Everything belongs to me

CHALLENGE

Alexander rested in his seat, feeling at peace and enjoying himself as the driver started the ride, but then, by accident, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw that the driver was looking at him in a strange way.

“What is it?” Alexander asked, frowning about being stared at like that.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but by any chance, are you going to visit someone or maybe someplace, and you’re using the Del Monte Royale Casino as a benchmark?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexander asked, crossing his arms in dissatisfaction.

He was skeptical about the meaning behind the driver’s words.

“I mean, I was wondering if you inputted the Del Monte Royale Casino into the app so that I'd take you to that general location.”

Alexander raised a brow. For some reason, he felt insulted, but he wasn’t sure if he was being paranoid or not.

“And what if I say I’m actually going there because I plan on going into the casino and gambling? Is that a problem?” Alexander asked, his voice and demeanor seeming hostile.

Through the rearview mirror, he saw the look of disbelief on the driver’s face.

“Like that?” The driver replied.

“Like what?” Alexander snapped back.

“Like how you’re dressed. First of all, you have a school uniform on and secondly, look at how rough you look. You have dirt and blood all over what you’re wearing, and your hair too is a complete mess. I know I picked you up in front of a hospital, which explains the blood, but shouldn’t you get cleaned up and changed first before going somewhere as popular and high-status as the Del Monte Royale casino?”

After hearing the driver’s advice, Alexander looked down at what he had on and realized that the man made a lot of sense.

How could he confidently carry himself to the Del Monte Royale casino the way he was? Did he want to be stared out like someone who was out of place?

Going the way he was to such a high-status place as the Del Monte Royale casino, which usually had celebrities and millionaires as the frequent patrons would only mean instant disrespect.

In fact, he wouldn’t even be allowed into the building.

“I know I’m not one to talk about this because I drive an Uber, but you should know that you have to dress to impress. Also, I don’t know if you haven't thought about this, but because of your uniform, it’s obvious that you’re under the legal age to go into a casino, especially one that's that popular and strict with rules.”

Through the rearview mirror, the driver looked at Alexander from top to bottom, looking extremely underwhelmed by the young man sitting in his backseat.

Maybe his impression would have been different, more favorable if he knew the exact amount of money that was sitting in that same young man’s bank account at that moment, but sadly, he was oblivious.

“So, unless you’re from a very rich and influential family, which I doubt you are, or else you wouldn’t be using Uber, then you won’t be allowed into the building, which means that you would have wasted your time going there. Even if you get changed, since you’re not from a rich family, you won’t be able to buy your way through the front door as I seriously doubt you have that kind of money on you”, the driver said.

Alexander grunted.

This time, after listening to all the man had to say and accepting that there were some good points made like before, Alexander became annoyed.

Discarding the advice for a moment, Alexander could tell that the driver was looking down on him, and that made him angry.

Did he know how much Alexander was worth at that moment? He didn’t, so how dare he look down on the new young multimillionaire and speak to him the way he just did? Alexander thought.

The young multimillionaire wasn’t going to just sit there and allow all of that slide. He had gotten enough of people speaking to him like he was insignificant, and so he chuckled silently.

“You’re right. I can’t believe I didn’t think about how I was dressed before booking this ride to go to the Del Monte Royale casino.” Alexander said.

“I was only trying to help. Anyway, I know it will cost a little extra but if you’d like, you can tell me where your house is, and I’ll take you there. Once you get cleaned up, I can then take you to the Del Monte Royale casino like originally planned. Hopefully, once cleaned and in a slightly better outfit, they’ll allow you into the building, even though I doubt that’ll happen because your age is still an issue. You can at least dream.” The driver said and Alexander remained quiet, staring at the man.

“Before you tell me what your address is, I just want to let you know that I won’t be able to stop the progress of the ride when we get to your house. So, you’ll have to hasten how long you spend getting clean and changed, or else your meter will keep reading and the money you have to pay at the end of the ride will be much higher, but since you want to go and gamble, I’m sure you have enough money to pay me” the driver said with a mocking and condescending tone.

Alexander had served Fredrick, Starr, and all the other Dove family members for years and, as such, had dealt with their discrimination for just as long, so he was very good at catching on when someone was speaking through both sides of their mouth.

He knew that the driver was trying to belittle him with everything he had just said, and he also knew that the driver was trying to get as much money as possible from him by suggesting this little detour.

At first, it might have seemed like the man cared about him, but Alexander was able to decipher his true intentions, which were to get as much money from him as possible while also insulting him in the process, and the young multimillionaire didn’t appreciate that one bit.

Alexander smacked his tongue.

The driver thought he was the only one who could play nasty games, but he was dead wrong. Even Alexander could play games, and he was sure as hell not going to lose.

After he had prepared himself to deal with the driver and put him in his place, Alexander cleared his throat.

The driver faked a smile and said “So, where is your address? You have to get changed before going to the Del Monte Royale casino. Remember that.”

Alexander smirked “That’s right. I’m going to change into a better outfit, but we don’t have to go to my house to do that.”

The driver furrowed his eyebrows “We don’t?”

“Yup,” Alexander replied cockily.

“If we don’t go to your house, then how and where are you going to get cleaned up and changed?” The driver asked, sounding skeptical.

Alexander, smirking, looked ahead and pointed, saying “You can just stop me in front of that building right there. That’s where I’m going to get what I’ll be changing into.”

Curious, the driver swiftly looked at where Alexander was pointing at and asked “Where?”

“Right there. Just park slowly, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.” Alexander said, smirking confidently.

Following instructions, the driver slowed down his momentum until he stopped in front of the exact building Alexander had pointed to.

“Great. This is the exact place I wanted you to stop at.” Alexander said.

The driver looked out through the passenger seat window and then he frowned.

“Here? You want me to park here? Seriously?” He asked with hostility.

“Yup”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“How is it ridiculous?” Alexander asked.

“This is one of the popup shops owned by the world-famous designer, Gustav. Every piece of clothing in this building is priced at least fifteen thousand dollars. You seriously expect me to believe that this is where you want to get your outfit for the Del Monte Royale casino?”

Wanting to show this stupid driver that he had messed with the wrong person, Alexander smirked.

“That’s right. This is where I’m going to get my outfit. Don’t believe me?” He taunted him.

The driver looked at the entrance of the shop, laughed, then looked at Alexander.

“I know you’re trying to act like a big shot, talking about going to the Dem Monte Royale casino to gamble, but you can never afford any outfit from that shop. I doubt you even have enough money to pay me for this ride.”

“So you’re doubting my ability to purchase something from this shop?”

“That’s right” the driver replied, raising his nose at Alexander.

He didn’t know that he was falling deeper into Alexander’s trap.

“And if I can? ”

“Then I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. For free.” the driver declared.

Alexander thought for a moment and the proposal wasn’t enough.

“What? You think that the offer is too little?” The driver scoffed. “This brat thinks he’s too big for the offer.”

Alexander shrugged.

“Alright then. Here’s another offer I know you can’t refuse. I’ll go down on my knees and lick your shoe if you’re able to buy a proper and complete outfit, which in this shop should be about fifty thousand dollars. Seventy thousand if you’re buying shoes too”

Finally, Alexander was pleased with the proposal.

Alexander, who didn’t expect to hear that kind of deal, but liked it, grinned from ear to ear.

He had the money to keep his end of the deal and as a result, was extremely confident in his ability to win the challenge.

Without saying a word, Alexander grabbed the door, opened it, and stepped outside.

He turned back, staring at the driver through the opened back door, and saw the wicked smirk the man had.

“Just so you know, if you fail to keep your end of the deal then I’ll make you regret ever messing with—“ he said, but Alexander cut him off with a hand gesture.

With all the pride and confidence he could muster, the young multimillionaire said “No need to finish that sentence because it’s never going to happen. Now, fucking watch me do what I said I was going to.”