"Did you hear that the Peninsula Hotel's new Executive Head Chef is just some completely uneducated, random kid who somehow bought his way into the board of directors?" a wealthy, overweight food critic sneered loudly, as he swirled a glass of vintage champagne.
"He is actively courting death if he genuinely believes his massive bank account can compete with literal Michelin-starred grandmasters," a rival hotel owner agreed maliciously, crossing his arms with a deeply jealous smirk.
"I heard he is just a broke college graduate who got lucky with some shady crypto investments," a younger, arrogant heir mocked softly, eager to watch a newcomer fail.
"But who even is this Rick Smith? Has anyone in our circle actually seen his face?" a highly surgically enhanced socialite asked, fanning herself curiously with a gilded event program.
