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 towering, glass-walled center, and memories flooded back.
He smiled ruefully, remembering all those times Amanda had visited this place, always excited for “just a little shopping.”
“She’d always ask me to come in,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“I’d just hand over cash I didn’t have and sit outside, waiting. For what?” He chuckled dryly. “Trying to buy her happiness. Who was I kidding?”
But then, standing there, a realization hit him.
“Wait—I own this now. This is my family’s business.” He looked up at the sleek building, an amused smirk forming.
“Amanda would have loved that. But all those times I felt small? I get it now… I was never lacking; I just didn’t have the money.”
A breeze blew past, rustling his shirt, and he took a breath.
“Weird how now that I can afford the most expensive restaurant.”
The taxi drove off, leaving him standing there, and as he walked up to the entrance, he felt a calm settle over him, a feeling of belonging.
He paused, taking in the view one last time before stepping forward.
“And there’s nothing, or no one, here who can make me feel small again.”
As Max approached the gleaming entrance of the upscale shopping center, a security guard stepped in front of him, blocking his way with a disdainful look.
“Whoa, where do you think you’re going, buddy?” the guard asked, his eyes sweeping over Max’s worn-out jacket and faded jeans.
“Inside,” Max replied calmly, trying not to let the guard’s sneer get under his skin. “I’m here for lunch.”
The guard let out a harsh laugh. “Lunch? Here? You’ve got to be kidding me. Look, this isn’t the kind of place for… people like you.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill, waving it in front of Max. “Here, take this, find yourself a nice little burger shack down the road. Should be enough to get you a combo meal.”
Max’s face reddened as he stared at the money in the guard’s hand.
“I don’t need your money, and I don’t need your judgment,” he shot back, crossing his arms defiantly.
“I’m just here for a meal, like any normal customer.”
The guard smirked, crossing his arms as well.
“Normal customer? Look at you. This place is for people who can actually afford to eat here, not for guys pretending to play rich. Why don’t you save yourself the embarrassment?”
Max clenched his fists, his pulse racing with irritation. “You’re judging me based on my clothes? That’s ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” The guard laughed even louder, drawing the attention of a few shoppers passing by.
“No, what’s ridiculous is you thinking you could afford even a sip of water in there. You’re not fooling anyone, pal.”
Nearby, Emily Rose, she recognized the man who had saved her few days back.
She was listening the chaos, that was created in between the guard and her savior.
Max could see that the guard’s taunts were starting to draw a small crowd, and the guard only seemed to get bolder.
“Look,” the guard continued, his voice dripping with contempt, “either take the ten bucks or turn around and walk. I’m giving you a chance to save face here, alright?”
Max took a steadying breath, doing his best to keep his cool.
“What if I told you I actually could afford to eat here?”
The guard rolled his eyes.
“Oh, sure. And I’m next in line for the royal throne. Look, let’s cut the act. You’re just a broke college kid trying to look fancy for a minute. Don’t waste my time, alright?”
Max’s jaw tightened as he felt his patience slipping.
“You don’t know a thing about me. Just because I’m not dressed in designer doesn’t mean I don’t belong here.”
The guard scoffed, stepping closer with a mocking grin.
“You’re right, I don’t know you, and I don’t care to. But I’ve seen your type before—guys who walk around acting like they own the place when they can barely scrape together bus fare. How about you just leave before I make you?”
Max’s face hardened. “And what exactly would you do if I am a real customer?”
The guard snickered, his expression smug.
“Oh, let me tell you what I’d do. If you could actually afford a meal in this place, I’d be willing to eat a toilet from the restaurant!”
The crowd chuckled at the guard’s comment, a few people even encouraging his taunts.
Max felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, his gaze shifting from the guard to the onlookers who seemed to find this all so amusing.
He took a steady breath, reaching into his pocket.
“You sure about that?” he asked, his voice icy.
“Absolutely,” the guard laughed, crossing his arms. “Go ahead, big shot. Prove it!”
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
Amanda joined in, rolling her eyes. “It’s probably a piece of plastic from a toy store. Come on, Max. You’re really out here trying to fool people?”The other shoppers had started to take notice, their whispers creating a soft buzz of judgment in the air. Max stood quietly, the black card held loosely between his fingers."Max," Emily whispered urgently beside him, "you don't have to do this. Let me—"Johnson cut her off with an exaggerated gasp. "Emily, dear, don't tell me you actually believe this circus act? Look at him! He probably colored a regular card with a Sharpie!""The craftsmanship is quite poor, if you ask me," Amanda chimed in, examining her reflection in a nearby mirror. "You can practically see the marker strokes."Emily's face flushed as she reached for her purse. "I can handle this," she said quietly to Max. "There's no need to—""To embarrass himself further?" Johnson interjected, slapping his knee. "Oh no, please let him continue! This is better than dinner theater
The machine beeped loudly, and the dreaded word flashed across the screen in unforgiving red: DECLINED.Max felt the weight of that single word hit him, his confidence momentarily shaken.He frowned, glancing down at his black card, disbelief flickering across his face.From behind him, a loud, exaggerated laugh echoed through the store. Amanda stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.“Oh, look at Mr. High Roller. Can’t even afford a little shopping spree? Poor Max!”Johnson chimed in, crossing his arms and smirking.“Guess it’s true what they say, huh? All bark, no bite. Or should I say, all card, no cash?”Bystanders, intrigued by the commotion, paused in their own shopping to watch the scene unfold.Their whispers grew louder, blending with Amanda and Johnson’s taunts.“Isn’t that the guy who’s always bragging about his car?” one bystander murmured.“Yeah, what a fake,” someone else agreed. “Probably rented the suit, too.”Max tried to ignore the whispers and forc
Max handed over a sleek, metallic card to Mr. Collins, the store manager.The manager's eyes widened slightly as he received the card, and his fingers trembled slightly as he inspected it.The unique design, the modest insignia—they were recognizable. This was no ordinary card.How could he get anything like this?Mr. Collins' eyes flickered up, assessing Max with curiosity and skepticism.Could he truly be important?"Excuse me," Mr. Collins said, his voice hesitant."This is a very rare card. How did you get it?Max grinned calmly. "This is mine. Is there an issue?"Mr. Collins gulped, his attention returning to the card.He'd heard rumors that a strong family's ownership had lately been passed to an unknown heir—a young guy whose name was kept secret.Could it be him?"None at all, sir.I just didn’t expect..." He stopped himself, recognizing how rude his first reply must have been. He straightened his posture and adopted a more professional demeanor."I apologize, Mr. Max. Please l
"Is that... Max?" Amanda whispered to Johnson, her perfectly manicured nails digging into his arm as they watched Max being escorted into the private shopping room. "Why would they even let him in there?"The boutique's crystal chandeliers cast elegant shadows across the marble floor as Max disappeared behind the mahogany doors with the store manager hovering attentively beside him."Probably just window shopping," Johnson scoffed, adjusting his designer watch. "You know how these stores let anyone in these days."The manager quickly escorted Max to the VIP lounge, his hand hovering nervously behind Max's back. The exclusive space was a stark contrast to the chaotic scene outside – all leather chairs, dim lighting, and soft jazz playing in the background."Please, Mr. Max, make yourself comfortable. I'll handle your withdrawal personally," the manager said, gesturing to a plush armchair. "Can I get you anything? Perhaps our finest scotch?"Max settled into the chair with a slight smir
The glass doors of the luxury boutique swung shut behind them as Emily and Max stepped onto the bustling sidewalk.The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the designer shopping bags they carried, and a gentle breeze ruffled Emily's perfectly styled hair."I have to say," Emily began, her lips curving into an amused smile, "when I first spotted you in those clothes earlier, I was all set to play fairy godmother. But it seems my charity services aren't needed after all, Mr. College Student."The way she emphasized the last words made Max chuckle. The shopping bags in his hands rustled as he shifted his weight, designer labels catching the sunlight."About that..." Max started, preparing to explain his true identity.The weight of his American Express Black card seemed heavier in his pocket after the day's events."No, really," Emily continued, her eyes twinkling with genuine interest."Most college students I know are surviving on ramen noodles and student loans. But here you ar
Max sat down in the soft chair.The yellow light from the restaurant's general lighting lit up his table. He looked down at his plate and was amazed by the wonderful smell of his carefully prepared food.It was the most expensive thing he had ever eaten, and each bite made him dream of the kind of wealth he had dreamt once, which has become now into reality.But his pleasure was cut short by a sudden commotion nearby.The voices grew louder and more angry, sharp, and mean.Max turned his head and saw a young man standing over a girl who looked about twenty years old.Her uniform was simple, her hands trembling as she tried to keep her head down, tears already glistening in her eyes."You stupid girl!" The man barked, and his voice was filled with disdain."Do you even know how much these shoes cost?"The girl said, "Sir, I'm so sorry." I meant not to—"He cut her off with a sneer and asked, "Didn't mean to? You poor little beggar didn’t mean to, of course. But you never know where you