A few minutes later, Khloe and Derek arrived.
They had clearly spent hours getting dressed up. Khloe wore a silk designer dress, and Derek sported a tailored blazer.
They sat down stiffly, refusing to make eye contact with Leo.
When the waiter arrived, Chloe immediately took charge.
“We will start with the seafood tower,” she demanded deliberately, not looking at the prices. “And bring us a bottle of the reserve Pinot Noir. For my main course, I’ll have the dry-aged ribeye, medium rare. Derek will have the imported lobster.”
She glanced at me, a smug little smile playing on her lips.
In her mind, she had found a way to punish me. If I was the rich owner, she was going to drain as much money out of my kitchens as she possibly could tonight.
I ordered a simple grilled salmon and a glass of water.
Leo asked for a standard burger.
Throughout the meal, Chloe and Derek ignored us, talking loudly about Dererick’s new office and their plans to buy a summer home.
They ate ravenously, ordering two more bottles of wine and insisting on sampling three different desserts.
“It really is a nice place you have here, Mom,” Chloe finally said, dabbing her mouth with a linen napkin. “I suppose we can overlook the terrible room situation since the food is decent.”
I smiled politely, signaling the waiter over with a brief nod.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Chloe.”
The waiter approached, holding a leather folio.
I looked up at him.
“We’ll need separate checks tonight, please.”
Khloe’s smug expression vanished instantly.
“Separate checks? Mom, don’t be tacky. You own the whole resort. Dinner is obviously on you.”