Suddenly, I Am Rich

It took them nearly an hour to arrive at the restaurant Gray had chosen. They used one of the Lancaster family’s cars—partly because Gray didn’t own one, but mostly because Chloe’s security was still a top priority.

She wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without any of her assigned guards lurking on the side.

It was understandable, especially with how rich her family was.

The restaurant was nestled in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn’t well-known. Instead, it was a modest, medium-sized restaurant. It wasn’t expensive or cheap.

Gray had once worked there, years ago, scrubbing dishes in the back kitchen. The owners would sometimes offer him free food and allow him to take some leftovers from the kitchen, knowing his current state.

The food there had always been incredible. Rich flavors, handmade pasta, and sauces simmered for hours by the best chefs.

So, he never understood why the place never took off.

Maybe it was the location? Maybe poor marketing? Or maybe it was because people just overlooked it as it doesn’t come with shiny signs and Wintergrammable interior.

”Let’s go, Chloe.” Gray offered his arm to Chloe.

Chloe looked hesitant. It wasn’t a place that she usually went to.

”Uh...”

Chloe looked up at the building again. The sign above the door was old, almost a little faded. The windows weren’t lined with crystal or gold trim. There was also no valet or no host in a suit.

But then she looked at Gray.

He stood patiently beside her, still offering his arm as if he were waiting patiently.

She let out a deep breath and smiled.

”Okay,” she said softly. ”Let’s go.”

’Maybe it’s not bad to try this.’

Gray led her to the entrance of the restaurant. As they stepped inside, the shift in the atmosphere was immediate.

The air was filled with the scent of roasted garlic, fresh bread, and tomato sauce that had been simmering for hours. Soft jazz played from the corner speakers, and the lighting was warm.

A middle-aged man behind the counter looked up from a stack of menus and did a double look.

’Is that Gray?’ his face lit up when he realized that it was really him.

He was about to greet Gray when he noticed that he was with someone. And that someone was a girl.

’He must be on a date. I shouldn’t bother him.’

The man stood up a little straighter and smoothed down his apron. When the two approached him, he quickly stepped out from behind the counter with two menus in hand.

”Good evening, Ma’am and Sir,” he said, keeping it professional, but his smile stretched a little too wide. ”Table for two?” he gazed at Gray for a second and wiggled his brows as if saying that he recognized his presence.

Gray couldn’t help but laugh in his mind. However, instead of greeting the man, he nodded politely as if he didn’t know him.

”Yes.”

”This way, please.” Lorenzo led them toward a table by the window, then paused just before setting down the menus. He leaned in slightly, dropping his voice like he was about to share a secret.

”Not to be weird,” he said, ”but... You look familiar. Aren’t you the one who bought food here and fed like... eight homeless kids last winter with nothing but your last money?”

Gray blinked.

”What the heck is this guy talking about?”

However, Chloe turned her head in surprise.

”You did that?”

”No—”

”Yes, Ma’am. Your date really did that. We were so touched at that time, that’s why we can’t forget his face. He must be just shy, that’s why he was denying it.”

”...”

Chloe turned her head fully toward Gray, her eyes wide with surprise. ”Woah... I didn’t know that about you.”

Gray let out a quiet sigh through his nose and slowly turned his head toward Lorenzo, shooting him a sideways glare.

But Lorenzo only smiled wider in response. He gave Gray a playful wink, clearly proud of himself, as if saying, ’Come on, I just gave you some bonus points. You’re welcome.’

With Chloe still staring at him, clearly impressed and more than a little intrigued, Gray rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

”...Yeah,” he finally muttered. ”I guess I did.”

”You guess you did?” Chloe blinked before frowning.

”I mean... it wasn’t a big deal,” he added quickly, trying not to look at her too long.

But Chloe wasn’t letting it go that easily. She leaned forward a little, her smile was soft and bright.

”I didn’t know you were like that. You always act like you don’t care about things.”

”Yeah...” Gray shrugged. ”I don’t like making a big show of it.”

From behind them, Lorenzo cleared his throat dramatically, trying to stop his laughter from escaping his lips.

”Ehem, Would you like still or sparkling water for the table?”

”Still for me.” Gray looked over his shoulder slowly. ”How about you, Chloe?”

”Still for me too,” Chloe answered with a smile on her face.

”Excellent choice, Ma’am. And let me just say,” Lorenzo added with a grin as he backed away, ”some heroes wear hoodies, some don’t wear anything, and some are just in front of you.”

”...”

Gray rolled his eyes as Lorenzo disappeared, and Chloe let out a laugh.

”You know, I think I like this place already.”

”You’re just saying that because the staff won’t shut up about me.”

”No,” she said, still smiling. ”I’m saying it because I’m learning new things about someone, I thought I had already figured out.”

”And that’s a good thing?” Gray raised an eyebrow.

”It is,” she said honestly before letting out another round of laughter.

For a moment, the noise of the restaurant faded into the background. The warmth of the lighting bounced off the wood-paneled walls, and soft jazz continued to hum from the corner speakers.

Chloe looked at him with something gentler in her gaze—like she was seeing Gray in a new light, and liking what she saw.

Gray shifted in his seat, but he didn’t look away.

Before Gray could say something, Lorenzo returned with their drinks and a small breadbasket, complete with extra butter.

”Compliments of the house,” he said, placing it down with exaggerated flair. ”For our local legend.”

Gray loudly sighed while Chloe tried not to laugh.