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 guard’s face flushed. “I… I mean, look at him, Ms. Rose. I was just doing my job, keeping the place safe for people like you.”
He attempted a weak smile. “Surely you wouldn’t want folks like him—”
Emily cut him off.
“This ‘folks like him’ you’re talking about happens to be my guest today. He saved me from some serious trouble not long ago, and I invited him here. You’re stopping my guest.”
The guard’s eyes widened, and his face turned pale as he stammered, “I… I had no idea! Ms. Rose, please! I didn’t realize he was… your guest!” He quickly dropped to his knees, his earlier arrogance gone in an instant. “Please forgive me, Ms. Rose! It was a mistake, I swear! I shouldn’t have offended your guest.”
Turning to Max, the guard’s expression was desperate.
“Sir, I… I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean any harm. I’ll crawl to you and beg for forgiveness if you’d like! Just… just please don’t have me thrown out.”
Emily crossed her arms, her gaze icy.
“And what about that promise you made? I seem to recall you saying you’d eat a toilet if Max could afford a meal here.”
The guard’s face turned a deep shade of red, and he looked at her, trembling.
“Ms. Rose, please… it was a mistake! I didn’t mean it literally. I… I was blind! I misjudged him! Please, I beg you, have mercy!”
The guard looked mortified, dropping to his knees as he stammered out an apology.
“Ms. Rose, please… I didn’t know he was your guest. It was a misunderstanding. I—I was just doing my job, I swear! Please, don’t hold this against me.”
Emily’s face remained impassive.
“Doing your job by judging people on appearances? I don’t think that’s quite the job description.” She looked down at him, her voice sharp.
“You can beg for forgiveness all you want, but I’m not interested in excuses.”
The guard’s voice shook. “Please, Ms. Rose, I’m sorry!”
With a dismissive wave, Emily turned to Max.
“Let’s go, Max. We have better things to do.”
Ignoring the guard’s continued pleas, she led Max through the entrance as onlookers whispered among themselves.
Max looked over at her, both impressed and curious.
“Emily… that was… amazing. Thank you. I had no idea you carried so much influence here.”
Emily shrugged with a small smile.
“It’s nothing, really. People like him need to be reminded that respect isn’t based on someone’s clothes. Besides,” she added with a grin, “you helped me out before, so it’s only fair I return the favor.”
“Well, I appreciate it,” Max replied, a touch of awe in his voice.
“You didn’t have to go that far.”
Emily looked him up and down, her eyes assessing.
“Actually, I think we should do something about this look of yours. You’re overdue for an upgrade.”
Max laughed, a little self-conscious.
“I guess I could use a few new clothes.”
“Let’s not hold back then,” Emily said, steering him into a nearby luxury designer store.
The attendants greeted her with wide smiles, clearly recognizing her.
As they entered, Max couldn’t help but admire the array of high-end suits, jackets, and designer clothes.
It was a world he had never dared to step into before.
Emily wasted no time, browsing through racks of clothing and pulling out various items.
She handed him a smart jacket and a pair of tailored jeans.
“Try these. They’ll bring out your confidence, and I want to see you in something that makes a statement.”
Max took the clothes, looking a bit dazed.
“You really don’t need to go this far, Emily…”
Emily shook her head.
“Nonsense. You deserve this. Now, go try them on.”
A few minutes later, Max emerged from the fitting room, looking transformed in the sharp jacket and well-fitted jeans. Emily smiled approvingly.
“Much better. But we’re not done.”
For the next half hour, Emily helped Max pick out several more outfits—some casual, others more formal, all high-quality and tailored to perfection.
Max felt a surge of gratitude and admiration as he watched Emily in action, her confidence and poise making every interaction effortless.
He glanced at her as they waited at the counter.
“Emily, I don’t even know how to thank you. You’ve done so much for me already.”
Emily waved it off with a smile.
“Trust me, it’s my pleasure. You don’t need to thank me.” She paused, her gaze softening.
“People shouldn’t have to face what you did out there. Maybe now they’ll think twice before judging you.”
As Emily stepped up to the counter to pay, she suddenly felt a hard bump from behind, and her shopping bags slipped from her grasp, tumbling to the floor.
She turned around, her expression calm but questioning.
“Oh, look at that! Are you blind or what?” sneered the man who had bumped into her.
His voice dripped with arrogance.
Max’s eyes widened as he recognized the voice.
Johnson. And, standing beside him, glancing at Emily with an equally disdainful expression, was none other than Amanda, his ex-girlfriend.
Emily straightened, unfazed.
“Excuse me? You walked into me.”
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
"let go of my hand right now, you worthless piece of trash, or you'll regret ever stepping foot in this restaurant." The man hissed, his face twisted with fury.His efforts to escape Max's hold just made him seem more pitiful.Max's face remained still, his grasp solid. "Not happening unless you guarantee to leave the waitress alone. I will not tolerate your horrible actions."The man's lips curved into an unpleasant grimace."You worthless nobody; you have no clue what you are getting engaged with. These shoes?" he snarled, and continue,"Maurice Laurent personally made these; they are not some cheap department shop trash. There only are three pairings in the whole earth!"His voice soared dramatically so that every customer may hear his declaration."Every pair is worth more than what this inept waitress would earn in a decade of miserable living!"Whispers and gasps floated about the eatery. Many customers got out their phones to quickly capture what was happening right before the