Xander System And The Blitz

13...The trouble...

Mr Russell had started checking his tablet, his face set in a frown of confidence.

"He looks like a man about to explode from excess pompousness" Jeremy muttered to Alec, who couldn't help but laugh.

Mr Russell paused to shoot them a glare before taking his eyes back to the tab. In less than five seconds, his expression began to change.

He looked at Alec with a frown of confusion. "What's your name again?"

"Alexander Todd."

"Yeah, Alexander Todd," Jeremy supported, his eyes dancing "You found it already, right?"

"No," Sam clicked his tongue scornfully "Mr Russell did not find Alec's name, and now...."

"I found the name" Mr Russell interrupted with a crack in his voice.

"You... what?" Sam furrowed his brows "You did?"

"Y...yes" He stammered

"That's impossible" Sam countered, eyes wide with disbelief.

Alec and Jeremy smirked in satisfaction.

Mr Russell looked at Alec but he was unable to meet his eyes properly. "Your..." he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Your reservation is under Alexander Todd. Full table" He swallowed heavily. "VIP seating."

"VIP seating?!" Jeremy, Sam and his girlfriend exclaimed in unison.

The waiters gasped audibly, exchanged glances, and chorused "VIP seating."

"Bro, I didn't know you got us a VIP seating" Jeremy said to Alec, his voice at a low volume "You know that stuff is expensive, like crazy expensive"

Alec smiled without uttering a word.

Jeremy grinned and straightened his shoulders "You know I warned y'all," he said aloud "Told you to do the right thing if you don't wanna be put to shame, now look what happened" He gestured dramatically to Alec. "Look... what happened"

Alec glanced from Sam to his girlfriend, who still had her mouth opened in shock, then to the waiters whose eyes were opened wide with surprise....and finally to Mr Russell. "Well?"

Mr Russell forced out a smile "Right...right this way, sir"

As Alec and Jeremy walked to their seats, Sam couldn't help but stare. He was trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Soon, the head waiter returned to his post to usher Sam and his girlfriend to their table.

"VIP seating" Sam muttered, blinking repeatedly. "No, that.... that's not possible" He shook his head, refusing to accept defeat "Mr Russell, there must be a mistake somewhere, check your—"

"There is no mistake" Mr Russell interrupted and pressed his lips tight.

"But he is a first timer here, isn't he?" Sam threw his arms up. "I mean...you don't give VIP seating to first timers, right?"

"First timers can be given VIP seating if they pay a huge amount of money upfront while making the reservation." Mr Russell clarified in a mumble.

"No!" Sam growled. "You don't understand, Mr Russell. Alec is a poor shitty boy from the slums, there's no way he can afford to pay for VIP seating."

"Yes, Mr Russell" The girl supported, nodding quickly "There's no way a boy like Alec can pay for VIP seating. Even Sam did not pay for that, he paid for Premium seating"

"Shut up, Linda" Sam seethed, clenching his fist.

"But that's the truth, you paid for Premium seating" Linda mumbled, flipping her well straightened hair with a frown.

"Well I didn't know this would happen, and the money that asshole used to pay is probably not his" Sam replied harshly.

Mr Russell inhaled. "Right this way, please."

Sam shook his head "No."

Linda paused.

Mr Russell raised his brows.

"I want a VIP seating too," Sam stated. "How much will that cost me?"

Linda giggled happily, giving Sam her affectionate look. "That's the Sam I love"

Sam smiled, drawing Linda closer to himself. He was going to make sure he disgraced Alec before leaving this restaurant.

****

Alec had looked around their reserved table and admired how the soft glow from the chandelier cast a warm light over the crisp white tablecloth.

He had never been in a VIP seating but he had heard and read about it in the past. And of course, he had also being mocked. He was told he could never even step into the entrance of a luxurious restaurant, let alone sit in VIP seating.

Alec saw that the VIP seating here was an open one where tables are spaced far apart for privacy but guests can still see each other.

"You know, I feel like I'm rich by association" Jeremy commented, already checking out the menu.

Alec also opened the menu, his eyes scanning the different dishes and wines. Jeremy glanced at him and saw how collected he was.

"Why are these prices not freaking you out?" He asked and Alec shrugged with a smile. "You know the first time I ordered a lobster thermidor here, I was smiling like a fool in love, but when the bills came, I nearly fainted"

Alec laughed, his eyes still on the menu. "At least you ordered a lobster thermidor, I don't know what to order" He shook his head "ninety percent of the food on this menu sounds like it's from Pluto"

It was Jeremy's turn to laugh and just then, he caught Sam and Linda taking their seats at a table that was few feet away from theirs.

"Sam?" Jeremy muttered, frowning.

Alec looked up, traced Jeremy's eyes, and saw Sam indeed sitting there. He threw Alec a wink but Alec remained unbothered.

"Hm, I feel like they're gonna be causing trouble soon" Jeremy mumbled, glaring at them.

Alec stared Sam and his girlfriend as flipped through the menu. "I am ready for their troubles"

Sam looked up from the menu and made eye contact with Alec.

Alec smirked and sent a wink of his own.

The trouble had just started.