When Clara checked in at the hotel, she deliberately chose the cheapest standard room. The remaining money she had, from her five years of savings, was enough to last her until the end of her training, but she couldn't afford to splurge. She changed into a clean cotton and linen shirt and jeans, and just as she was about to order a simple meal, she ran into Liam and Vanessa.
Vanessa wore a champagne silk dress, a limited-edition crocodile bag, and her makeup was as refined as if she were attending a dinner party. Liam wore a tailored suit, his watch gleaming with a cold gleam. Walking side by side, they looked like a magazine-style "wealthy couple." Upon seeing Clara, Vanessa paused, a flicker of sarcasm in her eyes. She deliberately tightened her grip on Liam's arm, her voice rising a few notches: "Liam, who's here? I thought Miss Clara had already returned to the village in the city. Why is she in a five-star hotel like this?"
Liam also frowned, his eyes sweeping over Clara's washed-out shirt, his tone filled with undisguised doubt: "Clara, why are you here? You haven't been home these few days, could it be..." He didn't finish his words, but the speculation in his eyes - as if she had seduced other men to be able to step into this "high-end place" - pierced Clara's heart like a needle.
Clara didn't want to get entangled with them and quietly turned around to find another corner, but Vanessa quickly stepped forward to stop her: "Hey, Miss Clara, don't leave! We haven't asked you yet. This hotel costs several thousand a night. How can you afford it with your salary? Did you find a 'rich man'? After all, for a girl like you with no family background, this is the only way to stay in a good hotel."
"Get out of the way." Clara's voice was light, but with a barely perceptible chill.
Liam stepped forward and grabbed her wrist: "Clara, I know you're still angry with me, but you can't humiliate yourself! Come home with me and don't embarrass yourself here." His tone was full of "this is for your own good", but the contempt in his eyes could not be hidden.
Clara shook his hand off with force, leaving a red mark on her wrist: "Where I go and who I'm with is none of your business." After saying that, she stopped looking at them and walked straight to the private room area deep in the restaurant - she saw an empty private room when she passed by just now, at least she could avoid the entanglement of these two people.
But just as she pushed the door open and sat down, the door to the private room was pushed open again. Liam and Vanessa actually followed her in directly. Vanessa even deliberately sat across from her, waving the menu in her hand. "Ms. Clara really knows how to choose a place. The minimum bill for this private room is over ten thousand. But then again, someone else is paying, so you don't have to worry about the money." She paused, her eyes falling on the half-brooch chain exposed from Clara's collar - the Bennett family brooch was hidden in her shirt, with only a little silver edge showing. "Speaking of which, what are you wearing around your neck? Could it be glass beads bought at the small commodity market? And you're pretending they're gems, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Liam also agreed with a smile: "Vanessa is right. If you like jewelry, I will buy you a sterling silver necklace after I have reached a cooperation agreement with the Bennett family's subsidiary. It is better than you wearing these 'fakes'." When he mentioned the "Bennett family", his tone was full of yearning - that was the top wealthy family he had tried so hard to get close to, but he didn't know that the "fake" he was talking about was the token of the Bennett family's heir.
Clara didn't say anything, but just picked up the water on the table and took a sip, but her fingertips secretly clenched the cup - she didn't want to reveal her identity before the end of the experience, but the ridicule of these two people came like a tide, almost drowning her calm.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the private room door, and the hotel owner himself walked in, carrying two bottles of red wine. He was dressed in a custom-made suit and had a respectful demeanor. His eyes immediately fell on Clara, a flicker of confirmation in his eyes. He had seen this young lady from a distance a few years ago when the Bennett family was inspecting one of their hotels. Although she was wearing sunglasses at the time, he had a vague memory of her demeanor and features.
"Miss," the boss put the red wine on the table and said in a gentle tone, "This is the 1982 Lafite that our hotel has collected. We specially send it to you for tasting." As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Clara, indicating that he would not reveal her identity.
Clara's heart moved slightly, and she nodded gently: "Thank you."
But before she could say anything more, Vanessa stood up suddenly, grabbed the boss's hand, and said excitedly, "Boss, you're sending this to us, right? My husband, Liam, is negotiating a partnership with a subsidiary of the Bennett family. You must have heard about it and came here to please us!" As she spoke, she glanced at Clara smugly, "Look, if it weren't for us, you would never have the chance to see such expensive red wine in your life."
Liam also echoed, his face full of pride: "Boss, you are thoughtful. We are still moving forward with the cooperation. Please take care of me in the future."
The smile on the boss's face froze for a moment, but he didn't break it. He just nodded politely: "Thank you both for your kindness." After that, he gave Clara a subtle look and turned to leave the box.
Vanessa picked up the bottle of red wine and shook it knowingly. "Ms. Clara, have you ever seen such fine wine? This bottle costs millions . You can't even afford it with your entire lifetime salary."
Clara watched her clumsy movements and finally couldn't help but speak, her voice calm but clear. "This 1982 Lafite has fine tannins and aromas of black currant and cedar. It needs at least two hours to decant. Shaking it so violently will damage the wine's structure, and even the best wine will become sour and astringent." She paused, her eyes falling on the label on the bottle. "Also, this bottle of wine has subtle traces of gilding on the edge, a technique unique to the winery back then. Imitations are rare on the market."
Vanessa's face flushed instantly, and Liam frowned, his tone questioning, "How do you know all this? I'm afraid you just copied it down from a few wine tasting magazines and pretended to understand it?"
"That's right!" Vanessa agreed immediately. "How could a girl from a village in the city possibly know anything about red wine? You must be making it up! Even if you're right, so what? Can you afford it? You'll just have to watch us drink it for the rest of your life!"
Clara looked at their frustrated expressions and suddenly felt bored. She stood up, picked up her canvas bag, and said calmly, "If you like, drink slowly. I have something else to do, so I'll be leaving now."
Today is the last day, and the car that will pick her up from the Bennett family will be arriving soon.
