"Haha," William chuckled. While Jessie's attention was fully captured by the holographic menu projection, a thin cord controlled by his mental power stretched from under the table, retrieving the watch she had hidden in her bag along with her wallet and stashing them in his storage space.
Putting the watch back on his wrist, William deliberately extended his hand to make it visible and began selecting dishes on the virtual menu. Jessie, still in her excited state, quickly noticed that the watch she had swiped was back on William's wrist.
Her expression froze. Realizing she had encountered someone far beyond her skill level, she nervously took a sip of water and gave William a cautious glance.
Fearing his anger, she was relieved to see him merely wink at her.
"I made $700-800 million today," William said casually, leaning back in his chair. "And I'm curious about your profession, so don't provoke me further, okay?"
With that, he pulled Jessie's wallet from his pocket, extracted her ID, and glanced at it with mild surprise. "Didn't think your name really was Jessie Barrett. Hm, 20 years old?"
"Oh my God, what did you just say?" Jessie wasn't bothered that her wallet had been pickpocketed in return. Instead, she grabbed William's left hand, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Did you just say you made $700-800 million today?"
A collective gasp echoed through the restaurant, followed by murmurs of "Oh God," and the sound of people choking on their food or drinks. The room eventually fell silent as everyone turned their attention to William, staring at him as if he were a divine figure.
Even Kyle Grammer, the restaurant manager, was so stunned that he forgot he was pouring wine. The glass was half-full before William tapped a spoon lightly against it to break the spell.
"Ding." The sound brought Kyle back to his senses, and he hastily straightened the bottle and apologized profusely.
William waved him off and smiled at Jessie, who was still reeling. "Is that surprising? At my peak, I made $9.2 billion in a single week."
"Oh, God, just kill me now," Jessie muttered, slumping back into her chair and staring helplessly at the ceiling.
The surrounding patrons looked equally dazed. Many were silently thinking, God, so this is what your illegitimate child looks like.
"Ding," William tapped the spoon again. "Kyle, how many bottles of Château Latour do you have left?"
"Pardon?" Kyle was so taken aback he needed a few seconds to process the question. After a moment, he replied, "Around five cases—thirty bottles total."
"Okay, bring them all out. I'm treating everyone here tonight," William announced with a grin.
"Each bottle is $6,000. Are you certain, Mr. Devonshire?" Kyle asked, still processing the absurd generosity.
"Absolutely, Kyle," William replied with a nod and a smile.
"Very well, sir." Fully aware of William's immense wealth, Kyle had no reason to doubt his sincerity. He bowed slightly and excused himself to make arrangements.
"Thank you, thank you!" The diners erupted in gratitude, some even calling out, "God will bless you, Mr. Devonshire."
William stood up briefly, nodding to the people around him before sitting back down. Jessie, still in a daze, stared at him without blinking.
"Are you feeling unwell? Should I arrange for someone to take you to the hospital?" William teased.
"That's so impersonal," Jessie pouted, propping her chin on her hand and tilting her head at him. "You just spent what amounts to six years of my living expenses on a whim. God, I wish I could spend $180,000 without batting an eye."
Seeing her mix of frustration and envy, William lowered his voice conspiratorially. "What if I told you I average a profit of $100 million a day? What would you do then?"
"I—I'd eat you alive!" Jessie blurted out before turning crimson. She quickly corrected herself, "I mean, I'd kidnap you!"
"That might be a bit tricky, Jessie," William quipped. "Maybe you should try the eating part instead."
Realizing his playful tone, Jessie thought about the news reports of his combat skills. Rolling her eyes, she muttered, "God, why did you have to put this rich, show-off jerk in front of me?"
Looking at the watch now back on his wrist, along with her wallet and ID card sitting openly on the table, Jessie sighed in defeat. "Even my best skill seems worthless in front of you. Just let me die."
Clearly discouraged, Jessie vented her frustration through her food. She took angry bites of her dish, glaring at William with each mouthful.
"Alright, alright," William raised his hands in surrender, finding her reaction amusing but also slightly unnerving. "I apologize for messing with you. But if you keep interrupting my meal, I promise your night will take a turn for the worse."
"Oh?" Jessie set down her silverware, licking her lips suggestively. "How bad could it get? I've never had a boyfriend, you know."
"Give me a break," William scoffed. "A beautiful pickpocket in New York who claims she's never dated? Do I look like an idiot who gets dumb around pretty faces?"
"Well, you did call me beautiful," Jessie countered, glaring at him. "If I had someone willing to spoil me, do you think I'd still be a pickpocket?"
"Maybe you just enjoy the thrill of it," William suggested with a grin.
"Thrill my ass," Jessie sighed. "I'm just an orphan with dyslexia who grew up in foster care, brainwashed by designer brands. If not for my quick hands, it's a miracle I haven't ended up doing worse things."
"Wow," William remarked, genuinely surprised by her bluntness. "You're the first person I've heard admit they became a thief because of designer labels. That's bold, Jessie."
"Ha!" Jessie arched her eyebrows defiantly. "What's wrong with liking designer brands? I support myself. What's wrong with selling luxury goods?"
"Your choice of profession is problematic, Jessie," William replied. "You're beautiful, and you should know what could happen if you're caught by the wrong people. Prison would be the least of your worries."
"You think I don't know that?" Jessie traced a finger along her cheek. "I tried working as a cashier, but my boss harassed me. Tried being a receptionist, same thing. Even as a waitress, they wouldn't leave me alone.
"So, if everyone's going to treat me the same, I might as well take care of myself and save my best for someone who really moves me."
Blushing slightly, she lightly ran her fingers along William's hand. "I'm staying in the hotel upstairs. Care to join me for a coffee?"
"Jessie," William said with a sly smile, "do you know what happens to people who try to mess with me?"
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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