From Darkness to Light: Darwin's Rise

Chapter 0014

13

When Darwin arrived at Purgatory nightclub, he spotted Nick waving him.

"Darwin, over here!" Nick called out with a grin. A group of their old friends were gathered around drinking and laughing. As he made his way over, one face in the crowd caused him to freeze in his tracks.

It was Trevor Mason, his rival from university who had relentlessly bullied him for years. He had tried to go after Lisa too but at last Lisa chose Darwin, which make him hated Darwin even more.

Trevor spotted Darwin at the same moment, a smug grin spreading across his face. He whispered something to the group he was with, mostly attractive women hanging off his arms, and they all turned to stare at Darwin with disdain.

Darwin steeled himself and continued toward Nick, trying to ignore the mocking glances. "Nick, good to see you mate. Though I wish you'd warned me Trevor would be here," he said through gritted teeth.

Nick frowned apologetically. "I didn't know, sorry. Just try to have a good time and ignore him, yeah?"

Easier said than done with Trevor staring daggers at him. Darwin grabbed a beer from the bar and chatted with Nick's group, doing his best to avoid Trevor's gaze. But it seemed Trevor wasn't willing to let Darwin enjoy his night.

"Well if it isn't Darwin the loser. Fancy seeing you in a place like this," Trevor sneered as he approached Darwin,

Darwin sighed inwardly. "Trevor. Been a while."

"A few years too long if you ask me," Trevor replied, eyeing Darwin with disdain. "I heard you got fired from your little office job. Tough luck."

"What do you want, Trevor?" Darwin asked annoyed. Trevor was just a pest.

Trevor preened under the attention of Darwin's friends watching the exchange. "Oh just catching up with an old acquaintance. Seeing how the worthless one is faring these days."

A group of vapid girls suddenly appeared at Trevor's side, hanging off his muscular frame. "This is Trixie, Britney and Jessica. We were on our way to the VIP lounge for some fun, but I had to stop and say hi."

The girls sneered at Darwin, clearly enamored with Mark's wealth and status. "We didn't know you still hung out with such...losers."

Darwin took a slow sip of beer, refusing to rise to the bait. But Trevor wasn't done. "So what are you doing now, begging on the streets?"

Darwin's friends shifted uncomfortably, sensing things were about to escalate. But before anyone could reply, Trevor continued his verbal onslaught.

"I heard through the grapevine your little fling with Lisa didn't work out after all. Pity, I was looking forward to sweeping in once you two broke up. Turns out I didn't even need to try - she's with a real man now. She upgraded from trash."

Mark flashed his Rolex and designer clothes, preening. "As you can see, I'm vice president at Riley Industries now. Make six figures easy. I'm sure I could get you a job as a janitor, if you're interested?"

The girls around Trevor giggled cruelly. Darwin felt a flash of anger but kept his calm. "Actually, I'm doing quite well for myself these days."

Trevor threw back his head and laughed. "Sure you are. Come on then, what's your big new job? Flipping burgers? "

He puffed out his chest, preening. The girls fawned over him more. Darwin smiled a little. It was time to wipe the smug grin off Trevor's face.

"As a matter of fact, I'm the new CEO of Weston Manufacturing. I believe I now outrank you, Trevor."

As Darwin revealed his new position, Trevor's eyes widened in disbelief. "CEO of Weston Manufacturing?" he scoffed, unable to mask his shock. "Please, you expect us to believe that? A loser like you?"

Weston Manufacturating specialized in technology was among the largest companies in the country. So how could such a loser be the CEO?

Trixie, one of the girls clinging to Trevor, chimed in with a laugh, "Maybe he means CEO of a Weston toy manufacturing company. You know, the ones that make little plastic cars for toddlers!"

Britney a blonde girl joined in, flipping her hair, "Yeah, Darwin, did you get that job in a cereal box?"

Jessica, smirking, added, "Weston Manufacturing is a huge company. What did you do, sweep their floors until they felt sorry for you?"

Darwin could feel his friends' eyes on him, some with pity, others with curiosity. He knew they were wondering if his claim was just a desperate attempt to save face.

Trevor, recovering from his initial shock, laughed loudly, drawing attention from nearby clubgoers. "CEO, huh? That's rich! So tell me, Darwin, how does a nobody like you suddenly become a big shot? Win the lottery and buy the company?"

Darwin remained calm, but inside, he was seething with frustration. He knew he didn't need to prove anything to Trevor, but the mocking was grating on him.

"That's exactly what losers say when they want to sound important," Trevor continued, his tone dripping with condescension. "I bet you're just a temp or an intern there, trying to make yourself sound important."

The three girls giggled, hanging on Trevor's every word. "Or maybe he's the CEO of making coffee," Trixie suggested, causing more laughter.

Trevor, emboldened by the girls' reactions, leaned in closer to Darwin. "Seriously, Darwin, how pathetic do you have to be to make up such a ridiculous lie? Everyone here knows you're not CEO material."

"I don't have to prove anything to you, Trevor," Darwin said quietly, his voice steady despite the anger boiling inside him.

"Of course you don't, because it's a lie!" Trevor exclaimed, throwing his arms up theatrically. "The day Darwin becomes CEO is the day pigs fly!"

The group around Trevor erupted into laughter again, but Darwin just took another sip of his beer, knowing that the truth was on his side.

"What's wrong, Darwin?" Trevor sneered, leaning in with a condescending smirk. "Cat got your tongue? Or did you finally realize you're outclassed here?"

Just then, a waiter approached their group, breaking the tension for a moment. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he said politely, "is one of you the owner of the Rolls Royce parked out front? It needs to be moved; it's causing a bit of a traffic issue."

A silence fell over the group. Trevor and his entourage looked at each other, puzzled. Darwin straightened up, feeling a small sense of satisfaction.

"That would be mine," Darwin said calmly, his voice steady. The surprise on Trevor's and the girls' faces was evident.

Trevor let out a bark of laughter. "You? Own a Rolls Royce? Don't make me laugh Darwin, we all know you can barely afford a wheelbarrow."

The girls joined in the laughter, their shrill voices grating on Darwin's nerves. "As if someone like you could ever be rich or successful," sneered Trixie.

"Yeah, the only nice car you'll ever see is the one you have to clean as a valet," Britney cackled.

"Or maybe you'll get promoted to washing yachts for the rich and famous. Maybe you can daydream about being a passenger while you scrub the decks!" giggled Jessica cruelly.

Darwin kept his cool as always, ignoring their jabs. Darwin simply pulled out his car keys and tossed them to the waiter. "That would be mine. Have it moved, please."