Salute To The General (Nathan Cross) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 The Cloud Palace

Sean gave Benson and his family a dismissive glance and announced, “We have no tables for you in the main hall. There’s a small table in the corridor that would be enough for your whole family. Tuck in now; dinner is about to be served.”

All eyes in the room turned towards Benson and his family as if they were some strange-looking aliens who had just descended on earth.

While everybody sat in the main hall, which was the Peony Hall, Benson and his family had to squeeze themselves to fit into the miserable, tiny table in the corridor.

Nothing could be more humiliating than to be treated like some downbeat outcasts. How they had wanted to walk away from the banquet, snubbing all the insults. Nonetheless, Benson and his family put up with the embarrassment with gritted teeth and clenched fists. They did not want to be seen as impertinent and rude, simply walking away from his dad’s birthday banquet.

They walked over to the lone table in the corridor and sat down, under the mocking eyes of their guests and relatives.

The banquet had officially begun!

The guests at the banquet were treated to a sumptuous feast with successive delectable, mouth-watering gourmet dishes. All except for the solitary table in the corridor.

They waited till the guests had finished their last round of desserts, yet there was still no food served on their table.

When the dinner was almost finished, Samuel came over and ordered the servers to serve the leftovers to Benson and his family.

As if it was the final straw, Benson and his family could not contain their rage and resentment anymore. What do they take us for? Beggars or dogs that are only entitled to leftovers?

As if he had reached the tipping point, Benson gave an uncharacteristic scowl and stood up abruptly from the table. “Let’s go,” he urged stoutly. “We’re done with the banquet.”

Sean was merrily clinking glasses with some of his most distinguished guests at his banquet when Samuel approached him and whispered in his ear, “Dad, Benson, and his family have skipped the dinner and left the banquet. They’d seemed rather displeased.”

“Huh! Serves them right for giving me a rotten pill for my birthday. What are they thinking? Are they really here to celebrate or to curse me? Why should I feed them with all the wonderful food? I’d rather feed the dogs.”

...

The moment they exited the hotel, Leah, who was bitter, lashed out at Nathan.

“Look at you and your dumb idea. We’d assigned you the task of finding a suitable birthday present for Sean. What the hell were you thinking, presenting him with an embarrassing pill as a gift? Thanks for making us look like a fool in front of everybody, making them feed us with leftovers as if we were some kind of beggars. What an ingenious idea of yours!”

Penny tried to placate her mother, “I’m sure that Nathan hadn’t intended so, Mum.”

“Let’s stop arguing.” Benson suggested gloomily, “We’ve utterly embarrassed ourselves in front of our friends and relatives today. I’m sure that dad would only find us more repulsive than ever. Our situation would only take a turn for the worse.”

“Just calm down, everybody. Soon they’ll be knocking at our door, begging us for the pill,” Nathan asserted.

Penny shot him a rueful smile, “Come on, Nathan. We’ve had enough of your nonsense. How could that be possible?”

“Didn’t they just throw the pill away in front of everyone? What makes you think that they would eat their words and beg us for it?”

“Even if grandpa would fall sick, he has the cash and means to seek out the best medical treatment. He doesn’t need your pill at all.”

But Nathan had no qualms about his prediction, “Just relax, I’m convinced they’ll eat humble pie and return to us for the pill.”

His assuring demeanor was no different from when he had predicted Mr. Harvey’s appearance for his apology.

Penny and her family were befuddled by his words. What made him so sure of his prediction?

Their thoughts were interrupted when Queenie mewled pitifully, “Queenie is hungry, Papa. When can we have our lunch? I saw them having so much food on their tables earlier! It makes me so hungry.”

Queenie was referring to the scrumptious and appetizing food that was served at Sean’s seventieth birthday banquet. The exhaustive list was made up of glamorous and expensive dishes that had included Wagyu beef, foie gras, caviar, abalone, lobsters, and many more. Any single dish could cost them a month to even a whopping full year’s salary, burning a hole in their pockets.

“Those dishes are far too expensive, Queenie. We can’t afford them.” Penny explained to her daughter, “Mama will cook you something else when we get home.”

But Nathan insisted, “What makes you think that we can’t afford them? Come on, let’s treat ourselves to a good meal today.”

“But we don’t have the money, Nathan...” Penny trailed off in a diffident tone.

“Don’t worry, let me pay for the meal. I do have a few pennies for that,” Nathan reassured her.

Though he was never obsessed with money and wealth, Nathan was pretty sure that he had a bankroll of up to tens of millions. It had all meant nothing to him, as they were just figures.

Cloud Palace - the most expensive restaurant in Channing.

It was situated at the highest level of the highest building in Channing - The Pinnacle.

The upscale restaurant overlooked the most breathtaking panoramic view of Channing, boasting the most premium ingredients and the most accomplished chefs who would whip up dishes that could swoon your palate with delight.

Cloud Palace was exclusive, being available to only those who could boast excessive wealth, power, and status.

Those who were filthy rich but lacked the prestige and position in society would be snubbed at Cloud Palace.