The clock on the dorm room wall ticked past 8 PM. Max hunched over his desk, surrounded by textbooks and notes, when Peter burst through the door, his phone clutched tightly in his hand.
"Max, dude! You gotta check this out!" Peter exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
Max glanced up from his studies, his expression weary. "What's going on?"
"Johnson Kingsley's throwing this insane pool party. It's all over FTF," Peter explained, waving his phone. "The livestream's blowing up!"
"That's great, Pete," Max replied, his tone lackluster. He turned back to his books, his scholarship weighing heavily on his mind.
Peter frowned, stepping closer. "Come on, man. Don't you want to see what's happening?"
Max shook his head. "Can't afford to waste time. These grades won't keep themselves up."
"Fair enough," Peter shrugged, flopping onto his bed. He scrolled through his phone for a moment before sitting bolt upright. "Holy crap! Max, you're not gonna believe this!"
Despite himself, Max's curiosity was piqued. "What now?"
Peter's eyes gleamed with gossip. "Word is, Johnson's planning to confess to Amanda tonight. You know, that smoking hot girl from Econ?"
Max's pen froze mid-sentence. He fought to keep his voice steady as he replied, "Amanda? No way. She'd never go for a guy like Johnson."
"How do you know?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow.
Max scrambled for an excuse, careful not to reveal his secret relationship. "Just a hunch. Besides, Amanda's serious about her studies. She probably isn't even there."
"If you say so," Peter shrugged, turning back to his phone.
As silence fell over the room, broken only by the muffled sounds from Peter's livestream, Max's mind raced. He knew Amanda was supposed to be studying at the library tonight. She'd even turned down his invitation for a quiet date, citing her need to focus on her coursework.
There was no way she'd abandon her studies for some flashy party... right? As doubt crept in, Max found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the textbook in front of him.
Suddenly, Peter's eyes widened. He let out a shout that made Max jump. "Dude! Amanda's here!"
Max's heart skipped a beat. "What? Let me see that."
He grabbed his own phone, fingers trembling as he pulled up the livestream. The camera panned across the crowded pool area, finally settling on a familiar figure. Amanda stood at the edge of the party, looking stunning in a sleek black dress.
"See? Told you she showed up," Peter said triumphantly.
Max forced a smile, trying to hide his unease. "Yeah, but look at how she's dressed. She's probably just there to tell Johnson off."
On screen, Johnson approached Amanda, flashing his trademark grin. "Glad you could make it," his voice barely audible over the music. "Care for a swim?"
The crowd around them started chanting, "Say yes! Say yes!"
Max held his breath. "She'll definitely refuse," he muttered. "Amanda hates noisy parties."
But to Max's horror, Amanda smiled brightly. "Why not?" she replied, her voice clear and excited.
Max felt like he'd been punched in the gut. This couldn't be happening.
"Don't you need to change?" Johnson asked, gesturing to Amanda's dress.
Without hesitation, Amanda reached for the zipper. "I came prepared," she said with a wink.
Max watched in disbelief as his girlfriend - the girl he'd trusted completely - stripped down to reveal a barely-there bikini. The crowd went wild, and Johnson looked like he'd won the lottery.
"Holy crap!" Peter exclaimed. "Did you see that? Amanda's smoking hot!"
Max couldn't respond. He felt like he was going to be sick.
"Hey, you okay?" Peter asked, noticing Max's pale face.
Max jumped to his feet, grabbing his jacket. "I... I need some air," he managed to say.
"What? Now? But the party's just getting good!" Peter called after him.
Max was already out the door, his mind reeling. He rushed down the stairs and out of the dorm, the cool night air doing little to calm his racing thoughts. Without really thinking, he hopped on his old bike and started pedaling furiously towards the campus pool.
As he rode, Max's hurt turned to anger. He'd trusted Amanda completely, kept their relationship a secret at her request, and this was how she repaid him?
Max pedaled furiously, his heart pounding as he arrived at the pool party fifteen minutes later. The sound of loud music and laughter filled the air, but he had no time to focus on that. His only mission was to find Amanda. Pushing through the crowd, he tried to keep calm, but a group of familiar faces spotted him."Hey, look! It's the campus charity case," one of the guys sneered, pointing at Max like he was a circus act."What's up, Rags-to-No-Riches?" asked someone else with a mean grin. Are you here to bring us food or take away our trash?"Everyone in the group started laughing. A third person spoke up and said, "Nah, man. I think he's just here to look through the trash himself." "You need to get dressed, right?"He clenched his hands and ground his teeth, but Max didn't stop. He had to find Amanda. Even though the words hurt, he wouldn't back down.At that very moment, Johnson's words boomed over the loudspeaker, making everyone pay attention. "You look more beautiful than an
“How dare you hit me!” Johnson roared; his face twisted with fury.“You filthy rat! You dare challenge me?” His voice boomed across the poolside, dripping with disdain.The crowd, previously in shock, quickly rallied behind him, their support adding to Johnson's inflated ego.“Look at this cockroach!” Johnson sneered, pacing around Max like a predator sizing up his prey.“You think you can fight me? You’ve been scurrying in the dirt your whole life!”Laughter erupted from the crowd. “He’s about to get squashed!” someone shouted.“Yeah, show him who’s boss, Johnson!” another chimed in.Johnson flexed his arms dramatically, turning to the crowd.“This rat thinks he’s a lion now, huh?” he spat, pointing at Max. “But all I see is a mangy stray dog, begging for scraps!”The crowd whooped and hollered, eagerly anticipating the fight.“You’re nothing but a street mutt,” Johnson continued, his voice brimming with arrogance.“I’ve trained with the best, and you? You’ve been running from garbag
Max managed to duck, but he was too hurt tokeep his balance."Hey! Leave him alone!" Peteryelled.The party was chaos now. People wereshouting and pushing to see the fight. In the corner, Max's friend Peter was onhis phone."Police? Yes, there's a fight..."Peter said quickly.Just when things looked bad for Max, policesirens wailed outside. Blue lights flashed through the windows."Everyone freezes!" Policeofficers rushed in.Later at the police station, Max sat in acold chair. His head was clearing up, but he was worried. The police took hisname and fingerprints, then left him waiting.The police stared at him with wide eyes andran off like he saw a ghost.Max looked around, expecting someone tocome question him soon.” How long we need to wait here?”But after the officers took hisfingerprints and noted down his name, no one came back.Suddenly, a new man walked in. He wore aplain black suit that probably cost more than Max's car.Everyone in the room seemed to back away
The black sedan rolled to a halt before a gilded gate, its towering iron bars adorned with the elegant "Montgomery" crest.Max leaned against the window, his breath fogging the glass as he took in the grandeur.“Is this it?” he asked, his voice low, almost reverent.Harrison, the ever-composed butler, nodded.“Indeed, sir. This is Montgomery Estate.”A security guard approached.Harrison handed over a thick envelope without hesitation.Max fidgeted as the guard scanned the documents.After a tense moment, the gates opened with a groan, revealing a sprawling estate bathed in sunlight.As the car eased forward, Max’s jaw dropped.A central fountain sparkled like diamonds, surrounded by gardens so manicured they seemed unreal.Marble statues peeked out from hedgerows, their lifelike gazes following the car.“It looked like a giant museum.” Max muttered.“You haven’t seen the inside yet.”Harrison said with a small smile as the car stopped at the mansion’s grand steps.Max hesitated befor
Max sat across from Richard in the grand study, trying to process the magnitude of what he’d just learned.“So... I’m really a Montgomery?” he asked, his voice tinged with awe.Richard smiled, rising from his chair.“There’s no doubt about it.”He walked to a shelf, pressed a hidden latch, and revealed a secret room.Max followed him inside, his breath catching as he took in the sight: walls lined with ledgers, monitors displaying company logos, and a central table stacked with documents.“These are our holdings,” Richard explained, gesturing to the displays.“GlobalTech Industries, Royal Crown Hotels, StreamLife, and many more.”Max’s eyes widened as recognition dawned.“Wait—these are some of the biggest names in the world. We own them?”“Correct,” Richard said with a hint of pride.“Our wealth spans continents. The Montgomery family controls assets worth trillions. And now, so will you.”Max’s head spun.Just that morning, he’d been worried about rent.Now he was being handed contr
As Max woke up, he stretched with a grin, feeling lighter than he had in years. “No budgeting, no calculating shifts…” he murmured, staring at the ceiling. “So this is what freedom feels like.”He sat up, glancing at his worn-out sneakers by the door and laughing. “Well, guess it’s time to treat myself. No cafeteria lines today—let’s go somewhere extravagant. Somewhere… off-limits,” he whispered with a smirk.As he dressed, a thought crept in. “Any restaurant, any meal, no more checking prices.” He shook his head, still marveling. He decided against the cafeteria and dressed up, calling for a taxi to take him somewhere he’d always dreamed of going. “Brightwood shopping center, please,” he told the driver, a hint of excitement in his voice.The driver glanced at him through the mirror. “Big place. Got some fancy plans for the day?”“You could say that,” Max replied, smirking to himself. “I’m thinking of treating myself to the best lunch they’ve got.”The cab pulled up to the towe
As the guard continued berating Max at the entrance, Emily Rose stepped forward, her voice calm but commanding. “Is there some reason for this commotion?”The guard immediately straightened, recognition dawning on his face. “Ms. Rose! Oh, my apologies! I… I didn’t know you were here,” he stammered, trying to regain composure and plastering a fake smile on his face. “It’s an honor to see you.”Emily looked past him, her gaze focused on Max. “And why, exactly, are you stopping this gentleman from entering?”The guard hesitated, the confident sneer fading from his face. “Uh, well… you see, Ms. Rose… this guy here, he looks like some… well, he looks like he doesn’t belong here. I thought he was, you know, just some beggar trying to cause trouble.”Max clenched his fists, struggling to hold back his frustration, but Emily’s sharp glare at the guard silenced him.“Some beggar?” she repeated coldly, raising an eyebrow. “Did you even ask who he was before jumping to conclusions?”The gu
Amanda held up the luxury handbag, twirling it with a radiant smile.“Johnson, isn’t it stunning? This bag would be perfect for me! You wouldn’t want me to leave without it, would you?”Johnson laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.“Amanda, didn’t I… just get you that luxury car last week? Maybe we could take it easy for a bit?”She pouted, her eyes widening in exaggerated disappointment.“Oh, Johnson, it’s just one little handbag. Imagine how perfect it would look with my wardrobe. Plus, everyone would know I’m spoiled by you. Don’t you want that?”Johnson hesitated, glancing at the price tag.This would go over my budget, he thought. If he gave in, he’d risk his dad’s wrath for overspending again.“Well…” He stalled, trying to think of a way out.“I mean, it’s… beautiful, but maybe we could find something similar, but, you know… less?”Amanda’s eyes narrowed slightly.“Less? Johnson, it’s not about the price; it’s about showing that you care. Are you telling me you can’t