Chapter 13 Supreme Card

• The group then proceeded to the checkout counter.
• Trevor had initially intended to show off, hoping to win over Lindsay and have her fall into his arms. However, not only did he fail to achieve his wish, but he was also severely taken advantage of by Finnian. This left him with a belly full of anger. Reluctantly and resentfully, he pulled out his bank card from his wallet. “Swipe the card. I'm paying the bill.”
• The cashier swiped the bank card and said apologetically, “Mister, I'm sorry, but there's insufficient balance. Could you please provide another card?”
• “Insufficient balance? How could that be?” Trevor was taken aback. “I have over two hundred thousand in this card. How could there possibly be insufficient balance?”
• In the past, Trevor had dined with clients at five-star hotels a few times, so he had some understanding of the costs involved. The dozen or so ordinary dishes he ordered would, at most, amount to over ten thousand. A bottle of whiskey was over a thousand, and he wasn't sure about the price of Royal Eight Treasures, but he assumed it was quite expensive, probably around twenty to thirty thousand. All together, the total would be at most fifty to sixty thousand. I should have more than enough money on my card to cover it.
• “Mister, your total expenditure is six hundred and ten thousand, so of course, a balance of over two hundred thousand is insufficient,” the cashier said with a smile.
• “What? Six hundred and ten thousand? Have you made a mistake?” Trevor was taken aback.
• “We made no mistake. Royal Eight Treasures cost three hundred and sixty thousand, four bottles of whiskey are two hundred and forty thousand, and the remaining expenses are ten thousand. The total is six hundred and ten thousand.” The cashier maintained her smile.
• “Isn't a bottle of whiskey just over a thousand? How did four bottles become two hundred and forty thousand?” Trevor was baffled. He didn't know the price of Royal Eight Treasures, but he knew that whiskey was just over a thousand per bottle. He strongly suspected that he might have been ripped off by the hotel.
• “Mister, a regular bottle of whiskey costs over a thousand, but what you ordered is the top-tier whiskey from the oldest vintage from the eighties, which costs sixty thousand per bottle,” the cashier patiently explained.
• It was the peak time for dinner, and the hotel's lobby was filled with dining guests. Trevor's situation quickly attracted everyone's attention. Many people from the nearby tables, driven by a desire to join in the excitement, were craning their necks to watch.
• “Where did this country bumpkin come from? He can't even distinguish between ordinary whiskey and the top-tier whiskey from the eighties. What a country bumpkin,” a guest from a nearby table sneered.
• “He's probably being a poser. He didn't even bother to ask the price of whiskey. If he can't foot the bill later, we're in for quite a spectacle,” another customer jokingly remarked.
• Trevor's face alternated between shades of green and red when he heard the mocking comments from the guests. He could never have dreamed that there would be such a vast difference between the high-end and ordinary dishes in the hotel. Nor did he expect that there would be a distinction between ordinary whiskey and those from the eighties. More importantly, he only had a little over two hundred thousand on his card. Even if he maxed out several credit cards, he still couldn't afford to pay such a large sum.
• “Mister, you wouldn't happen to be unable to pay the bill, would you?”
• Upon hearing the news, the hotel's front desk manager rushed over. His expression changed when he saw Trevor's submissive demeanor, and his tone became unpleasant. He sneered, “Daring to order such high-end food and wine without money, were you planning on dining and dashing?”
• “The high-end food and drinks weren't ordered by me. They were all chosen by Finnian.” Trevor was exasperated and frustrated. He gritted his teeth and steeled his heart. Pointing at Finnian, he said, “Put the saddle on the right horse. I'm willing to pay for the dishes I ordered, but the expensive wines and dishes were all his choices. If you want the bill settled, go find him.”
• “Trevor, how could you do this? You were the one who offered to treat us, so why am I the one picking up the tab now?” Finnian asked, his face filled with bewilderment.
• “Exactly,” Lindsay said angrily, defending Finnian. “Everyone knows that you approved Finnian's order of the expensive food and drinks. Besides, it wasn't just Finnian who enjoyed the high-end food and drinks. We all did. Why should he be the one to pay the bill?”
• “I don't care. He was the one who ordered the expensive food and drinks. He ate most of it and even had a lot packed to take away. Either he pays the bill, or we all split it evenly.” Trevor had reached a point of desperation. He was at his wit's end. He no longer cared about maintaining his dignity. After all, he knew Finnian was penniless. If he was going down, he was determined to take Finnian down with him, to share in his public humiliation. Otherwise, he would not be able to quell the hatred in his heart.
• “You truly are shameless!” Lindsay sneered, her disdain for Trevor reaching its peak in her heart.
• “Trevor, are you even making sense?” The others were both shocked and angry. “It was you who invited us to dinner. How did it turn into splitting the bill?” They were all white-collar workers earning around six to seven thousand a month. If they had to split the bill for the meal, they would be doomed.
• Even Lionel, who had staunchly supported Trevor just a moment ago, began to despise him at this point.
• “Gentlemen, have you decided who will pay the bill? If no one is going to pay, I'll have to call the police!” the front desk manager said, clearly exasperated.
• “Forget it, I'll pick up the tab,” Lindsay said. “But first, I need to make a call home to transfer some money.” She then pulled out her phone.
• Finnian grabbed Lindsay's wrist, shaking his head. “No need. Let me do it. We're all ex-classmates, and it's rare for us to gather like this. Consider this meal as my treat.”
• “Where would you get the money from?” Lindsay was taken aback, and it wasn't just her. The rest of the ex-classmates were equally surprised. They all knew that Finnian's family wasn't well off, and they were aware that Finnian had just been discharged from the army and didn't even have a job. They didn't believe that Finnian had the means to pay the bill.
• Finnian gave a faint smile. From the moment he entered the hotel, he had noticed Hubbard Group's unique emblem. He guessed that the hotel was one of the many properties under Hubbard Group. Matthew had once given him a Supreme Card, which allowed him to consume for free at any of Hubbard Group's establishments. Therefore, he had no qualms about ruthlessly exploiting Trevor without worrying that Trevor might retaliate. However, to his surprise, Trevor did indeed bite back.
• “Swipe the card.”
• Finnian pulled out the Supreme Card from his wallet and handed it to the front desk manager.
• “Finnian, did a donkey kick your head or something?” Trevor almost burst into laughter when he saw the Supreme Card Finnian had taken out. “If you're trying to show off, at least make it believable. That thing you're holding isn't even a bank card. How are you going to swipe it? With your face?”
• “You're right. This isn't a bank card, but rather an exclusive card from Hubbard Group. With this card, any consumption at any of Hubbard Group's industries can be waived.” The front desk manager took the Supreme Card and was taken aback. He glanced at the plainly dressed Finnian a few times, and with a face full of disbelief, he said, “Mr. Lambert, I apologize. Please wait a moment.”
• The front desk manager hastily inserted the card into the computer, and it quickly verified that the Supreme Card was indeed genuine.
• “Mr. Lambert, I sincerely apologize.” The front desk manager respectfully returned the Supreme Card to Finnian, his forehead dripping with sweat. “I was unaware that you were a distinguished guest of Mr. Hubbard. If I have offended you in any way, I ask for your understanding.” He knew that the holder of this card was no ordinary person, and he was worried about his earlier attitude toward Finnian. If Finnian were to take offense, there was a high chance he would be dismissed on the spot.
• “It's all right. You did quite well just now,” Finnian said with a smile, tucking the card away.
• The front desk manager was taken aback by the compliment, responding with a flattering smile, “Thank you for your praise. If you dine here again in the future, please make sure to let me know. I will be at your service immediately, arranging the best private room and providing the finest service for you.”