Outside the lecture hall, Grayson watched as Sebastian hoisted Sienna into the car. A fresh ache shot through his chest.
Could a car really entice a woman so much? How could a simple Passat make Sienna so excited?
"Seriously, Sienna—I thought you cared about me," Grayson muttered to himself. "You're willing to sell yourself so cheaply?"
Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a firm grip on his arm. Someone was dragging him along for several steps before he realized it was Chloe.
"Grayson, what are you still staring at? You've got to have Sienna on your mind, don't you?" Chloe said, half‐exasperated, half‐concerned. She had been in the crowd too and saw exactly how Grayson looked after Sienna.
Chloe's face clouded over—she felt frustrated that Grayson still thought about a girl who valued vanity above all else, but she also felt sorry that Grayson had been hurt so deeply.
"I…" Grayson didn't know what to say. He understood Chloe only wanted what was best for him, but he was a sentimental person. Even though Sienna had been awful, he still remembered all the little ways she once cared about him.
"Come on—let's find somewhere to drink. My treat. We'll drown our sorrows until we pass out," Chloe suggested. She was convinced that only booze could shake Grayson out of his funk.
"No, I want to do something different," Grayson said. "Last time I made this promise, but I'm serious now: I'm taking you to dinner—let's go to Michelin."
Chloe burst out laughing. "Grayson, are you kidding me? You pulled that stunt last time, too. Can't you come up with something new?"
A Michelin‐starred restaurant? As if!
"I mean it," Grayson insisted, steering Chloe toward the curb. "Hurry up."
He hailed a taxi, and soon they were whisked away to the city's Michelin restaurant. Only when they stepped out did Chloe's jaw drop.
"Grayson, stop messing around," she whispered, eyes wide as she took in the sleek supercars lining the curb and the grand entrance. "If you don't have enough to pay and they throw us out, we'll die of embarrassment."
"Come on," Grayson said, ushering her inside without another word.
Once in the lobby, Chloe was jittery. She couldn't believe Grayson had enough money to take her here; she felt like a thief trespassing.
"Wait—I need the restroom first," she said, backing toward the bathrooms.
"Me too," Grayson replied, and the two walked in together. Chloe disappeared into a stall while Grayson washed and dried his hands at the sink.
At that moment, he noticed a pair of familiar figures approaching. A woman caught sight of him and blinked.
"Grayson?" she said, surprised.
"Sienna?" Grayson blurted. It was the same Sienna and Sebastian.
They weren't quite finished with their meal; Sienna had asked to use the restroom, so Sebastian had accompanied her.
"You called Sienna?" Sienna strode forward and delivered a sharp slap to Grayson. "Do we even know each other? You think you can just call me 'Sienna'?"
She did it to assert loyalty in front of Sebastian, who'd surprised her by picking her up in a car and treating her to Michelin dinner. Naturally, she clung all the closer to Sebastian.
"You're really here?" Sienna sneered at Grayson. "Come on, let's get real—if you worked here, maybe I'd believed it. But you? Eating here? Impossible. You're just an employee, right? Hahaha!"
Grayson rolled his eyes. He had only brought Chloe—he didn't expect to run into Sienna and Sebastian, and he certainly had no desire to flaunt anything in front of them. He tried to turn and leave.
But Sienna blocked him again.
"We're here to eat, not to work," she snapped. "Since you're staff, I order you to fetch me a tissue from that dispenser over there!"
As though Sienna's privilege entitled her to boss everyone around, she pointed to the fancy restroom paper dispenser.
Grayson frowned. I'm done with you, Sienna. Why are you acting like I'm your enemy and making my life miserable?
He wanted to ignore her and walk away, but he decided it wasn't worth the conflict. What's one tissue? Without another word, he opened the dispenser, grabbed one paper towel, and handed it to her.
"For what? I didn't ask you!" Sienna said with a cold laugh. Then she nestled closer to Sebastian and said, "Darling, you have something on your shoe. Tell him to wipe it off for you."
Sebastian, arm around Sienna's waist, extended his foot toward Grayson. "Yes—wipe my shoe."
"Quick!" Sienna said, raising her chin. "You work here—you should serve me. Do what I tell you or I'll complain to your manager!"
This was too much. Grayson felt heat climb his neck.
Just then, Chloe emerged from the stall. She witnessed everything: the slap, the forced tissue, the shoe wiping. First she stared, stunned. Then anger flared.
"Oi, Sienna! This is going too far! Who said Grayson works here? We're just here to use the restroom—why should he do every little thing for you?" Chloe snapped, stepping protectively in front of Grayson.
"Oh, you too?" Sienna said loudly. "I get it now—you two are just here to use the restroom! How low is that? Hahahaha! You're so shameless—does this place look like a KFC or McDonald's to you?"
Chloe's cheeks burned scarlet. She'd already felt like a criminal for just following Grayson here, only to have Sienna heap more humiliation on them both.
Seeing Chloe's embarrassment, Grayson didn't want to prolong it. He braced himself as Chloe tugged at him, "Let's go, Grayson."
But he gently held her arm and shook his head. Then he raised his chin, shoulders squared, and said firmly, "We're not leaving."
"Look at them—so broke, so rude. They actually think they belong here!" Sienna spat. She turned to the restaurant manager, who had just arrived at the commotion. "Manager! Throw them out! They're ruining our meal. If you don't handle this, we, your regular Michelin customers, will never come back!"
Sienna had just been to Michelin for the first time in her life, yet now she brazenly claimed to be a "regular."
The manager, a woman in her thirties with a crisp uniform, buttoned her jacket and said to them, "Sir and Madam, I'm sorry—but this restroom is for paying guests only. Our facilities are part of the dining experience. Please leave immediately."
Chloe's face burned so fiercely she could feel blood whoosh to her ears. How mortifying! She glanced at Grayson, thinking, You really went too far this time. But she knew it wasn't just Grayson's fault—it was mainly Sienna's fault for inciting a crowd.
"Let's go," Chloe urged, still pulling Grayson toward the exit. But to her surprise, Grayson stood his ground, facing Sienna and Sebastian.
"Excuse me," he said to the manager, his voice calm but unwavering. "We don't work here. I made a reservation for a table."
The manager froze for a moment, surprised. Sienna's smug grin faltered. Claire: Grayson not only refused to leave but could prove he had a paid table.
The restaurant fell silent as patrons exchanged curious glances. Even Sienna's face drained of color at his revelation, while Sebastian shot Grayson a look of bewilderment.
Grayson stepped forward, lifted his chin, and repeated: "Yes, I have a reservation. Table number six. Now if you'll excuse us…"