The restaurant Richard chose to celebrate his wife's birthday was one of the most exclusive places in the city. Normally, the waiting list to book a table, even for someone of his status, was several months long. It was simply that popular.
However, this time he was lucky—the owner of the restaurant was a big fan of Amelie's philanthropic work. Once Richard mentioned it was for her birthday dinner, the owner needed no further convincing and promptly reserved the best table for them.
When they were led to their table, an expensive bottle of champagne was already waiting for them in the bucket of ice. As they took their seats, the waiter explained that, in honor of the special occasion, tonight's dinner would feature dishes that had never been served at the restaurant before.
'I see Richard has put a lot of effort into this. And to think that it is all just for a show...'
