Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women-Chapter 214: Spoiled Brat

Ethan focused on his meal, savoring the well-seasoned dish in front of him.

But of course, there had to be an exception.

Natalie Wren sat across from him, casually sliding in the seat as if they were old friends.

"I have to say, why pick this specific restaurant?" Natalie mused, propping her chin on one hand. "Are you here for business, or just sightseeing?"

Ethan kept his expression neutral, offering nothing in response.

He wasn't in the mood for idle chatter, and he especially wasn't in the mood to entertain someone who had forced themselves into his space.

Instead, he glanced at his plate and continued eating at his own pace, hoping she'd take the hint.

But she didn't.

Natalie leaned forward slightly, clearly not deterred by his silence. "You know, most people would kill to have a conversation with me. You're acting like I don't exist."

Ethan sighed inwardly. She was persistent.

"Waiter," he called, ignoring her entirely.

A staff member approached promptly, polite and efficient. "The check, please."

Natalie blinked at him in disbelief. "Oh, come on. You're really just going to ignore me?"

Ethan finally glanced up, meeting her gaze with an impassive stare.

"Yes," he said simply.

Her eyes widened, as if no one had ever dared to dismiss her so blatantly before.

For a second, she looked genuinely taken aback.

Ethan, on the other hand, remained unbothered.

As soon as the waiter returned, he handed over the cash without hesitation.

He had enjoyed his meal, but he wasn't going to let some stranger ruin the rest of his day.

Natalie, however, wasn't done.

As he pushed back his chair and stood up, she waved a hand in front of his face, attempting to regain his attention.

"Are you seriously not even going to ask who I am?" she asked, a bit of frustration creeping into her voice.

Ethan stopped and looked at her, this time with a slight tilt of his head.

Then, with the same level of disinterest, he said, "No."

Natalie huffed. "Do you even know who I am?"

Ethan secured the hoodie with his hands, slipping it further over his head before giving her a sideways glance. "Don't care."

He turned away, leaving her sitting there with an incredulous look on her face.

As he stepped outside, the fresh air hit him, and he immediately felt lighter, freed from whatever weird energy she had been trying to impose on him.

Raising a hand, he hailed a taxi. A cab pulled up almost instantly, and just as he reached for the door handle, he heard quick footsteps behind him.

"Hey, wait a second — " Natalie called, following him out.

Ethan gave the driver a nod before looking back at her one last time. "Seriously?"

She crossed her arms, exuding an air of annoyance. "You're the first person to ever brush me off like that."

Ethan smirked, the corner of his lips lifting ever so slightly. "Then maybe you should take the hint."

Without another word, he slid into the backseat of the taxi and closed the door behind him.

The driver, having witnessed the whole exchange, chuckled before pulling away from the curb.

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"You must be new around here," the man finally said, breaking the silence.

His voice carried a certain casual confidence, the kind that came with knowing a city inside and out.

Ethan smirked slightly, not bothering to deny it. "Yeah. First time in Silicon City."

The driver nodded as if that much was obvious. "Figured as much. Most folks who've been here a while know better than to mess with the Wrens."

Ethan's brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his expression neutral. "Wrens?"

The driver let out a low whistle. "Boy, you really are new."

There was a brief pause before he continued, his voice taking on the tone of someone about to tell a story they'd repeated many times before.

"The Wren family is one of the most influential families in this city. Old money, powerful connections, and enough businesses under their belt to make or break just about anyone who tries to make a name for themselves here."

He chuckled dryly. "Hell, if you're running a business in this city, chances are you're either working with them or trying not to get in their way."

Ethan listened carefully, though outwardly he remained indifferent.

He wasn't the type to be easily intimidated, but it was always good to know the lay of the land.

The driver tapped the wheel thoughtfully. "That girl you just brushed off? That was Natalie Wren — her family's golden girl. She's got the kind of influence that can turn someone's life upside down if she wants to. Never been ignored before, far as I know. Most people trip over themselves trying to get on her good side."

Ethan sighed, rubbing his temple. "Great. And here I thought I was just dealing with a regular spoiled rich girl."

The driver chuckled. "Oh, she's spoiled, alright. But she's got weight behind her name. If you were from a wealthy or well-connected family in this city, she could pull strings to make things very difficult for you. If you owned a business? She could make sure your reputation went down the drain overnight."

Ethan glanced out the window, watching the city blur past. "That so?"

His tone was calm, as if the idea of someone trying to sabotage him was just another minor inconvenience.

The driver nodded, seeming to pick up on Ethan's lack of concern. "You don't seem too worried."

"I'm not," Ethan replied simply.

He wasn't the type to let anyone dictate how he lived his life. He had built his success with his own hands, without needing to beg or step on others.

If Natalie thought she could ruin him just because he didn't entertain her, then she would be in for a surprise.

Still, it was worth keeping in mind. Powerful people didn't like being slighted, and rich brats who were used to getting their way were even worse.

Ethan had no intention of stirring up unnecessary trouble, but he also wasn't going to start groveling just because someone's last name carried weight.

The driver gave him another glance in the mirror, a small smirk playing at his lips. "You got guts, kid. Most folks would be sweating bullets after hearing that."

Ethan smirked right back. "Good thing I'm not most folks."

The driver let out a laugh. "Fair enough. Just don't say I didn't warn you."