2024-11-18 21:19:53
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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 57. Upgraded
When she said that, Shaun's eyes widened in shock. How could a broke person like Van afford the golden membership?"Are you done talking, Shaun?" Van asked, a look of pride on his face. "It looks like you still have some things to say, so why don't you just say them? And when you're done, I can call your boss and tell him everything you said to me."If his boss ever heard that he was rude to a golden member, that would be the end of his job. "Uh what can I do for you? I'm Shaun Preston, the manager. I'm in charge of the restaurant, and the hotel." His attitude had changed completely from when they first entered. The Van he knew was a poor nobody, and yet he was able to pay the sum of eight million dollars on the spot. Definitely he had upgraded his status, and Shaun wouldn't want to be his enemy. Van scoffed, so Shaun could be nice to him. "I would like to make a complaint.""Complain? I can assure you, Va– Mr Everest, our restaurant only offers the best services. I don't think–""T
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 58. A Fraud?
After a while, Cassie returned with the things she got for him. She knocked on the bathroom door. "Mr Everest, the towels are here. Is there anything else you'd like me to do?""No, thanks. I'll be sure to let you know if I need anything."Van was thinking of the best way to get his revenge. He couldn't just march straight to his ex in laws house and tell them who he actually was, he needed a plan. One that would make Moses suffer for the way he treated Van like he was nothing. One that would make his ex fiancee regret leaving him. A plan that would bring the Hartley family- and all those responsible for his unfair prison sentence– to their knees. But first, he needed to get himself together. He got out of the bathroom, with only a towel around his waist, and when Cassie saw him, her face flushed and she had to look away. "Tell me more about yourself." He said. It wasn't a part of his plan but he really wanted to know more about her. Cassie didn't want to reveal her identity just
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 59. A Fraud II
After dismissing the security, Shaun marched straight to the hotel and after getting Van's room number from the reception, he barged in without so much as a knock or a warning. He thought that if he caught both of them in bed together, it would make his claims more solid, and firing her would be easier. He was surprised, however, to find Cassie seated with the guest, casually chatting like they were friends. "How dare you!" He spat angrily. "Who the hell do you think you are to sit with a guest? Is this what you're supposed to be doing?!""Mr Preston, I –""Shut the hell up! You are an attendant, and rather than doing your actual job, you decided to frolic here with a guest?!"Cassie quickly rose to her feet and walked over to him. "Mr Preston, I'm truly sorry, I was only doing as I was told by Mr Everest. If this is an offense, I had no idea, because the policy of this establishment states that all workers must obey the orders of the customers, regardless of the situation.""Stupid
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 60. New Company
Van didn't understand what Shaun meant by that, but he didn't care. He knew he wasn't a fraud, so there was no need for him to get scared. Shaun dialed a number and asked them to send in the boss. "Oh you're so going to get it now." He smiled devilishly. "Cassie, please take a seat, I have a feeling this might take a while." Van said in a calm tone, but Cassie was too concerned to move. "You don't understand sir," she said. "..the boss he asked them to send in is–""--okay, what seems to be the problem here?" A tall, slender lady walked in, scanning the faces of the three of them. She briefly glanced at Cassie who was still on her knees, then walked over to Shaun. "Why did you call me here?""That's the boss's daughter." Cassie whispered to Van. "She is the most ruthless person I've ever met. And she's also a cop."A cop huh? So Shaun really did call the police on him. "Miss Brenda, this thief here is causing a ruckus at our hotel." Shaun reported with enthusiasm in his voice. He
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 61. Down Payment
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Shaun questioned in disbelief. "You want to buy this place? Is that even possible? Even if it was, what makes you think that a simpleton like you can afford it? You must be out of your mind!"He must be a scam, only mentioning something that was obviously impossible just to intimidate him. How was it possible for one person to buy and claim ownership of a business that wasn't even owned by one person?The Golden Touch hotel and La Belle Cuisine were the first and only establishment in the whole city to be rated seven stars, and for the whole thing to come into existence, four members of the Golden Touch club had to come together and contribute, with Bruce Harper being the man with the highest share. Everyone one knew how fancy and expensive it was, it even became a popular spot for tourists from other cities. Now an ordinary boy was aiming to own such establishment. "There's no need for all the unnecessary story you're saying, all you have to do, is ca
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 62. Name Your Price
Shaun couldn't believe his eyes. Van actually made a payment of twelve billion. He had hoped that he was a fraud and that he would be able to humiliate him. He never expected things to turn out that way. Simultaneously, Bruce Harper had just received a call from the accountant who reported that someone had just made a deposit of twelve billion dollars, and it wasn't specified what it was for. The man immediately dialed Shaun's number to make more inquiries. "Mr Harper, I was just about to call you,""What is going on over there?" He demanded. "What is this about a mystery deposit I'm hearing?" "Sir, the thing is, a young man claims to be interested in buying your business. Both the hotel and the restaurant! He says that the twelve billion is down payment." Shaun explained. "Are you serious?" Bruce was doubtful about what he heard. "Who on earth would be bold enough to make such a move?"Bruce was always notified by his accountant whenever a significant amount of money entered the
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 63. A Companion
Just like any other man, Van desired wealth, fame, and women; but it wasn't for callous reasons. He wanted to be rich, so that no one would ever look down on him, ever again. He wanted to be respected. He desired fame, well, because most times, no one ever cared about someone they didn't know. Then finally, Van wanted a woman to call his own, he thought he had found a forever friend in Bianca, but she proved him wrong painfully. Now that he had been blessed with a second chance, he was going to make sure he lived a fulfilled life. Of the three things he wanted, Van had been able to acquire two; wealth and a woman to call his own. All that was left was the fame. He wanted to make a name for himself within and outside Brimesville, and the only way he could do that was by growing his business empire all over the city. Even after paying the twelve billion, Van's account balance barely took any damage and he was pleased. Knowing that such an amount of money existed and was available
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 64. New Owner
Shaun only mentioned the higher amount, intentionally leaving out the other part, because he felt that if he told Van that they were willing to accept thirty six million, and he ended up buying it, his life would be over. He had been rude to Van without knowing that was now rich, and he feared that he was going to lose his job. Without taking so much as a second to think about the offer, Van made the payment of the remaining twenty eight billion, making him the new owner of the Golden Touch Series. "When do I get the deed to the place?" He asked with a dry expression on his face. Shaun was shell shocked, for someone to make such payments without even thinking twice, definitely he had two times, or even three times the amount in his account."I-- I'll talk to Mr Harper." He stammered. "Good. Now Shaun, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that your behavior today was very unacceptable," Van's voice was stern, and Shaun's heart was pounding like a jack hammer in his chest. This was i
Latest Chapter
199. Investigation
The fluorescent lights of the precinct hallway hummed softly as Officer Raúl Mendes pocketed his phone, the unsaved message still blinking in his mind. He rubbed his temples, trying to push back the chill that text had sent down his spine. Don’t bother, you won’t find her. Who would taunt him like that? And how did they know he was working on Bianca Hartley’s case?He glanced at the clock: 6:45 PM. The station was nearly empty now— the late shift crew had trickled out for the evening. His partner, Officer Lange, was finishing up with some paperwork across the bullpen. Mendes took a deep breath, folded his arms over his chest, and forced himself to focus. Bianca’s parents were gone, but their child was still out there somewhere, and every minute counted.★★★Outside, the sky burned crimson as the sun dipped below the horizon. The city of Brimseville— normally so bustling at this hour— felt unusually quiet, as if the whole town held its breath for news of the missing twenty five -year-o
198. A Confusing Case
The waiting area of the station buzzed with quiet chatter, keyboards clacking, phones ringing — the usual symphony of controlled chaos. But all of it was drowned out by the piercing voice of Bianca’s mother. Her words sliced through the noise like a blade, filled with frustration and fury as she stood in front of the duty desk, berating the officer on call.“This is ridiculous!” she screamed, her voice cracking slightly under the strain. “He’s out there walking free, and you’re all just sitting here doing nothing! You saw the article. Everyone has. What more proof do you need?!”The young officer behind the desk winced but said nothing, his eyes flicking toward the corridor, silently begging for backup. Her volume drew glances from the others in the room, but Bianca’s mother was oblivious — or perhaps she simply didn’t care.Behind her, her husband stood quietly, arms crossed, face unreadable. His stillness was in stark contrast to his wife’s storm. He didn’t try to calm her down, nor
197. One Step At A Time
Van just sat there, mouth slightly opened in shock. Could it really be possible? Could someone he knew and trusted actually be behind all of this?His mind raced back to when he was still dating Bianca. Who could it have been? The only people who had ever mattered to him were his mother and Bianca herself. Everyone else was just... background noise. Acquaintances. Faces in a crowd. None of them had ever gotten close enough to matter. Which made this even more confusing.Inspector Dan leaned back into the comfy sofa, his fingers laced over his stomach. He was watching Van carefully, like a lion studying a wounded gazelle. Calm, calculating. “Try to relax,” Dan said gently. “Start by making a list. Friends. People who were close to you and Bianca back then. Anyone who might’ve had a reason. But before that, Van… you need to go to the police.”Van blinked. “What?”Dan didn’t flinch. “You have to clear your name. There’s no way around it.”“But... the reason I called you was because I did
196. The Web Deepens
Just a day after Van had complained to Boyd, he came all the way from Hawaii an he even brought Inspector Dan with him. Even though Van insisted on going himself, his chauffeur refused and went on his own to bring them to the mansion. Ivy couldn’t stop smiling as she opened the door, wrapping Boyd in a warm hug the moment he stepped onto the porch. Dan followed close behind, giving Van a firm handshake and a nod that said more than words ever could.“Look at you!” Ivy beamed. “It’s been way too long.”“I missed you,” Boyd said, his grin lighting up his whole face. “When Van called, there was no question— I knew I was coming, and of course, I brought my bodyguard with me.”Van clapped him on the back. “I appreciate it, man. Really.”Boyd waved off the thanks with a casual flick of his hand. “We needed a vacation anyway. The island’s great, but even paradise can get old after a while.”They all settled in the living room, the afternoon light slanting through the window and casting a s
195. The Ultimatum
FLASHBACK.Greg pushed open the door to Moses’s office with more urgency than usual, his breath shallow, eyes wide with a mix of anxiety and pride. Moses looked up from his desk, brows furrowed over his reading glasses. The golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the expensive mahogany furniture and dark leather chairs.“I found something,” Greg said quickly, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.Moses leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “This better be good.”Greg pulled out his phone, thumbed through his Facebook account, and handed it over. “Watch this. And look at the comments.”Moses took the phone and pressed play. The video began with a girl— a girl he knew too well. She sat on her bed, speaking directly to the camera. Her words were a blend of guilt and regret, a passionate apology aimed at someone she had wronged. Someone dear to her heart. Moses watched silently, his jaw tightening as the video played. Then came th
194. Bianca.
FLASHBACK. Bianca stepped out of the cab and into the cool, dusky air of the quiet parking lot behind Eliza’s, the tucked-away Mediterranean restaurant she and Van had chosen for their lunch date. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, eyes scanning for him. Her heels clicked against the concrete, each step measured, her breath visible in the chilled air. But it wasn’t Van standing near the back entrance, under the pale orange glow of a flickering street lamp. Her steps faltered. What on earth was going on? she asked herself, suddenly overwhelmed with disbelief and maybe... dread? He was leaning against his sleek black car, arms folded across his chest, dressed in a dark charcoal jacket and jeans. He looked relaxed. Too relaxed. But there was a sharpness in his gaze as it settled on her. “W- what are you doing here?” Bianca asked, forcing her voice to stay calm. She took a few cautious steps forward but stopped when she saw the way his jaw tightened. He didn’t answ
193. Frustrations
Ivy came downstairs quietly, her bare feet soft against the wood, each step deliberate, careful—as if the house itself might shatter if she moved too quickly. She found him on the couch, hunched forward, elbows on his knees, head bowed low like the weight of the world had finally claimed him. The only light in the room came from the half-drawn blinds, casting long, gray shadows across the walls. The television was off. No sound but the soft tick of the clock above the mantle and the faint hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen.She didn’t speak right away. Instead, she walked over and sat down beside him, close enough that their legs brushed. Even though his eyes were shut, he could feel her presence in the subtle shift of the air, in the warmth that radiated from her skin. It was comfort without pressure, a presence that said, I’m here, without demanding anything in return.“I know you’re hurting,” she said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “But I need to know how you
192. Van Everest, A Kidnapper!
Van stared blankly at her face as she spoke. The hum of the cafe around them faded into a dull murmur as Rita's words echoed in his head. She knew. He didn’t know how, but she knew something that made his skin crawl. Something that made his chest tighten with dread.He knew his life was in danger—that much was already obvious. But prison? What did she mean he might end up in prison? What for?He waited for her to continue, to spell out whatever twisted connection she was hinting at, but she didn’t. She just sat there, unmoving, her coffee untouched, her eyes locked on him like she was trying to peer through his skull and read every thought behind his silent facade.Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but strained.“What are you talking about?”“She’s missing,” Rita said. Just like that. No build-up. No cushion. Just a cold, cutting declaration.“Who?”“Bianca. She’s been missing for almost a week now.”Van blinked. “What?”“No one’s heard from her,” she continued, her voice measured but
191. Danger Ahead
Van thought about just letting it go but he couldn't. “You weren't in the ambulance with us, why was that?”“Hmm?”“You heard me, Elias. Did you come here on your own? That would mean you weren't hurt, right? So why are you wearing a hospital gown?”Elias kept trying to insist that he had been at the hospital the whole time. But when neither of them bought his story, he hesitated, his eyes darting between them, before changing his tune. “You see, the thing is, I was at the police station before.” He said. “Police station? Are you okay?”“Y-yes. It's just that um… they wanted a statement of what happened back at the abandoned building, and uh, you and Ivy were obviously in no position to give any statement, so I volunteered to go with them.”If that was true, why hadn’t he just said it from the start?Now Van was convinced something was up. “Okay,” he said simply, his tone flat but eyes sharp. He sat up straight, watching Elias closely.Elias opened his mouth like he wanted to say mor
