Chapter 640 Competing for Parking Spaces?
"Alright, I'll go with you this once. But why do you need me specifically?" Ryder asked, puzzled by Donna's insistence.
"Because this involves you too!" Donna explained cryptically.
"What?"
"Look, I'll send you the exact address at Phoenix Grand Hotel. Meet me there in thirty minutes! You'll understand everything then. I can't really explain it properly over the phone."
With that, Donna hung up, leaving Ryder mystified by her dramatic secrecy.
He sighed in resignation. Might as well humor her.
Before heading out, Ryder needed to check in with Sarah. Just as he was about to call her, his phone rang—it was Sarah calling him.
"I'm meeting a client at Phoenix Grand Hotel tonight to discuss a partnership," she said. "I might be home late."
Ryder frowned. "What kind of client schedules meetings this late?"
"Don't get the wrong idea! I'm the one treating them. Their team was in meetings until now, and since their office is near Phoenix Grand Hotel, I offered to take them to dinner."
"I see. That's perfect timing! I'm also going to Phoenix Grand Hotel for a college reunion. We can head home together afterward."
"Sounds good."
After hanging up, Ryder "borrowed" his delivery van and navigated to Phoenix Grand Hotel, located on Aurora City's most bustling street.
Phoenix Grand Hotel stood among the city's most prestigious accommodations.
Its prime location, luxurious decor, and impeccable service made it the preferred venue for Aurora City's elite to hold meetings and gatherings.
Ryder pulled into the hotel's outdoor parking lot, which had plenty of vacant spaces. Just as he was about to park in one, an aggressive horn blared behind him.
"What kind of junk are you trying to park here? Have you no sense of propriety? Get out of the way!" a voice shouted.
A BMW had pulled up behind him, its driver leaning out the window, demanding that Ryder move his delivery van.
"Move it! Are you deaf?" the driver continued berating him.
Ryder refused to budge. There were plenty of other parking spaces—why was this person insisting on this particular spot?
"Find another space!" Ryder called back, continuing to park his van.
"Damn it! You dare fight me for a parking spot? Do you have a death wish? I always park here!" the BMW driver shouted. "Can't you understand simple instructions? Are you deaf? Should you even be allowed in a place like this?"
"Get help," Ryder muttered, ignoring the tirade.
The parking lot was enormous with plenty of available spaces. This was clearly someone looking for trouble.
The BMW driver spat one final insult before reluctantly parking in another spot ahead. He then stepped out of his car and stormed toward Ryder.
"You're sick in the head! You're just a delivery guy from our company! Do you have any idea who I am? You dare—"
Suddenly, the man's tone changed. "Wait, I think I know you! Aren't you... Ryder? My God, why are you delivering packages?"
"And you are...?" Ryder couldn't immediately place the overweight, gel-haired man in the expensive suit.
"Zane! It's Zane! Don't you recognize me?"
Zane? Ryder had his doubts. The Zane he remembered had been even thinner than him—skinny arms and legs.
How had he transformed into this figure with a beer belly and fleshy face? His hair had thinned considerably, though he'd carefully styled the few strands that remained.
"Don't recognize me? Understandable—I've changed dramatically! I suppose successful people like me are rare in your daily life!" Zane laughed, slapping Ryder's shoulder before wiping his hand with a tissue.
Ryder's mouth twitched. He was at a loss for words.
"I see you're driving a Passion Logistics Management Company delivery van," Zane continued. "So you're working as a courier now?"
Seeing Ryder in his courier uniform with the delivery van, Zane was secretly delighted.
Back in college, Ryder had been popular with women and consistently topped their class academically.
But now? Zane smirked inwardly. What good was being a top student or good-looking if you ended up as a delivery man—and at Zane's company, no less—doing the most grueling, low-level work?
Zane couldn't hide his contempt for people like this. Still, seeing the once-impressive Ryder reduced to this position filled him with smug satisfaction.
"Being a courier must be tough," Zane continued, his superiority complex on full display. "But I believe in you, Ryder! With enough hard work, maybe someday you'll afford a used car worth a few thousand dollars—perhaps a third-hand Audi! Wouldn't that be something?"
He gestured toward his BMW. "What do you think of my car?"
"It's fine," Ryder responded neutrally.
"Fine? Just fine?" Zane scoffed. "This car cost $150,000! Not expensive, really. Once I become the general manager of Passion Logistics Management Company, I'm upgrading to a sports car. Racing cars—that's a real man's passion! Don't you agree, Ryder?"
Ryder silently observed Zane's boasting. The man was determined to flaunt his supposed superiority, even bringing up racing cars.
"Look at these leather shoes—they cost several thousand dollars. Designer brand. Oh, sorry, they're a little bit dirty now." Zane rested his foot on Ryder's van's headlight, wiping his shoe while continuing his condescending interrogation.
"I thought you went home after graduation. What brought you to Aurora City? Couldn't make it in Houston? Weren't you living off your wife? Surely you didn't need to resort to delivering packages?"
Zane wasn't fully aware of Ryder's recent circumstances, only having heard rumors.
"Just experiencing life," Ryder replied flatly.
"Haha, sure, I believe you," Zane laughed, his mouth twisting with mockery.
He removed his foot, his expensive shoes now gleaming after the cleaning.
"Listen, why not work directly for me? Just say the word. I could make you a station manager—earn more than you do now. I have at least that much authority!"
Ryder glanced at Zane, who was leaning forward eagerly, hands gesturing expectantly as if conducting Ryder toward the desired response.
"Not interested," Ryder replied coolly.
"Come on, don't be like that! We're old classmates! You're here for the reunion too, right? You should know, I'm the most successful one from our class!"
Ryder couldn't even muster the energy to respond to this.
"Why not go in together?" Zane suggested.
"No thanks. I'm waiting for Donna. You go ahead."
"Alright then! But you and Donna better show up! It's been three years since graduation, and we've had several reunions—you two are the only ones who've never attended! Don't worry about the cost—drinks are on me!"
As Zane walked away, Ryder's mouth twitched in discomfort.
Three years apart, and Zane had only become more skilled at playing all sides for his own benefit.
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