NovelTrueChapter 897: "Make sure you give your friend a warm welcome," she said.
Ethan noticed that she didn't ask whether the friend was a man or a woman. He thought it was considerate of her not to pry into the details.
After dinner, he paid the bill and left with Brenna and the others.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtOutside, the city glittered beneath the glow of neon lights.
The restaurant they had just left was upscale, the kind that attracted wealthy diners. There were always patrons who had drunk too much, hailing taxis, so many taxi drivers were waiting nearby for business.
Just as Brenna and Ethan stepped out, a commotion broke out near the entrance. Several hotel security guards were arguing with a driver.
"No parking here. Move along!" one guard barked, roughly shoving the driver.
The driver, a man in his fifties with graying hair, raised a hand and pointed toward the other taxis parked nearby. "Why can they wait here for passengers, but I can't?" he asked.
"You think you're the sas them? They've paid their fees. They're allowed to be here." The guard clapped the driver's shoulder in mock sympathy. "Look at you. Your hair's gone gray. Yet, you're still out here working. Don't you feel ashamed? A man your age ought to be retired." Another guard joined in, saying, “Why are you still driving a taxi at your age? If you want to pick up passengers here, you need to pay like every other taxi driver, understand?" "But... why?" The driver, Alec, pleaded. "Young men, I'm already old. Please don't make things harder for me. If I had any other way to survive, do you think I'd still be out here, trying to make a living at my age? Just letstay here. Please, have spity." Though Alec's words were humble, he was seething inside. The guards were humiliating him in public. These young men, barely out of school, were speaking to him like he was nothing. In the past, he would've...
Alec had once been quick to make them lose their jobs, but things were different now. He was struggling to make ends meet, so he bit back his anger. Still, something didn't sit right. He had been coming to this spot for a month, and not once had anyone mentioned needing to pay a fee.
Find your favorite stories at "Young men, maybe you're mistaken. You're not with the taxi company or City management, so why are you collecting fees?" he said, his tone growing more assertive.
Unexpectedly, one of the guards slapped him hard across the face. Alec stumbled backward and collided with a nearby car before managing to steady himself.
"How could you hit me? I'll call the police!" Alec threatened.
"We're the security guards here," one of the guards said, jabbing a finger jabbing a with a smug against Alec's forehead with expression. "If you're causing trouble, it's our duty to act.”
Alec felt utterly humiliated. His eyes flared with rage as he stared at the guards. Fine, I'm calling the police now!"
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