The driver followed her into the private room she had booked in advance, where Rosalind had specially ordered high-end ingredients like seafood. She said it was to thank him, so it couldn’t be too shabby.
“Wow, this is so lavish; I’ve never eaten anything like this!” the driver exclaimed, his eyes widening at the sight of the dishes.
“Then eat up,” Rosalind said with a smile, pushing the dishes toward him.
“We met in such a rush before, I never even asked your name. I didn’t expect you to be so kind, going out of your way to help me out of a bind.”
The driver was taken aback and waved his hand dismissively, “It was nothing! It just so happened that an old friend of mine, a girl, was in Jingtown. She found your location, so we went there, thinking if you needed help, I could lend a hand! I did bump into your car, after all; it’s only right to apologize.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect you to come! I was really drunk at the time,” Rosalind admitted, feeling that the rest of her questions were unnecessary upon hearing his candid response.
“You should be more careful when going out at night,” the driver started to say, pausing mid-sentence before adding, “Your parents would worry! It’s a complicated world out there.”
Rosalind nodded, not thinking much of it.
“I was too eager to close the deal,” she said. Although their tactics were not sophisticated and Rosalind had taken precautions by bringing Brandon and Natalie along, when they started to pressure her employees, she felt obligated as their boss to speak up. To maintain the contract’s dignity, she could only send them back first.
“You don’t need to thank me too much; I have a daughter myself, younger than you, but as a father, I’d hope someone would help her in such situations too,” he commented. Rosalind immediately responded, “If there’s ever anything I can help your daughter with, I’ll do my utmost.”
After all, she owed him a big favor.
“No need! Just-,” the driver almost blurted out ‘Mr. Walters’ but stopped himself, “Just settle the hotel bill from last night for me.”
He didn’t really want the money; he just didn’t know how else to handle the situation. Rosalind was taken aback and quickly took out her phone, “Of course, of course, how much?”
“…Five hundred?” To him, five hundred dollars for a hotel stay was already quite generous.
But Rosalind, thinking he was too shy to ask for more, transferred five thousand dollars to him instead.
“I know that hotel is expensive, costing three to four thousand a night! I’m so grateful for your help; I can’t let you lose out.”
Now, the driver dared not say more, fearing he couldn’t reconcile the accounts later, so he just nodded. He planned to transfer the money to Mr. Walters later; he wouldn’t keep it for himself.
…
Outside the restaurant, Lion had not left. He leaned against the car, lit a cigarette, and occasionally glanced up at the restaurant. He wondered what they were discussing. Just as Lion was about to call someone from his company, he noticed another car parked nearby. It was a Bentley. In Jingtown, only a handful of people could afford a Bentley as their vehicle. Plus, having heard from Johnny that Ulric was also in Jingtown, Lion immediately had a hunch: Ulric was in that car.