From Scorned To Supreme

Chapter 4

Morning came faster than expected, and Elijah found himself riding his worn-out scooter through the busy streets of New York, heading towards Windsor Company’s branch office.

Despite the hustle of the city, Elijah couldn't help but notice the towering structure of Windsor’s building in the distance. Even though it was just a branch, the architecture was breathtaking—something straight out of a prestigious architectural magazine.

The glass windows shone brightly under the rising sun, making the building look sharp and modern. Its clean, smooth lines gave it a powerful appearance, like it was built for only the most important people. Elijah, standing outside in his scuffed shoes and old, worn jacket, looked completely out of place. This was the kind of place where the rich and powerful belonged, and it looked like he didn’t fit in at all.

After parking his scooter in a spot he barely managed to find, Elijah stepped off and let out a deep sigh.

Glancing at the time on his watch, he noted that it was exactly 9:00 a.m. The world around him moved fast, but for a moment, everything slowed down as he prepared himself mentally for the day ahead.

Just then, a sleek, limited-edition Porsche zoomed into the parking lot, racing past Elijah with a loud roar and a burst of wind. It pulled right into the spot Elijah had been heading for. The sudden flash of sunlight reflecting off the car’s shiny surface made Elijah squint, his vision blurred for a moment by the brightness.

As the engine cut off, the door of the fancy car swung open smoothly, and two men, dressed in sharp, expensive suits, stepped out. Elijah’s stomach twisted as he recognized one of them instantly—it was Carlos, Eleanor’s cousin. Carlos was known for being the family’s golden boy, always favored by their grandfather, the head of the powerful Stone family. To everyone, he was the perfect grandson, the one who could do no wrong. Elijah couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his chest as he watched them walk confidently toward the building.

Carlos's perfectly tailored suit and obvious sense of entitlement made him stand out like a sore thumb. He carried himself with a confidence that seemed almost exaggerated, as if the world owed him something.

The other man, who Elijah didn’t recognize right away, was just as sharply dressed, exuding the same air of arrogance. His posture, his expression—everything about him screamed wealth and privilege. It was clear to Elijah that these two were very much alike, both coming from the same world of money and power. Elijah could tell right away they weren’t people who ever had to struggle for anything.

As much as Elijah wanted to avoid them, fate seemed determined to force their paths to cross. Carlos noticed him immediately, his eyes narrowing with clear disgust. His lips curled into a sneer as he locked onto Elijah, wasting no time in making him feel small.

The disdain in Carlos’s expression was obvious, as if Elijah’s presence was somehow offensive. It was a familiar feeling—Carlos always knew how to make him feel like he didn’t belong, and today was no different.

"Disgusting!" Carlos spat, his voice dripping with contempt. His eyes swept over Elijah’s scooter, the only thing that had kept Elijah going when times were tough. But to Carlos, it was nothing more than a cheap, pathetic symbol of Elijah’s inferiority. The dismissive look he gave it was clear—Carlos saw the scooter as a joke, just like he saw Elijah.

Turning to the man beside him, Carlos smirked, the kind of smirk that made Elijah's blood boil—the kind that screamed, "I've made it in life." "This is my friend Liam Hart," Carlos said, his voice oozing with pride. "His family is one of the most powerful in the country."

Carlos then turned back to Elijah, clearly enjoying the moment. "And Liam, this... this is the ‘good-for-nothing’ husband of Eleanor."

Elijah felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The Harts? He knew that family’s name all too well. They were a force to be reckoned with, and the Stones were nothing compared to them. The weight of their influence hung heavily in the air, and Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing in the shadows of greatness, unworthy and out of place.

Liam's lips curled into a sneer, his tone condescending as he responded, “You don’t mean this lowlife? You’ve got to be kidding me.” He eyed Elijah like he was something scraped off the bottom of his shoes, unworthy of even the smallest acknowledgment. Elijah felt their disdain like a physical weight, but he didn’t flinch at all.

Elijah had long learned to steel himself against such taunts. Years of being married into the Stone family had toughened him for moments like this—moments where his very existence felt like a punchline to those with wealth and status.

He allowed their words to wash over him like water off a duck’s back. This wasn’t the first time Carlos and his friends had tried to belittle him, and it surely wouldn’t be the last. Elijah took a deep breath, reminding himself that their opinions didn’t define him. He refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing him upset.

But the more Liam spoke, the clearer it became that his disdain for Elijah wasn’t just about status. It was personal. Elijah noticed the subtle way Liam’s fists clenched whenever he mentioned Eleanor’s name. “I mean, seriously? Eleanor chose this over me?” Liam's voice quivered with barely contained fury. “He can’t even compare to the dust on my shoes.”

Elijah remained silent, refusing to rise to their provocations. He could see the glint in Liam’s eyes, the way he was trying to provoke a reaction, to humiliate him in front of Carlos and anyone else who might be watching. But Elijah wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. It took everything in him to stay calm and ignore the blatant disrespect directed his way. Still, he couldn’t help but feel the sting of Liam’s words, especially knowing that Liam had long been infatuated with Eleanor.

Liam’s obsession with Eleanor was no secret among their circles. From the very first moment he had laid eyes on her, it had been clear that his feelings ran deeper than a passing crush. It was almost pathetic, really—the lengths he would go to convince himself that he deserved her, as if simply wanting her made it so.

Over time, his desire had twisted into something darker and more possessive, transforming into a kind of obsession that left little room for respect. Now, standing before Elijah, it was as if Liam couldn’t comprehend why Eleanor would choose someone like him—a man he deemed beneath him—over a man of his stature.

Carlos, sensing an opportunity to rile Elijah further, chimed in with a mocking laugh, “I mean, come on. You, of all people, married to Eleanor? It’s like a bad joke isn't it Liam?.” His words dripped with disdain, and Elijah could see the smug satisfaction on Carlos's face as he fed off the tension in the air.

The laughter of the two men felt like daggers, aiming to cut deeper than just a mere insult. Elijah clenched his jaw, willing himself to maintain his composure. He refused to let them see how much their words affected him. Instead, he stood firm, determined not to be broken by their cruelty. The very idea that they could make him feel small was a battle he wouldn’t allow them to win.

Liam snickered in agreement, clearly enjoying himself. “She’s wasted on you, Elijah. You’ll never be able to give her the life she deserves. Just crawl back to the hell hole you crawled from, and give her a breathing space”

“Just admit it,” Carlos pushed, stepping closer, his smirk widening. “You don’t belong here. You never did. You're out of your league, Elijah. She deserves someone who can actually give her something, not... whatever it is you have.”

Liam standing a little behind him, chuckled, adding fuel to the fire. “Yeah, man. What do you even have to offer? You should just walk away before you embarrass yourself any more.”

Elijah remained impassive, his expression a mask of calm indifference. Years of discipline had taught him not to let two entitled brats like Liam and Carlos get under his skin. No matter how much they taunted or flaunted their status, Elijah wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. He stood tall, while Liam, clearly frustrated by Elijah’s lack of response, continued to push.

Liam’s tone shifted, dripping with arrogance as he leaned back on the car, crossing his arms. "You know, Stone, I’ve been involved in some pretty impressive ventures lately," Liam bragged, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby staff.

"Big deals, powerful people. He wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be on the inside of something so important." He smirked, glancing at Carlos for validation before adding, “I’m here to meet with the Executive Director, you know. It’s not the sort of opportunity just anyone gets.”

His eyes flicked over Elijah with. “Not like you could ever relate to that. What could someone like you possibly be doing here?”

Elijah wanted to push their buttons “I’m here for the same reason as you,” he said simply, “an appointment.”

Liam and Carlos exchanged unbelieving looks before bursting into a loud laughter.

Their mockery filled the space, as if Elijah had just claimed something impossible, like he could sprout wings and take off. “An appointment?”

Carlos repeated, gasping for air between bouts of laughter. “You? At Windsor Company? You’ve gotta be kidding.” He wiped a tear from his eye, barely able to contain his amusement. “What kind of fantasy world are you living in? You think you’re worthy of an appointment here? You must’ve hit your head pretty hard somewhere along the way, man.”

Let them laugh, Elijah thought with a smirk. Let them underestimate me.

Liam stepped closer, his eyes narrowing with malice. “Look here” his voice was very low, almost threatening, “I’m feeling generous today. Lick my shoes—just one little lick—and maybe I’ll use my connections to help you get a job as a security guard here. It’s the most you could ever hope for.”

Carlos burst into another fit of laughter. “Go ahead, Elijah. Be grateful for the opportunity. You should be thanking Liam for even considering it.”

Elijah’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. There was a cold, deadly edge to his voice when he spoke next. “Never,” he said quietly, each word carrying the weight of unspoken power. “Never in your life speak to me that way again. You don’t have the privilege to. Try it, and you won’t like what happens next.”

The change in Elijah’s demeanor was something they had never witnessed, and for the first time, Carlos and Liam seemed unsettled. They exchanged uneasy glances, clearly shaken by the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Who knew the shameful In-law had balls?

Elijah brushed past Liam, intentionally bumping his shoulder hard as he did. He didn’t look back as he walked away, leaving Carlos and Liam standing there, too stunned to react.

Inside the building, Elijah held his head high, his pride intact feeling fulfilled. He found a seat in the waiting area and pulled out the business card Alfred had given him the day before. With a calm resolve, he dialed the number.

“Hello,” came Alfred’s familiar gruff voice from the other end.

“I’m at the lounge, waiting,” Elijah said, cutting to the chase.

There was some shuffling on the other end before Alfred responded. “I’ll be right there, Young Master.”

Within minutes, Alfred appeared, hurrying over to Elijah and bowing slightly. “Young Master, I’m glad you came. Please follow me.”

Elijah nodded, following Alfred through the pristine halls of Windsor Company. They stopped outside a large door with a gold plaque that read, Executive Office of the President.