Franklin eased the tension to avoid an awkward dinner. "Mr. Saunders, Maria and I don't mind if he doesn't buy us dinner," he said. "It's just that if he did, the staff would be more welcoming." Zayne then emphasized Jared's pettiness. "I agree," he said. "This is Jared's fault. I'll get him to honor the tradition by tomorrow."
Gray responded apologetically, "Actually, we don't have to wait until tomorrow. After dinner, I'll inform the staff and arrange a karaoke session. As long as Jared is willing to pay, I'm sure the others would be grateful."
"That'll do!" Gary nodded. "Zayne, Mr. Chance's family isn't that well-off. Don't impose too much on Jared," Franklin advised.
"Don't worry, Mr. Saunders. Three hundred would be more than enough," Zayne replied with a smile. "Franklin, is this Maria's boyfriend? He's not only handsome, but he can handle things very well!" Gary complimented Zayne.
"Indeed! He even got my company's money back because he's an acquaintance of Tommy Lewis, the underground king of Horington. With just an order, I got all my money back!" Franklin couldn't hide his contentment.
Jared was stunned. He'd done all the work, yet Zayne received the credit. "Tommy?" Gary paused. "Isn't he the infamous gangster in Horington? It's better to avoid those people. Even if they seem to do good now, it's only a matter of time before law enforcement deals with them."
Gary's negative opinion of outlaws, stemming from his government service, was evident. Zayne was angered by Gary's statement.
"Mr. Chance, you're mistaken! It's an honor to know Mr. Lewis, especially in Horington. How dare you slander him? Someone as insignificant as your son would never be a friend of the famous Mr. Lewis. You should refrain from speaking like that, or you might face trouble," Zayne retorted.
Gary remained silent. Franklin intervened placidly, "He has a point, Squad Leader. Times have changed. We need people like that nowadays." Gary remained silent, his opinion unchanged.
Jared's silence was due to his concealed relationship with Tommy. If my parents knew about Tommy and me, he thought, they might disown me!
At the dinner table, Zayne enjoyed the praise and alcohol. Jared, however, hadn't taken a sip. Zayne noticed this. "Jared, why aren't you drinking? You're being such a wimp!" he teased.
Jared grinned. "It's not that I can't drink. I just don't think it's worth the money! I'd rather have tea."
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