Chapter 13 Red Wine

• “What are they discussing over there?” Finley's expression darkened as he stood next to Samuel and Samantha on the other side of the banquet hall, watching as the expressions on Natalie's pretty face kept changing, while Zachary was smiling all the time. He was annoyed by Zachary's smiling face.
• “I don't know. However, I've rarely seen Nat chatting with a guy for such a long time. You do know how aloof she is and how she dislikes interacting with others, right? We've known her for a long time, yet she never speaks more than five sentences whenever we chat with her. Moreover, it's always us who would prompt her to talk instead. I suppose this guy's a bit pretentious, Finley...” Samuel said in a sarcastic tone.
• “Could it be that Camo is Nat's friend? Was she the one who invited him to the banquet?” Samantha paused before butting in while she crossed her arms, silently watching the action unfold.
• “Just give him two slices of pizza and tell him to get lost,” Finley said in a low voice.
• Since Finley and Samuel were both Natalie's suitors, they felt utterly frustrated and annoyed seeing Natalie chatting with Zachary. Samuel immediately decided to chase Zachary away. Having scanned the room, he found the head of the security team and frowned at him heavily. Samuel then beckoned the head of the security team over and whispered something in his ear.
• Soon after, the head of the security team brought two takeout bags filled with pizzas and walked over to Zachary. He patted Zachary's shoulder and said, “Young man, you're not Mr. Collins' friend, are you? Since this banquet is held by his family, he hopes that you'll leave this place, as he is not quite fond of you. Inside these takeout bags are two pizzas prepared by the chef in this city's best fine-dining restaurant. I'm sure you won't have much chance to have them on ordinary days. Why don't you take these home and share them with your friends at the construction site?”
• “What?” Zachary was confused as he took the takeout bags containing pizzas from the head of the security team.
• Among the wealthy heirs and heiresses attending the banquet that night, Bethany topped the list. Besides being the richest and most influential family in the city, Bethany's family was also ranked first among the elite families in the state as well. Meanwhile, Finley's family was ranked second, while Samantha's family came in third. As for Samuel, he was ranked over tenth instead. However, since Bethany, Finley, and Samantha had a close relationship with him, and the banquet was held in his family's hotel, Samuel was able to be in the spotlight as well.
• In fact, Natalie was also one of the outstanding elites among the wealthy heirs and heiresses' social circle. In the past, her status and wealth would have surpassed Finley, Samantha, and Samuel, as her mother's family owned seven cosmetic chain stores, raking in tens of millions' worth of income annually. Furthermore, Natalie's father used to be the chief of the city's police department as well. Therefore, Finley and the rest thought that Natalie, who was such an exceptional heiress, would never have anything to do with someone in a camouflage outfit. Nevertheless, they knew Natalie was a kind-hearted person who could simply adopt a child as her daughter. It was understandable if she had befriended a few construction workers.
• Finley, Samuel, and Samantha sniggered as they watched the head of the security team trying to kick Zachary out of the banquet. At that moment, Natalie had returned with Cecilia in tow. She did not want to waste her breath on a toy boy who had tried to be with Bethany, someone out of his league.
• Seeing Natalie's cold expression, Finley smiled and said, “Nat, since this Camo guy isn't an invited guest tonight, I gave him some pizzas on your account and had someone ask him to leave. You won't mind me doing that, right?”
• “I don't know him,” Natalie replied indifferently.
• At that point, she was utterly disappointed in Zachary. He is my legal husband. How could he hit on my best friend without even considering my feelings and reputation? Since she did not love him, Natalie was able to let that matter slide. As both their fathers were comrades in battle who would risk their lives for each other, Natalie and Felix were basically childhood friends. Thus, she was able to give up her best friend to him. However, issues within prominent families were not as simple as he might think. Even if Zachary appeared to have an attractive face on the outside, it was impossible for him, who had a lowly background, to be with Bethany. All she told him was good advice, but he did not listen to her at all.
• Since he was unwilling to listen to Natalie, she could only let him do whatever he wanted. Natalie was curious whether he was able to enter the upper-class society that night, since he wanted to approach Bethany in order to make friends with affluent and influential people through her.
• Haha... Felix Larson, I gave in to my father's wishes and married you. My reputation has been totally ruined. How much more humiliation do you want me to bear?
• “I think you've got the wrong person here, my friend. I'm not some ruffian from a construction site who sneaked in to steal food. In fact, I've been invited to the banquet. Despite the fact that I've never tasted this pizza before, I'm not going to eat the pizzas you offered me either. Take this back, and I'll give you two hundred more to get yourself some wine. You can share the pizzas with your friends while drinking some wine.”
• After staring blankly at the head of the security team for a few seconds, Zachary began to realize what was going on. It turned out that his attire had caused misunderstanding, as others had mistaken him for a construction worker sneaking into the banquet to steal some food.
• Zachary stole a glance at Finley, Samuel, and Samantha, noticing they were snickering at a corner. He then shifted his attention toward Natalie, who had a look of disappointment on her face. Zachary's expression immediately turned cold and hostile.
• He shoved the two bags of pizzas back into the security guard's hands and handed him another two hundred in cash.
• “You rascal! How dare you look down on me?” As he held Zachary's crumpled banknotes worth two hundred, the head of the security team, who was wearing a crisp and neat suit, frowned immediately.
• How can a young construction worker with a camouflage outfit compete against me, the head of the security team who works at a five-star hotel with an annual salary of over tens of thousands?
• “I'm telling you, you're not welcome to the banquet tonight. Get lost!” the head of the security team growled.
• The guests who came to the banquet that night were the elites from the upper-class society. He did not want to cause a scene and startle the guests because of a construction worker.
• “I can't be bothered to argue with you anymore.” Zachary then pulled out a phone and looked at the time on the screen before he turned and left.
• Bethany was expected to arrive there soon. Despite living abroad for seven years, Zachary still knew about the social status in the country, since he grew up in Chanaea. With Bethany's family background, he was certain that he would be the most esteemed guest at the banquet that day. As long as Bethany came and briefly introduced him to the others, everyone present at the banquet would be regarding him in a different light.
• “How dare you refuse to leave, you rascal?” The head of the security team was instantly enraged when he saw Zachary walking toward somewhere else.
• He had happened to catch a glimpse of Zachary's phone and noticed that it was one of the old and cheap Nokia phones, which cost only a hundred. The phone he was using was an iPhone, and yet a shabby-looking young man like Zachary had the audacity to insult him. Infuriated, he went after Zachary, wanting to make a move and teach him a lesson.
• Suddenly, someone reached out a hand and blocked his way.
• “Mr. Yeager?” The head of the security team turned around and looked at the man with a shocked expression.
• “You can't even handle a penniless loser from a construction site. I must say that you're quite a lousy leader,” Samuel remarked coldly.
• “N-No, Mr. Yeager. I-I was just...” Having been criticized by Samuel, the head of the security team babbled incoherently.
• “Just leave it to me.” Samuel grabbed a glass of red wine from somewhere and walked toward Zachary. As he approached Zachary, Samuel shouted at him, “Hey, Camo!”
• “Yes?” As Zachary was the only person wearing camouflage clothing at the banquet, he felt surprised and turned around immediately.
• Staring coldly at Zachary, Samuel raised the glass of red wine in his hand and splashed it all over Zachary.
• “Get lost, you loser!”