"Rick, if you can't pay this bill, I'll have the manager strip you naked and march you out of this restaurant."
The room erupted. Laughter. Jeers. Every pair of eyes fixed on me with gleeful contempt.
"She's really going all out—making her own husband walk out naked for the new guy."
"Can you believe it?"
"He won't be her husband much longer. After tonight, he's just another stranger."
"This is too good. Let's just watch."
The older women at nearby tables looked me up and down with amusement.
"Ooh, I want to see if he's got abs under there."
Heat burned across my face.
Before we'd left the house, Leila had taken my wallet. Made me let my guard down.
All I had was this expensive suit on my back. Not a dollar to my name.
And my phone was dead. That's when it hit me—she'd planned every detail.
"Time's running out. The restaurant wants to close, and they're waiting on you to settle up."
"Don't tell me you're broke."
"Because if you can't pay, they'll hold you here and call the police. Sound familiar? You did that to me once, remember?"
Jacob pulled out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and lit up.