Despite his comments, Adrian Foster paid the bill without blinking.
The waiter, an elegant young man with a polite face, smiled as he pulled out his card. Even after deducting hotel and transportation expenses, Adrian still had a comfortable balance equivalent to thousands of dollars in his account. His attitude toward the service improved noticeably.
"And this?" Adrian asked, pointing to a small porcelain bowl on the table. "I don't remember ordering it."
Before the waiter could answer, Olivia Hart chimed in with a light smile:
—It's a courtesy of the house. An appetizer:clam chowderwith white truffle. It's always served as a welcome.
The waiter nodded and added:
—It's a creamy clam soup with grated white truffle. It's a perfect way to whet your appetite and perfect for this cool evening.
The aroma was delicious and comforting. Although it wasn't typical for the season, the small dish made everyone feel welcome.
Shortly after, the main courses arrived one by one. The atmosphere around the table was tense; no one seemed to be talking. Adrian noticed this and, seeking to lighten the atmosphere, turned to Olivia:
—Olivia, what do you think of this restaurant?
She, chewing slowly, smiled and nodded:
—Excellent, Adrian. And don't worry about what happened before… you spent money for all of us.
"No problem," he replied with his typical relaxed smile. "You said on WhatsApp that you were a foodie. Why did you only order a few dishes? Look how much Emily ordered."
"Because I'm selective," she replied. "Emily devours everything she sees; she's the real foodie here."
Adrian gave a short laugh:
—So you're not a foodie, Olivia. Emily is.
She blushed slightly, covering her mouth as she smiled.
At that moment, a loud noise broke the tranquility at the table. Adrian looked up, curious. The murmur spread throughout the restaurant, and soon several diners turned to look.
Not far away, a striking scene caught their attention: a middle-aged woman wearing a shining gold necklace and a deep blue jade bracelet was arguing loudly with a young woman with an exquisite figure and a designer dress. The aura of wealth on both sides was evident.
The middle-aged, though elegant, woman was visibly furious:
"Go away, you shameless bitch!" he shouted, pointing at the young woman.
The young woman, visibly shaken, remained motionless. Her face reflected fear and confusion. The murmur in the restaurant increased, and several cell phones began recording.
"Listen to her, everyone!" the middle-aged woman continued. "This young woman deserves no respect. She's a shameless lover."
The customers watched intrigued. Some smiled silently; others whispered. Adrián, from his seat, put his fork aside and watched the scene, curious. Not out of morbid curiosity, but because this kind of spectacle reminded him of the unwritten rules of power and wealth.
The young woman tried to escape, lifting her bag to cover herself, but two bodyguards stopped her. Tensions mounted. The middle-aged woman took out her phone and began recording.
—This video will show who she is. Let everyone see it.
Phone cameras clicked, and the scene soon became a small, real-time viral spectacle. Adrian watched, intrigued, as the young woman fought off the bodyguards.
He leaned towards Olivia, his voice low:
—This is pure theater… and a brutal reminder of how wealth can humiliate.
Olivia nodded, still looking.
The middle-aged woman, satisfied, shouted one last sentence:
—Strip her! Let everyone know who she is.
But Adrian raised his hand.
"Enough," she said firmly. "There's no need to humiliate her like that. It's not just about money or power; there are limits."
The murmur grew in intensity. Some applauded the intervention, others criticized the scene. Adrián knew that the restaurant would be trending on social media that night. Even Olivia took out her phone to discreetly record the scene.
The middle-aged woman looked at Adrian, irritated.
—Who are you to stop me?
He shrugged calmly:
—Only someone who understands that wealth can corrupt… but must also know when to stop.
Finally, the middle-aged woman turned away, allowing the young woman to escape. The restaurant slowly calmed down, though the murmur persisted.
Adrián returned to his table, taking a sip of his wine. He watched the scene like someone watching a movie where the protagonists act unaware of being watched.
"Rich and evil people," he muttered to himself. "The real show."