Benjamin Wayne's Rise to Power

Chapter 6

The moment Benjamin agreed, the classroom fell into a stunned silence. Ryan sat there with a smirk stretched across his face, convinced he had landed the final blow. The others around him traded excited looks, already imagining the humiliation waiting for Benjamin. Someone close to Benjamin chuckled under their breath. Someone else murmured that this would be the best entertainment of the semester.

However, Benjamin stayed calm. He leaned back in his seat and pulled out his notes, which only made the whispers grow louder. 

Rose twirled her hair, shaking her head as if amazed that he was still breathing.

She looked at Benjamin over from head to toe, eyes lingering on his clothes. “Honestly, Benjamin,” she said, loud enough for the class to hear, “I thought you’d at least stop dressing like a thrift store volunteer by now.” Her gaze swept over the shirt and pants the hotel manager had curated for Benjamin. “I guess even after that security job, you’re still... you.”

Laughter followed her voice like spilled water. Quick and messy.

Ryan joined in. “Or maybe he got promoted.” He smirked at me. “Did you? New position? Polishing doorknobs? Carrying luggage? You do look slightly upgraded from yesterday.”

Benjamin leaned back in his chair. “You don’t need to know what I do,” I said. “You only need to know I can pay.”

That shut a few people up. Not because they believed him. Because they couldn’t believe the confidence in his voice.

Ryan snorted. “Look at him. Wears one decent shirt and thinks he’s royalty now.”

His voice cut through the room and people laughed. Even Professor Caldwell cracked a smile before catching himself.

Benjamin didn’t bother turning around. 

Rose rolled her eyes from the row behind Ryan, watching Benjamin with a mix of disdain and relief. Thank God I cut ties when I did, she thought. If I’d stayed with him, I’d probably be begging him for money every time he threw away his wallet just to save face. No thanks.

"One more thing," Benjamin started. “My treat tonight comes with one condition.”

The whole room perked up.

Ryan raised a brow. “What condition?”

“We split the bill. Fifty-fifty.”

A wave of surprise moved through the class. Ryan leaned forward with a sneer that spread slow across his mouth.

“Sure,” he said. “Fifty percent is still more than you can handle. So fine. I’ll play along.”

“Then it’s settled,” Benjamin replied.

And that was that.

No drama. No shouting. Just a room filled with people who suddenly couldn’t tell whether Benjamin was being stupid or terrifyingly confident.

The rest of class dragged on with tension wound tight between the rows. Whenever Professor Caldwell called for attention, no one listened. They whispered instead about the dinner. About the cost. About the fact that the Grand Prix Hotel was one of the most expensive chains in the entire city.

Somewhere in the back, Ryan already imagined the moment they would hand Benjamin the bill. He imagined the look that would appear on Benjamin's face when he realised how much it'd cost to eat at such a luxurious place. He'd finally put Benjamin in his place. The joy he felt, he couldn't wait for classes to come to an end.

Eventually, the bell finally rang.

Ryan stood at once. “Alright, let’s go. Everyone who’s in the frat and everyone who wants a good meal, follow me.” He straightened his jacket and gave Benjamin a mocking once-over. “Hope you brought your entire savings.”

Benjamin packed his bag without hurry. 

They filed out of the classroom in a noisy group. More than a dozen people joined, some invited, others just eager to see Benjamin fall flat. 

Benjamin walked behind them at his own pace. He didn’t need to look to know his bodyguards were nearby. Ryan’s group didn’t notice. They never noticed anything that wasn’t loud and flashy anyway.

Soon they reached the Grand Prix Hotels.

A tall glass facade rose above them, tinted gold under the afternoon sun. Inside, chandeliers hung low, glowing warm and bright. The walls were lined with art pieces that looked expensive enough to need their own insurance.

The group stopped for a moment in awe.

“Wow,” someone whispered. “This place is the thing.”

Another guy whistled. “Man I didn’t know it was this fancy.”

“I knew it would be high-end, but this is another level.”

Ryan looked smug, as if he owned the property. “Only the best for us.”

Benjamin walked in behind them, watching the way everyone stared at the decor. It was a nice place. Clean and elegant. But it didn’t hold a candle to the Golden Front Hotel’s private garden suites.

Funny how perspective worked.

A server approached at once. He was dressed in a crisp uniform, posture sharp, smile well-practiced. He walked straight past Benjamin and stopped in front of Ryan.

“Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the Grand Prix. Will you be the one choosing your service tier today?”

Ryan jerked a thumb at Benjamin. “He’s paying.”

The server turned to Benjamin then paused. His eyes flicked down Benjamin’s clothes. No logos. Simple cuts. Nothing extravagant. Something about that bothered him and his warm smile thinned.

“Oh,” the server said. “My apologies, sir.” But the apology had no sincerity. “Since you are covering the bill, I will give you a quick rundown of our service options.”

He didn’t wait for Benjamin’s nod.

“We offer four tiers. Basic, Silver, Gold, and Imperial.” He stressed the last one like it was meant for royalty. “Given your group size, I recommend Basic. It is our most affordable option.”

A few of Ryan’s friends exchanged smug looks.

The server continued, addressing Benjamin with a patience that felt close to mockery. “Basic will allow each person one appetizer, one main dish, and water. Silver is slightly better. Gold comes with more variety. Imperial is our highest tier and includes chef-selected menus, premium wines, and signature plates.”

He leaned in a little. “For your budget, I strongly suggest Basic.”

It was as clear as daylight. He didn’t think Benjamin could afford even the mid-tier.

Ryan folded his arms. “Come on. There are so many of us. Even if he is broke, he can’t possibly choose Basic.” He pretended to sigh. “Benjamin, for once in your life, choose something decent. Pick Silver at least.”

Benjamin shook his head. “Not necessary.”

Ryan barked a laugh. “What? You want all of us to eat on the lowest tier? Are you serious? You want to humiliate us like that?”

“I didn’t say I was choosing the lowest tier,” Benjamin replied.

“Then what?” Ryan spread his arms.

Benjamin looked at the server, calm and steady. “I want the highest tier.”