"Please," Gus begged, his eyes darting nervously toward the camera lens. "Let's step into my private office. We can sort this out like adults."
Anabelle's stomach tightened. A closed room meant no witnesses. It meant he could spin the narrative.
"No," Anabelle said flatly. She pointed to a semi-circular booth in the corner of the dining room. "We sit there. In the open."
Gus swallowed hard and nodded. He practically ran to the booth, sliding into the leather seat.
Anabelle followed slowly. She sat opposite him.
The cameraman was a professional. He didn't follow them into the booth. Instead, he positioned himself a few feet away, zooming the lens in tight on their hands and faces, ensuring the boom mic hanging above them caught every single breath.
Gus signaled a waiter, who rushed over with a glass of sparkling water on a silver tray. He placed it gently in front of Anabelle.
She didn't touch it. She kept her hands folded in her lap, her spine rigid.
Gus reached into his pocket. His hands were shaking. He pulled out a crisp ten-dollar bill and three singles. He slid the thirteen dollars across the polished wood table.
"Here is your refund," Gus said, forcing a tight smile. "A complete misunderstanding."
Anabelle stared at the money. She didn't reach for it.
Gus's smile cracked. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a thick stack of glossy VIP meal vouchers.
"And here," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "Free meals for a month. Bring your friends. On the house."
"I don't want your coupons," Anabelle said, her voice carrying clearly into the microphone. "You committed systemic fraud."
Gus's eyes darkened. The desperation morphed into something ugly. He looked at her frayed clothes, the dirt on her face. He made a massive miscalculation. He assumed she was a hustler looking for a payday.
He leaned forward, his chest pressing against the edge of the table. He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper, unaware of the hyper-sensitive boom mic above them.
"I know why you're on that show," Gus hissed. "You need cash. Let's help each other out."
Anabelle's right thumb began to rub her index knuckle. She tilted her head slightly, feigning interest. "Go on."
Gus took the bait. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a blank, unmarked white envelope.
He kept his hand low, sliding the envelope across the table, hiding it from the rest of the dining room.
"There is five thousand dollars in untraceable cash in this envelope," Gus whispered, his eyes wide with desperate pleading. "You take it. You go on camera, you say the system made an error, and you drop the complaints. We both win. I'll wire you another twenty thousand when the cameras leave."
The live chat went absolutely feral. Millions of viewers were witnessing a felony bribe in real-time.
Anabelle looked at the white envelope. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Twenty-five thousand total could buy enough survival gear to guarantee her victory in the game.
But her mind was a steel trap. Accepting undeclared funds violated the core rule of the show. It would mean instant disqualification. Worse, it crossed the legal line into extortion.
Gus saw her looking at the envelope. He thought she was negotiating.
"I'll wire you another thousand when the cameras leave," he added desperately.
Anabelle let out a laugh. It wasn't a happy sound. It was sharp, cold, and entirely devoid of humor.
She didn't touch the envelope. Instead, she brought her fist down hard on the table.
Bang.
The silverware rattled.
"Mr. Schmidt," Anabelle said, her voice booming across the silent restaurant. "Are you attempting to bribe me with five thousand dollars in cash to cover up your illegal business practices?"
The words hit the room like a bomb. Diners gasped.
Gus's face turned a violent shade of purple. Panic seized his chest. He lunged forward, his hands clawing at the table to snatch the envelope back.
Anabelle was faster.
Her hand shot out, slamming down on top of the envelope. She pinned it to the wood. With a vicious swipe, she slid the envelope directly to the edge of the table, holding it up perfectly into the camera's frame.
"Look closely," Anabelle said, staring dead into the lens. "This is how a thief tries to buy his way out of a crime."
Gus collapsed back into his booth. He buried his face in his hands. He was ruined.
"You set me up!" Gus screamed, his voice cracking. "You're a monster!"
Anabelle stood up. She picked up the thirteen dollars in cash-her legal refund. She left the white envelope sitting on the table.
She looked down at Gus, her expression completely empty.
"I don't want your dirty money," Anabelle said. "I want you to bleed."
