those tables are reserved.

I counted the empty tables on my way past. Exactly fifteen.

Was it really just a coincidence?

But the tables weren't clustered together. They were scattered across the entire floor, and none of them had a company name card on display.

After my parents and I were seated on the second floor, my eyes kept drifting back down to the first floor.

My mom and dad called my name several times before I snapped out of it.

Then Kathy and Derek walked through the entrance with a crowd trailing behind them, and my chopsticks clattered to the floor.

What was going on? They actually showed up. Did Kathy really have that kind of pull?

Derek surveyed the tables scattered across the main dining hall and frownedWhy are we out here in the open? Why wasn't a private room booked? And these tables are all spread apart.

Kathy jumped in with an explanationThere was nothing I could do. The whole thing got dumped on me so last minute that every good spot was already taken.

Derek's expression softened slightly as he realized he was being unreasonable.

Blame Beryl. No skills, but she just had to hog the assignment.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Once the group was seated, Derek started pressing Kathy to get the food coming.

No rush. Kathy's eyes darted around the room as though she were searching for something.

Derek's lips parted, but in the end he said nothing.

They were already inside the restaurant. What could possibly go wrong?

Derek's son, Clifford Harrington, looked like he'd been stamped from the same mold as his father: round-faced and overfed.

He gripped a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other, banging them on the tableDad, I wanna eat! I want seafood!

Kathy, can you hurry the food along? Everyone's starving.

Gina chimed inFor real! My dad and I haven't eaten since last night just to save room for this!

Kathy's brows shot up and she snappedWhat are you, starving ghosts? Quit hounding me!

The outburst shut everyone up. Faces soured across the table.

But nobody dared talk back. Kathy had spent weeks cultivating the image of a restaurant heiress, and the group was still buying it.

Thirty minutes later, our food upstairs was already served.

Downstairs, all fifteen tables still sat empty of food. Derek was about to lose it.

Then Kathy finally stood up, and Derek and the others let out a collective breath of relief.

They all assumed she was going to hurry the kitchen along.

What she did next, no one saw coming.