Chapter 40
"How dare you say something like that? She's my daughter!" Diana snapped.
She might not have been fond of Yolanda's looks, but that didn't give anyone the right to badmouth Yolanda before her.
"Ma'am, I'm just looking out for you. Mr. Liddell is a highly successful man. You should appreciate that he's even considering you. Taking him up on his offer is a win-win for everyone. As for your daughter, I can have a car arranged to take her home shortly." Olivia's smile carried a hint of something more.
The wine was just the beginning. Everyone knew where things were headed after that.
"Get lost!" Diana's face turned red with anger. She was used to attending proper events and had never been so disrespected. "I'm going to report you if you don't leave right now!"
"Alright, cut the act. I've had enough of your fake superiority!" Olivia scoffed.
She gave Diana a once-over. Her clothes were from Harlowe. They only cost a few thousand dollars, which was affordable for most middle-class folks. And Yolanda? She was wearing the most basic, low-end outfit imaginable. Olivia didn't even think they were worth her time.
Diana looked at the employee number on Olivia's badge and said sharply, "Call your manager. I'm filing a complaint against you."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Is that all you've got? Complaints? Our manager isn't even here!"
She wasn't concerned. Even if Diana had money, she couldn't compete with Samuel's influence. Olivia wasn't intimidated by Diana's threats with Samuel on her side.
"Hey now, no need to get all worked up, darling." Samuel, who had a seedy look about him, sauntered over. He held a glass of wine and approached Diana with a smarmy grin. "Take it easy. I'm Samuel Liddell, just here to make a new friend!"
He wore a smug expression, convinced that no matter how much Diana resisted, she'd eventually be won over by his charm.
Meanwhile, the other guys at Samuel's table, looking for excitement, got up from their seats and slowly closed in on Diana and Yolanda. They were eager to see how things would unfold.
One of the tall men gave Diana a once-over with a lustful grin. "Mr. Liddell is one of the most influential businessmen in Riverdale City. Getting on his good side could pay off for you."
"Exactly! Quit pretending and make the most of Mr. Liddell's interest while you've got the chance. Play your cards right, and you could be living in a mansion and driving a sports car before you know it!" a short, stocky man added eagerly.
The tall man nodded in agreement. "But if you don't listen and end up upsetting Mr. Liddell, you're in for a whole lot of trouble!"
"There was this actress who tried to play the saint, acting all high and mighty, and she ticked off Mr. Liddell. He yanked her from three leading roles just like that, and she ended up begging him to give her another chance."
"Looks like your family's in the business world, too. If you don't want to see it all go south, you'd better apologize to Mr. Liddell now and join him for a drink!"
Samuel's cronies eyed Diana with bold assurance, hammering her with their words and pushing her to give in.
After hearing Samuel's identity and what he could do with his influence, the other diners were keen to see how things would play out. Some of them even began to whisper among themselves.
Olivia, who had clashed with Diana earlier, shot her a triumphant smirk, as if mocking her for not knowing her place.
Seeing that Diana stayed cold and unresponsive, Samuel shifted his gaze with exaggerated interest toward Yolanda. "Is this your daughter? It's too bad she didn't get your looks. Otherwise, who knows what kind of fun we could've had together?" NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
Diana's face turned ashen with rage at being so openly insulted. "Since you know she's my daughter, you should also know I have a husband and a family. We're in a public place, so watch your mouth!"
She met Samuel's gaze with unwavering resolve. "I don't care who you are. I'm not interested. I'll call the cops if you keep harassing me!"
Then, she turned to Yolanda. "Landy, we're leaving."
Yolanda had just stood up when Olivia stepped in her way. "Did Mr. Liddell allow you to leave? Sit back down!"
Olivia reached out, trying to shove Yolanda back into her seat.