"Man, you were amazing back there!" Fidelia turned to Lyman, her eyes shining with admiration.


    Lyman just shrugged. "ttering me won''t get you anywhere. There''s only one set avable."


    Fidelia huffed, ncing at Lyman before blurting out, "My sister-inw says you''re just using scarcity tactics. She called you a greedy capitalist!"


    Effie looked at Lyman with wide, innocent eyes. "Well... I did say that. But I didn''t know it was you."


    Lyman raised an eyebrow. "And if it was?"


    Effie grinned. "Honestly? Well yed."


    Fidelia''s mouth twitched. She turned to Effie, mock-using, "Effie, that''s such a double standard!"


    Effie ignored her, gently turning Fidelia''s face away. "Shhh, be good. Don''t talk." "Why not?" Fidelia protested, fuming as Effie held her head in ce.


    Effie mumbled, almost to herself, "Don''t interrupt me while I''m watching my idol." The moment she said it, both Lyman and Fidelia stared at her in shock.


    "Watching... your idol?" Fidelia echoed.


    Lyman, clearly amused, looked at Effie with interest.


    Effie, feeling their eyes on her, exined, "Back in college, our professor used this shop as a case study. He said it was a brilliant example of business sess. At the time, I was broke and wished I could be half as clever as the owner and start my own thing."


    Aplicated look flickered in Lyman''s eyes. He reached out and ruffled her hair. "Sweetheart, all my money is yours."


    Effie blinked, processing his words, and then her face lit up in delight. She muttered, “That''s right..."


    All those years she envied the owner''s profits-now, she was the woman behind the curtain! Not just of this shop, but of every single branch across the globe! The feeling was beyond incredible.


    "I can''t take it—I need to tell Grace right now!" Effie eximed.


    Fidelia just rolled her eyes at Effie. "Lyman, your wife''s totally obsessed with money now."


    Lyman gazed at Effie with pure affection, as if he hadn''t heard a word Fidelia said.


    Under her breath, Fidelia sang, "I should be stuck under the car, not stuck here with you guys..."


    Effie: "..."


    Lyman: "..."


    Suddenly, Lyman turned to Fidelia, a look of exasperation on his face. "Why are you always bothering my wife? Don''t you have anyone else to hang out with?"


    ?


    Fidelia snorted. "Mind your own business!"


    Before Lyman could say another word, she bolted out of sight.


    Not that Lyman had any intention of chasing her. He honestly couldn''t care less.


    He nced at Effie. "She dragged you here straight after work, didn''t she? Have you even had dinner yet?"


    Effie shook her head. "It''s fine, I''m not that hungry."


    Lyman


    her hand and started leading


    You had slightly, then took è bistro nearby. Let''s get


    the mall exit. "There''s


    it."


    Effie nodded. "Okay."


    Just then, Shirley and another coworker stepped out for dinner and spotted Effie


    and Lyman hand in hand. Shirley''s eyes went wide in panic.


    She instinctively blocked her coworker''s view. "Uh-"


    But her coworker simply peeked around her, curious. "Huh?"


    Shirley could only sigh inwardly,


    mourning for Effie and Lyman: You two, I''d love to help cover for You,


    but you''re making it impossible when you''re being so obvious.