Chapter 3: Is This a Big Shot?

It was lunchtime. After leaving the hospital, Carlos Yale took his parents to the most upscale seafood place in Jenden. The Golden Coast Seafood Restaurant carried delicacies from around the globe. Its name rang across Jenden. "Dad, Mom, order whatever you like," Carlos said generously. On Earth, money followed skill. Price tags never scared him-burning through $10,000 wouldn't even make him blink. But Kaden Yale and his wife both trembled. "Carlos, let's pick another place. The seafood here is outrageous," Kaden muttered, wiping cold sweat. "Did you see the prices? The cheapest crab is $80 a pound, and those fist-sized abalone are $500 apiece. We can't afford this." Callie Yare chimed in, "He's right. You and your father were in the hospital for days and we spent all our savings. Let's just grab fast food. Save that $10,000 for when you get married." On the way here, she had learned about Carlos's divorce from Arya Zimmerman. Carlos waved it off with a smile. "Dad, Mom, your son doesn't need a bride. I'll marry into a wealthy clan and have money to burn, and that day will come soon. You've pinched pennies half your lives-today, eat without holding back. Money isn't the problem." "..." Kaden and Callie had no idea how to respond. So the kid wanted to be a kept man? Had Arya Zimmerman's lesson not sunk in? "Carlos, let's just go get fast food," Kaden tried again. The prices here were so steep his heart might act up just thinking about it. "Don't, Dad. If you won't order, I will," Carlos said, helpless. Just then, a waitress approached, her face twisted in scorn. "Beat it. What hick stumbled in from the sticks? People meant for fast food dare show up at Golden Coast? I bet your whole annual income wouldn't cover one meal here." Carlos's temper flared. "Miss, watch your mouth. You discriminating against people from the countryside? Let me tell you, the ancestors of Vakia's richest tycoon were rural folk. You're just a waitress-who gave you the right to talk like this? Or are your ancestors all city-born?" "That's right, you're out of line." "What's wrong with being from the countryside? I was a farm kid who came to the city to work back then. Now I make a million a year. Can you make that?" "With that attitude you call yourself a waitress? If the restaurant doesn't give us an explanation, I'm never spending a dime here again." A few well-fed men choosing seafood nearby had heard her barbs. They bristled and spoke up in turns. "What's going on?" A woman in manager's attire clicked over in high heels. Carlos pointed at the waitress. "She called me and my parents country bumpkins and told us to get out. Is this how your staff treats customers?" "I'm sorry, sir." The manager bowed to Carlos, then fixed the waitress with a chill stare. "Is this how you speak to guests? Do you still want this job?" The waitress panicked. "Manager, that's not what I meant. I heard them say everything here is expensive and they should go get fast food, so I told them to go. I wasn't discriminating against country people." Carlos cut in at once. "Can't someone think it's expensive? Does eating fast food mean you can't afford this place? I'm here to treat my parents to a feast. I planned to drop ten grand or eight, and if you don't fire her, I won't spend a cent." "If you can spend ten or eight grand, I'll resign!" the waitress shot back. The clothes on him weren't worth more than $20-how could he possibly drop that kind of money? "Then get ready to pack your things." Carlos looked to the manager. "Bring the card reader. I'll swipe ten grand first, then order." Still doubtful, the manager fetched the POS terminal. "Watch closely," Carlos told the waitress. Under the eyes of dozens of onlookers, he swiped the card. $10,000 went through without a hitch. "No way…" The waitress froze, staring at the receipt spewing from the machine. "He's a nouveau riche." The crowd buzzed with amazement. "See what happens when you judge by looks?" Carlos told the waitress. "Take this as a little lesson. Never judge a book by its cover, or one day you'll offend someone you can't afford to cross." He turned and started ordering seafood. "Words to live by." More than a few onlookers sighed. Carlos quickly picked out over a dozen premium dishes. He shaved off a few thousand to land right at $10,000, then the manager respectfully led them into a VIP private room. Before long, every dish was on the table. "Good lord-what kind of crab is that? It's bigger than a washbasin." "And this abalone is the size of a rice bowl." "That mantis shrimp is as thick as my forearm." Kaden and Callie stared, eyes glazed, at the mountain of giant seafood. "Dad, Mom, don't just admire it. Dig in," Carlos said, grabbing a super-sized garlic-steamed abalone and biting in. On the drive over, he had cultivated a sliver of true essence, but it barely made a difference. This body had gone three days without food, and he was starving. "Carlos, a ten-grand table like this… will it-" "It's not a loss," Carlos cut her off. "It's just ten grand. That guy named Wu was begging to be my disciple earlier. I didn't agree. If I did, forget a hundred grand-he'd happily drop a million to pay his respects." "So don't worry about the money. Worst case, I teach that Wu a few moves-probably enough to buy a big villa." "You're right!" Hearing that, the knife twisting in Callie's heart eased at once. If her son had the skills to earn, why trample on his filial piety? "Kaden, eat without reserve. Don't waste it," Callie said, lifting a giant abalone onto Kaden's side plate. "Okay, okay." With Carlos's reassurance, Kaden no longer winced. He cradled the abalone and bit in. So much meat. So good. The three ate like prisoners who had just been released, grease shining on their lips as they dug in, grinning from ear to ear. Just then, the door swung open. "Holy crap!" A crude exclamation burst out. Carlos and his parents looked over. A few young men and women stood at the threshold, staring at them as if they'd seen ghosts. "Damn, are these three fresh out of famine?" the leader stepped into the room, half laughing, half crying. "Who are you? Do we know each other? Why barge into my private room? Can't you see my family's eating?" Carlos snapped. The group burst into laughter. "Who am I?" The leader jabbed a thumb at his chest. "Listen up, kid. Don't faint. I'm Jonas Quinny, young master of the Quinny family in Jenden!" He planted his hands on his hips, chin high, basking in his own swagger. Carlos couldn't help but grin. "Thought it was some blind fool. Turns out it's my future little brother-in-law. Sit, sit. Your future brother-in-law will treat you to a mantis shrimp." Pfft! Everyone except Jonas Quinny nearly spat their drinks. Fresh out of the psych ward, this one. "Who the hell are you?" Jonas demanded. Since when did he have a brother-in-law? "Your future brother-in-law, Carlos Yale." Carlos smiled shamelessly. "You-" Jonas almost choked on his rage. "Your entire outfit isn't worth $50. You think my older sister would look at a pauper like you?" "You heard me say future brother-in-law, right? What are you mad about? Your sister is going to fall for me," Carlos said with absolute confidence. "You-" Jonas's liver hurt from fury. "How did I run into a shameless idiot like you today?" "My sister look at you? You're not even fit to lick her shoes. If she ever likes you, I'll gouge out my own eyes!" "You said it?" Carlos drawled. "Don't claim you were joking later and tell me not to take it seriously." Jonas no longer wanted to waste breath on him. He had a feeling this guy had just been released from the psych ward. He barked, "Throw this lunatic family out and clear the room for me." As soon as he spoke, the female manager came in again, bowed to Carlos, and said, "Mr. Yale, I'm truly sorry. This private room is reserved for Young Master Quinny. I thought he wouldn't come today, and since you spent so much, I let you dine here. I didn't expect him to arrive with friends. I hope you can be accommodating-I'll change you to another room." Carlos frowned. "Your attitude is decent, so I won't roast you. Otherwise I'd scold you till your ears rang." Then he turned to Jonas. "Calling you little brother-in-law was me giving you face. Don't push it. If I don't recognize you as family, what the hell are you?" "Get out. Keep yapping and interrupting my family's meal, and I'll beat you till even your sister wouldn't recognize you." Silence. Everyone was stunned. Was he… a low-key big shot?