After all, it was standard protocol for villains in powerful organizations to be instantly recognized by their subordinates.
The classic trope in any protagonist-centered story was this: the lower-ranked underlings of an organization would always fail to recognize the main character.
In fact, they might even go out of their way to mock him. Then, just as the tension reached its peak, a higher-up would appear, recognize the protagonist instantly, and the underlings would be left gaping in shock, realizing too late whom they had just provoked. At that moment, the protagonist's display of dominance would be complete.
Sitting at the dimly lit bar, sipping an non-alcoholic drink, Alex couldn't help but imagine a scenario that would elevate his mood.
He wished that, right now, some bold individual would stand up in the middle of the club and shout the classic line: "Tonight, all drinks are on me!" That would be quite the spectacle.
