Chapter 7:
1176 Words
Half an hour later, Ethan's phone rang.
After answering, Rain's voice came from the other end: "I've found out everything. It was all planned by Albert Nicholas.
He's the vice president of Emerald Hospital, and also Rebecca's cousin.
After Rebecca was dismissed, he could take advantage and get promoted to the position of president."
A cold glint flashed in Ethan's eyes: “Where is he now?"
"He's hosting a celebration banquet at the Silver Fork Restaurant for his promotion."
"Make arrangements. I want to deal with this personally."
Ethan's pupils constricted; while his wife was crying in despair, that man was throwing a party to celebrate his victory?
At Silver Fork Restaurant, Velvet Taste Town, Whispering Province, Crimson City.
This was a prosperous economic town, and Emerald Hospital was also located in Velvet Taste.
Silver Fork Restaurant was the top restaurant in Velvet Taste Town.
VIP Room No. 2 in the restaurant.
"Congratulations to Vice President Nicholas on being promoted to President of Emerald Hospital! President Nicholas is truly generous, inviting us to dine in VIP Room No. 2 of Silver Fork Restaurant."
"President Nicholas is Rebecca's cousin, but he was always just the vice president of Emerald Hospital, overshadowed by an illegitimate daughter of the Nicholas family? How unfair is that.
The president's position should rightfully belong to President Nicholas."
"No matter how well Rebecca managed Emerald Hospital, it still didn't save her from being kicked out of the company for one mistake, right? After all, Mrs. Nicholas has always disliked her."
A group of sycophants flattered Albert—the newly appointed president.
Albert, dressed in a white suit, had some charm as he said confidently: “My promotion this time is all thanks to the contributions of our media friends.
Feel free to order whatever drinks you like.
Tonight, it's all on me.
If you need anything in the future, just let me know.
In Velvet Taste, there's nothing Albert can't handle."
Everyone continued to flatter him.
After three rounds of drinks, everyone was getting tipsy, and Albert slapped the table, saying: “Waiter, the bill!"
Jake, the manager, walked in wearing his uniform: "President Nicholas, your total tonight is eight million USD.
Would you like to pay by card or cash?"
"How much?" Albert thought he misheard and asked casually.
Jake repeated: “You spent a total of eight million USD tonight. Here’s the bill; please have a look."
Albert could no longer stay calm. He flipped through the menu and found a bottle of "Balance" priced at seven million nine hundred and fifty thousand USD!
Albert jumped up: “A bottle of wine for seven million nine hundred and fifty thousand USD? Do you think I've never been out in the world? Call your boss here to talk to me."
Jake kindly reminded him: “Our boss charges a high fee for showing up. I'm afraid you can't afford it."
"Just a restaurant owner, talking to me about fees? If your boss doesn't come, I'll call the police and sue him for fraud.” Albert said arrogantly.
Jake sighed and picked up the phone to make a call.
After a while, Rain, dressed in a fitted qipao, slowly followed Ethan into the room.
Seeing Ethan, Albert was overjoyed: “Well, isn't this the worthless son-in-law of the Nicholas family? Seems like Rebecca really isn't doing well, letting you come out to earn extra money. Working as a waiter at Silver Fork, you must be making two thousand USD a month, huh? Hahaha."
The reporters around laughed and said: “Is this the scumbag in the photo? Hey, isn't this woman the one who's having an affair with Ethan in the photo?"
"This despicable couple dares to show up in Silver Fork in broad daylight. This is breaking news—I need to write a story about this."
Everyone was in high spirits, but the next moment, they sensed something was wrong.
Jake quickly walked up to Ethan, then bowed at a ninety-degree angle: “Hello, boss."
"How could this be? He's just the worthless son-in-law of the Nicholas family.
Rebecca gives him over a thousand dollars each month just to get by.
How could he be the owner of Silver Fork? Jake, you must be mistaken.” Albert said, utterly bewildered.
Jake explained: “Two hours ago, Ethan bought the entire Silver Fork Restaurant."
Albert tried to remain calm, looking around at the facilities: “Buying this restaurant must have cost over ten million USD.
Rebecca must be very wealthy to embezzle company assets to buy private property.
When I get back, I'll tell Grandma and see how you deal with that."
Jake secretly sneered.
Ten million?
The VIP room alone cost more than that.
Earlier, Ethan had purchased the entire restaurant for three hundred million USD.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Ethan spoke evenly: “This bottle of Balance was produced in Poland in 1975, with only eighty-eight bottles ever made.
Three months ago, one was opened by Polish royalty at the exact price of seven million nine hundred and fifty thousand USD.
Do you want to call the police? Go ahead.
But I must remind you that if the police verify the price of this bottle, it might end up costing more than ten million USD."
Albert, disbelieving, checked online and saw a striking piece of news: Silver Fork Restaurant purchased two bottles of Balance from a Polish distillery in 1975.
Albert suddenly slumped to the ground, almost sobering up.
Even with his promotion to president of Emerald Hospital, his annual salary was only a few hundred thousand dollars.
It would take him twenty years without spending a dime to pay off the debt.
Ethan then told Jake: “If he can't pay, make him come here every day after work to wash dishes.
Three thousand USD a month—until the debt is cleared."
Jake laughed: “Three thousand a month? That's only about thirty thousand a year. He could spend his whole life washing dishes and still wouldn't pay it off."
Ethan said: “There are four more reporters. Split it evenly, and it should take forty to fifty years."
Albert's face turned pale. In three days, he would officially be promoted to president of Emerald Hospital.
A president washing dishes here after work?
Wouldn't that be a joke?
"My father, Bernard Nicholas, is a board member of the Nicholas Group. How could I wash dishes for you people? It's only eight million. Do you think I can't pay it?" Albert angrily dialed a number: "Dad, I've been scammed at a restaurant."
At this moment, the other reporters finally let out a sigh of relief. One of them remarked: “CEO Nicholas is the young master of the Nicholas family. Eight million USD is just pocket change for them, so why is your restaurant acting so high and mighty?"
Bernard Nicholas was the brother of Roger Nicholas and the biological son of Mrs. Nicholas.
Since childhood, he and the illegitimate son, Roger, received completely different treatment.
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