Chapter 163: Chapter 163: The Taste of Money
"Warren, you’re here."
The reception guy greeted him with a big smile.
Warren Prescott maintained his usual indifferent demeanor.
"Where are they?"
"Everyone’s here, just waiting for you. I’ll take you up."
"Okay."
Warren didn’t even glance at Ashley Shaw, and followed the service guy upstairs directly.
Ashley Shaw also stayed silent, just quietly and obediently trailed behind Warren, wondering: who else was here? Wasn’t she only inviting Warren?
But soon Ashley felt relieved.
It’s fine to invite just one person for a meal, but going to karaoke with only two people would be too awkward.
She had to thank Warren for inviting more people.
They walked up to the third floor, and the server led them to a room at the very back.
The moment the door opened, Ashley saw a group of familiar faces.
It was the same crowd she had seen at The Queen’s Bar before going to the Hayes Family with Ariana.
But Ashley noticed that Cillian Xavier was missing.
Naturally, Damian Ford, whom they just parted with, was also not there.
After Warren took his seat, Ashley asked the class monitor and realized that Cillian had gotten drunk at the bar and almost had a fight with Warren. In the end, he left looking upset, so they didn’t call Cillian.
"What were they fighting about?"
The class monitor whispered, "It seemed to be about you..."
Ashley was taken aback, "Me?"
She was about to ask more when Warren’s deep voice rang out—
"Today’s on Ashley, order whatever you like."
He deliberately emphasized the word "whatever," and as the curiosity in everyone’s hearts flashed by, they burst into applause when they saw Warren tapping a few times in the VIP section of the ordering tablet.
The VIP ordering area, where the cheapest drinks start at six figures.
"Thanks to Boss Shaw for the treat!"
"Then we won’t hold back."
Ashley, not noticing the prices on the tablet, stood up smiling as instructed, "Sure, order anything, no need to be polite with me."
With these words, indeed two people picked up another tablet and began ordering.
However, most people remembered the cautionary tale of Damian not long ago and didn’t dare to "order freely" as it were.
Assistant Mark, sitting in the corner, wanted to quietly remind Ashley.
But alas, with Warren sitting so close to Ashley, Mark hesitated and didn’t approach.
Ashley sensed Mark’s gaze, looked over quizzically, only to have Mark awkwardly avert his eyes.
As she was puzzling over this, two waiters came in carrying two bottles of Moutai.
Seeing the Moutai, Ashley’s eyes widened instantly.
What... KTVs are selling Moutai now?
But Ashley quickly calmed down.
So it’s Moutai, she used to entertain guests with it when she was still Mrs. Prescott, and was fairly familiar with the types and prices of alcohol.
These two bottles of Moutai were probably costing just under a hundred thousand.
Although expensive, it’s still within her affordability.
However, as soon as the two bottles of Moutai were set down, the door opened again.
Two more waiters came in.
One carrying a bottle of Dalmore, and the other a bottle of Romanee-Conti, carefully placing them on the marble table inside the room, that’s when Ashley realized the situation wasn’t good.
She had no idea about the price of Dalmore, but Romanee-Conti... Warren often drank this brand in his past life, and a bottle costs over a million.
Ashley’s face turned ashen.
She never imagined karaoke could be more expensive than dining.
Though dining would also involve ordering drinks, at least there could be food to buffer, requiring less alcohol consumption.
But karaoke is pure drinking, and a few bites of fruit can’t buffer much.
"Warren, all the drinks are here."
The head waiter grinned as if Warren were his father, leading Ashley to suspect the rare drinks at this KTV were listed just for Warren on the ordering tablet.
"Ashley, thanks for splurging," said a man two years older than Ashley.
Ashley forced a stiff smile, "Not at all, it’s a rare chance to treat everyone to drinks."
"Then I’ll open it, rare chance to taste Romanee-Conti." The man unhesitatingly used a corkscrew to open the Romanee-Conti.
Ashley’s smile became even more strained.
Warren glanced at her from the corner of his eye and showed a cunning smile.
Thinking she could clear all debts with him and draw a line?
Not that easy.
Even if she cashed Lars Prescott’s check and got Rosalind Lynch’s compensation, she couldn’t cover today’s bill.
He wanted her to realize that owing was easier than repaying.
She could give up on settling her dues to him in this lifetime.
"Come on, Ashley, have a drink with me!"
The man who just uncorked the bottle stepped forward, handing Ashley a glass of Romanee-Conti.
Ashley quickly pushed it back.
"I won’t drink, you guys go ahead."
She wasn’t good with alcohol, and considering the expensive drinks today, drinking less meant others could drink more.
Once everyone had enough, they wouldn’t order more.
The man didn’t dare push Ashley, so seeing her refuse, he quickly returned to his seat.
"Warren, how are we playing today?" someone asked.
Just drinking for the sake of it isn’t fun. How boring would that be?
Warren glanced at the marble tabletop.
"Bring the dice over."
Ashley’s ears perked up.
Dice?
Was there even enough alcohol?
Someone voiced Ashley’s thoughts, "With this amount of alcohol, it’s not enough, shall I ask them to bring a couple dozen beers?"
"Beer is hard on the stomach," Warren said flatly.
Beer is hard on the stomach? It was the first time Ashley heard this, unsure whether it was true.
After a moment’s hesitation, the person asked, "Then... should I order a few more VIP bottles?"
"Anything goes," Warren replied amiably.
Ashley nearly fainted.
She had secretly glanced at the VIP area wine prices—and they were exorbitant.
Soon, the waiter brought over a few bottles of wine priced around ten thousand each.
A glance at those wine prices, Ashley’s heart sank entirely.
Then Warren suddenly looked at her, "Ordering this much, any problems?"
When Warren spoke, everyone’s eyes fell on Ashley.
Ashley knew this wasn’t the time for pride, but today wasn’t just an ordinary occasion. She was determined to clear all her debts to Warren, and if she missed this chance, she didn’t know when she could settle it next.
So without the slightest hesitation, she nodded.
"No problem, drink as you please, have a good time."
"Then let’s order!" Warren leaned back on the couch, a glimmer of malice in his eyes.
He had given her a chance.
Clearly, just a simple "Not enough" or even staying silent, and the issue would be resolved, but she had to hold out stubbornly.
He wanted to see how long she could keep this up.
Someone brought over a dice cup and dice.
"Warren, there’s only one dice cup, I’ll ask them to bring another."
"I’ll go."
Ashley stood up and said, "I just need to call my friend to say I’ll be back late."
With that, she walked out of the room holding her phone.