why does the narrator consider his millionare friend to be the best friend hes ever had and the greatest influence on his life?

When the narrator nervously shares his plan with the millionaire, the man responds with incredulity that the narrator, who has been easily passing for white, would choose to live the life of a "colored man". The millionaire is very pragmatic, and believes that it is important to be happy in life and that the narrator should continue to improve his fortunes in Europe. The narrator finds a great deal of truth in these words; but even though he feels he is being a bit selfish, he decides to return to the South. His relationship with the millionaire gets the narrator to consider isues of race from a fresh perspective.