The Invincible Arthur Gardner

Chapter 3 - The Sweetest Surprise

A waitress emerged from inside the restaurant and approached Arthur and the guard who was debating.

Arthur was taken aback by the beauty and charm of the waitress. “Is it because this restaurant is the most expensive in the city?”

"This place is not somewhere anyone is allowed to come," she said.

The girl's name was Edna. Her beauty was comparable to that of public figures and celebrities. Despite this, she chose to work as a waitress in a restaurant, instead of in the entertainment world, due to the expectation of having to give up her virginity to obtain a good position.

Edna's job was to meet the needs of her parents and sister, and she was well-liked by many people and men. Despite the admiration she received, Edna stayed in the job she had since it made her feel valued, even if the wage she earned was just enough to meet her own needs and help her family back in her village.

Edna noticed Arthur, who appeared to be about to enter the restaurant. This was something she had seen often and was no longer surprised by. But this time, she felt something else about the man; he seemed very confident, and even though his clothes were worn, he had an attractive presence.

Edna was always polite and compassionate towards everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

"Sir," she said, "I hope you don't mind leaving. The restaurant has a rule that only members are allowed inside, and the cost for becoming a member is quite high."

Arthur sensed the sincerity and warmth of Edna's words, and he thought he had found a remarkable and kind person, unlike Linda he had previously encountered.

"An ordinary membership requires a deposit of one hundred thousand dollars," she continued, "and if you desire the best service, you will likely have to spend your whole life working just to dream to afford it."

Arthur felt the warmth of each word the girl uttered, and he experienced a sudden realization that he had found the ideal, kind-hearted girl that was so very different from Linda, whom he was familiar with.

"Thank you for explaining so gently, Ms. Edna," Arthur said slowly and softly, looking at her kindly. "I appreciate it, and I don't want you to judge me just because of my appearance. Please tell me how much I need to pay for the best service in this restaurant, and I will pay it now."

Edna sighed, knowing it was a waste of her time. "Well, sir, to become a Platinum Member, one must deposit five million dollars. You will be treated like royalty here and have access to the hotel under the same management. Platinum Members are reserved for the wealthiest and most distinguished people in the city. I'm sure you never expected such a high price, did you?"

The guard was furious with Arthur for wasting their time. He demanded to know how Arthur intended to pay for a Platinum Member. Ignoring the guard, Arthur asked Edna to let him in immediately.

"Edna! Are you crazy?" the guard shouted towards Edna, then he turned towards Arthur and tried to push him. "You should get out of here right now, don't linger in front of me, I don't have time for people like you who lack brains. Do you think you have that much money?"

Arthur pushed the guard's hand away from himself. "Like I said, you should respect other people more, and never put down anyone you meet, you might regret it if you knew what I could do."

Edna pulled out a device that resembled a cell phone from her pocket and showed it to Arthur.

"If you have the money, sir, you can pay here and now. Just press the button on this device and the specified amount will be paid," she explained. 

"This is the most effective way to get rid of anyone who tries to enter without the money," Edna thought. She didn't like to debate with random people, as it was a waste of time, but if they truly had the money, then they would immediately show it, no matter how they looked. After all, some wealthy people don't like to look flashy in front of strangers.

Without hesitation, Arthur followed her instructions, and a sound indicating that the payment had been successfully filled the air.

The guard was astonished at what had just happened and incredulously asked, "What happened here? Did you steal the money? I can't believe you have enough money of such high value."

Being a Platinum Member was truly a very high status, usually only reserved for those who are fond of throwing their money away as they already have too much. There were very few who qualified, and now even someone who looks like a beggar can truly buy access to the highest position among all customers.

Edna was both shocked and amazed at the same time. She had a hunch in her heart that the man in front of her was wealthy, but she didn't expect it to be true. Arthur had enough money to become a Platinum Member and deposit the required amount.

Edna smiled warmly at Arthur. Her suspicions were confirmed: the man was indeed very wealthy but was trying to hide his identity.

"Apologies for our earlier rudeness," Edna said, bowing her head apologetically. "I sincerely hope you can forgive us and allow me to escort you to the VIP room of this restaurant."

Arthur accepted her offer and the two of them went straight to the most luxurious elevator in the place.

When they reached the uppermost floor of the building, they discovered a single, luxurious room, designed to cater to the needs of a single individual. It contained everything one might have desired: a hot tub, entertainment systems, spas, the finest cuisine in town, and the most stunning waitresses in the city.