Roxanne suddenly felt super awkward. She didn't give a hoot if Harrison was broke or loaded. However, if Harrison tried to flex like Oliver, showing off his abilities that he clearly didn’t have, it would leave her feeling pretty helpless.
She looked at Harrison with disappointment.
Just then, the chubby manager hurried back, took a look at the people waiting outside the Lotus Luxury Hotel, and finally fixed his eyes on Harrison. Was this the big shot the boss said they couldn't offend?
He clearly had an unusual strong presence, but the chubby manager still felt unsure. Would such a rich person dine at their three-star hotel? The hotel was all dolled up because of his arrival.
The chubby manager cautiously approached Harrison. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Rodriguez?"
"Mhm," Harrison replied indifferently.
The chubby manager was pumped. He immediately said respectfully, "Mr. Rodriguez, our boss just called. He has prepared the best private room for you. Please follow me."
Oliver, Roxanne, and other staff were shocked.
"Let's go eat," Harrison said to Roxanne, who was still stunned. "Harrison, do you know the hotel owner?"
Harrison replied, "No."
Everyone watched in astonishment as they were ushered into the private room.
Once seated, Oliver swallowed his sarcastic remarks amidst the murmurs of the staff.
"Is this the most luxurious room in the hotel? It's huge, spacious, and so luxurious."
"I heard the minimum charge for this room is over five thousand dollars, plus a fifteen percent service charge. Will they waive the service charge?"
"Definitely, didn't you see how respectful the hotel owner was to Roxanne's husband?"
Oliver was not happy. He glared at Harrison, who was pulling out a chair for Roxanne. "Harrison, the minimum charge for this room is over five thousand dollars, which is well above the staff dinner budget. Are you going to foot the bill?"
The chubby manager respectfully answered for him, "Mr. Rodriguez, our boss said, whatever you want to eat or drink today, he’ll foot the bill. It's his treat. Also, our boss is on his way here. He wants to toast to you in person and hopes you will accept."
Oliver's face was as grim as could be. Why would a rural, bankrupt guy receive such respect?
"Harrison." Roxanne gently tugged at Harrison's sleeve, looking puzzled. "What's your relationship with this hotel owner? Why is he so respectful toward you?"
Harrison handed her the menu. "Check out what you want to eat. You can order anything."
Roxanne had a lot of questions and no appetite to order.
Harrison reminded her, "Order."
Throughout the meal, the chubby manager and several waiters served them like they were royalty, waiting respectfully at their beck and call.
During the meal, the staff asked Harrison some questions, most of which Roxanne helped answer, or Harrison responded with a few words. As for Oliver, he looked gloomy the whole time.
After the meal, everyone was ready to leave. The chubby manager respectfully stopped them, "Mr. Rodriguez, our boss is stuck in traffic. Could you wait a few more minutes for him? He really wants to meet you. It will only take a few minutes."
Harrison knew why the hotel owner wanted to meet him.
He thought for a few seconds, looked at the chubby manager’s name tag, and said, "Come here, I have something to tell you privately."
Harrison pulled the chubby manager aside. He said straightforwardly, "I really appreciate the hospitality of the hotel today. I'll have my secretary come and settle the bill. If your boss has any trouble in the future, he can contact my secretary. I have some things to do now, so I won't be able to thank him in person."
The message was clear that he couldn’t be held back any longer.
The boss had instructed that if they could keep this important guest, it would be best. But if not, they must present him with the most expensive and finest wine from the hotel. So the chubby manager insisted on gifting Harrison a bottle of wine.
After gracefully declining, Harrison walked over to Roxanne.
"Did that manager just give Roxanne's husband a bottle of wine?"
"That bottle of wine is worth eight thousand dollars. They not only waived off a few thousand dollars for their meals, they also gifted a bottle of fine wine."
"Mr. Lewis, you really shouldn't have mocked Roxanne's husband. Look at Roxanne's husband; he has quite an influence in this hotel."
Oliver sneered with envy and discontent. "What's so great about him? He's bankrupt, penniless. What's the point of respecting him?"
At this point, Harrison walked over.
Roxanne asked, "Harrison, what's your relationship with this hotel owner?"
Harrison replied casually, "The hotel owner is a friend of a friend. He owed my friend a favor, and my friend owed me a favor."
To Roxanne, this explanation seemed reasonable. But it also didn't seem weird. What favor could make them waive off a few thousand dollars for their meals and gift a bottle of wine worth eight thousand dollars?
She was still puzzled, but Roxanne decided not to press further. Maybe Harrison did have some high-end connections before he went broke.
Then, Harrison, who was next to Roxanne, looked at Oliver, expressionless. "I remember someone saying before dinner that if I could book a private room, he would bark like a dog on the spot, right?"
Oliver's face turned pale, not knowing what to say. He felt humiliated and publicly ridiculed. He was speechless, wanting to hide away.
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