68Allvar’s jaw clenched, but Seraphina was quicker to react. She turned toward the source of the voice, her expression sharp. “Must be nice to judge from such a comfortable distance,” she said, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife.The man’s laughter faltered, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”“Yeah,” one of his companions chimed in, snickering. “What’s a guy like you doing with a woman like that, anyway? Using her to shield you from the truth? How pathetic.”Seraphina tilted her head slightly, a smile dancing on her lips. “Oh, darling, you misunderstand. I’m not here to defend Allvar. He can do that perfectly well on his own. I’m just here for the entertainment.” She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying their discomfort.“Entertainment? Is that what you call it?” the loud man scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. “Seems more like you’re just trying to elevate your status by association.”“Status?” Seraphina replied, feigning deep contemplation. “How quaint. You must be new t
69Allvar leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of the table, a small smile playing on his lips. The whispers from the nearby table hadn't stopped; if anything, they'd grown louder, punctuated with thinly veiled insults."Look at him, hiding behind her," one of the men sneered, not bothering to lower his voice. "Coward can’t even stand up for himself. Pathetic."Allvar’s eyes flickered with irritation, but he kept his composure, glancing at Seraphina, who sipped her water, entirely unbothered. “They’re persistent, I’ll give them that,” he murmured.Seraphina chuckled lightly. “Desperation has a way of making people louder.”“Hey, you!” Another voice called out, louder this time. “Yeah, you with the cheap white shirt! What’s it like having a woman fight your battles for you?”Allvar finally turned to face the table of men, his gaze calm but cold. “Is that the best you’ve got?” he asked, his voice steady. “I was hoping for something a little more creativ
70 “Gentlemen, I’m going to have to insist that this stops now. You’re disturbing the other guests.”“Disturbing?” The man sneered, but his bravado was slipping. “You’re worried about disturbing people? Fine. Then why don’t you just throw them out?”The waiter crossed his arms, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I will, if this continues. But I’d prefer not to have to do that.”Allvar smiled slightly. “Don’t worry. We were just leaving.” He reached for his jacket, signaling to Seraphina with a nod.She stood gracefully, smoothing her suit as she did. “Pity,” she said, glancing back at the table of men. “I was starting to enjoy the show.”As Allvar and Seraphina turned to leave, the waiter who had served them earlier hurried over, his face etched with disdain. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am," he began, his voice sharp, "but where do you think you're going?"Allvar stopped mid-step, his hand gently resting on the back of Seraphina’s chair. "I’m sorry?" he asked, his brow furrowing.The waiter
71The snickers continued around the room, growing louder with every passing moment. One man leaned over his table, pointing in Allvar’s direction. “Bet he doesn’t even have enough to cover half the bill,” he scoffed. “Classic pauper move, relying on the lady.”Allvar kept his gaze forward, but Seraphina noticed the flicker of anger in his eyes. She leaned toward him, her voice a quiet murmur. “Are you going to let them continue?” Her eyes were twinkling with a mixture of amusement and irritation. “Or should we remind them that not every insult requires a response?”Allvar gave her a brief smile, more tense than warm. “Some things don’t deserve a response.”Allvar gave her a brief smile, but his gaze remained cool as he turned back to the waiter. “I apologize for the delay. Let’s settle the bill.”The waiter, clearly still convinced they were trying to pull a stunt, huffed. “About time,” he muttered, retreating to fetch the check.As the snickers continued around the room, a woman’s v
72Seraphina could feel the tension thickening around their table, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. She leaned closer to Allvar, her voice low yet firm. “Don’t let them get to you. They’re nothing but a bunch of fools who think mocking others makes them important.”Allvar’s jaw clenched tighter, his frustration spilling over. “I didn’t come here to be humiliated, Seraphina,” he muttered, glancing at the waiter, who was now relishing the chaos he had sparked.“I know,” she replied softly, her eyes locked on him, willing him to see the bigger picture. “But stooping to their level won’t help. Let’s just pay the bill and leave.”A woman from another table chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, come on! What’s the matter? Afraid to show us how poor you really are?” Her companions burst into laughter, and the laughter spread like wildfire, igniting the whole room.Allvar’s composure began to crack, but Seraphina placed a steadying hand on his forearm, grounding him.
73Seraphina placed a calming hand on his arm, though her eyes remained locked on the waiter. “Ignore them,” she whispered. “They’re beneath us.”The waiter, however, wasn’t finished. “See? Even the lady’s trying to calm you down,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe she knows something you don’t—like how this place runs on appearances.”Allvar stood abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. He glared at the waiter, his patience threadbare. “You want proof I can pay?” His voice was low, dangerous, each word more venomous than the last. The waiter took a step back, momentarily surprised, but recovered quickly. “Oh, I’m not asking for proof, sir. Just pointing out that some places have certain... standards.”“That’s enough,” Seraphina interrupted, her voice as sharp as ice. “Your insinuations are unfounded, and frankly, unprofessional.”Allvar leaned in closer to the waiter, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Do you think insulting me will get you a bigger tip?”The wa
74As Allvar and Seraphina stepped out of the restaurant, they found themselves in the dimly lit parking lot. The tension from the dining room was still thick in the air, but the silence outside provided some much-needed relief. Allvar ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long, slow breath, his frustration beginning to ease now that they had left the chaos behind.Seraphina strode confidently towards her car, and Allvar followed. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of the vehicle in front of them—sleek, black, and enormous. It was a top-tier luxury car, the kind that only the wealthiest people drove. The polished chrome reflected the dim light from the streetlamps, and the leather interior gleamed under the soft glow.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Allvar muttered under his breath, quickly realizing just how rich Seraphina must be. For someone who had defended him in the restaurant, she clearly was very rich.Seraphina caught his gaze as she unlocked the car with
75A few days had passed since Allvar's meeting with the Henleys, and he found himself anxiously awaiting their decision, though he tried to stay optimistic. He replayed the conversation in his head multiple times, going over every detail, every nod of approval, every hint of hesitation. After how the meeting had gone, he was hopeful they would approve the new proposal, but the waiting was eating at him.Allvar was in his office, poring over some paperwork, trying to keep his mind busy, when there was a knock at the door. His assistant poked her head in, her usual cheery smile in place.“The Henleys are on the phone for you,” she said, her tone more excited than usual, as if she knew this call was the one Allvar had been waiting for.Allvar felt his heart race as he stood from his chair, running a hand over his tie as if to straighten it, even though no one could see him. “Thank you, Erica. Put them through,” he said, keeping his voice steady despite the adrenaline pulsing through him
Serena's grip on Derek's arm tightened as they reached the entrance. Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and her eyes darted around as if looking for answers in the gleaming marble floor or the polished chrome fixtures. The silence between them was suffocating, filled with unspoken accusations and the sting of embarrassment.“I can’t believe we let him play us like that,” Serena hissed, her nails digging into Derek’s sleeve. “We’re not just going to let him get away with this, are we?”Derek’s jaw clenched, but he kept his eyes fixed on the revolving door in front of them. “And what do you suggest we do, Serena? March back in there and challenge a man who could buy and sell us ten times over?”Serena’s eyes flashed with anger. “No, but we’re not going to crawl away with our tails between our legs either. We need to hit him where it hurts—his reputation, his alliances. If he thinks he’s untouchable, we’ll show him he’s not.”Derek scoffed, the bitterness in his voice cutting thro
Emily had never been one to back down, but as she stumbled towards the door, her face flushed with humiliation, her thoughts were a tangled mess. How could she have been so blind? How could she have dismissed him so easily? The man she had thought was just some arrogant, rich playboy was, in fact, a billionaire with more power than she had ever imagined. The realization was like a punch to her stomach, leaving her breathless.She could still feel the weight of Allvar's gaze on her, his icy eyes cutting through her with the precision of a sharp blade. It wasn’t just the shock of his wealth that had shaken her—it was the way he had handled the situation. The way he had turned the tables, dismantling their arrogance with effortless ease. The way he had put Derek and Serena in their place without so much as raising his voice. It was as if he had orchestrated the whole thing from the very beginning, knowing exactly how it would play out."Did you hear him?" Serena whispered, her voice bare
Derek’s face hardened as he tried to muster whatever defiance he could. "What do you want from us? Haven’t you done enough already?" His voice was laced with false bravado, but his shaking hands gave him away.Allvar stepped forward, his polished leather shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. His sharp, tailored suit made him look even more imposing. He tilted his head slightly, studying Derek as if he were an insignificant insect. "Done enough?" he repeated, his voice calm, dangerously so. "You mocked me, insulted me, and attempted to humiliate me in public. And now, you think you can walk away without facing the consequences?"Serena whimpered, clutching Derek’s arm tighter. "W-we didn’t know who you were! We didn’t mean—""Didn’t mean?" Allvar’s icy gaze locked onto hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What you mean is you didn’t think I was someone who could fight back. That’s always the problem with people like you. You respect power only when it’s shoved in your face."Emily
209Mr. Alves froze, the receiver trembling in his grip as the weight of the words settled over him. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes flickering nervously to Allvar, who still stood there, calm and composed."Y-you can't be serious..." Alves whispered, as if trying to reason with the invisible figure on the other end of the phone.The voice was cold and unforgiving. "I don’t make jokes about business, Mr. Alves. You’ve disrespected someone you shouldn’t have. Pack your things. Security will escort you out shortly."The line clicked dead.For a moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the restaurant's air conditioning. Derek and Serena gaped at the manager, their smug smiles wiped clean."What did—" Derek started, his voice cracking."Vacant?" Serena’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. "H-he said vacant!?"Mr. Alves stumbled back, his face still ghostly pale. "T-this is impossible," he muttered, eyes darting to Allvar, who now smiled ever so faintly,
208Allvar clenched his fists in anger, grinding his teeth at Derek's audacity. Serena scowled with flaming cheeks, rolling her eyes dismissively.Allvar remained composed, arching a brow at their reaction. "There seems to be an issue here that requires your assistance," Allvar replied calmly into the phone.On the other end of the line, the voice grew sharp with concern. "What sort of situation, Young Master? Are you alright?"Allvar couldn't help but let a small, wry smile flicker across his face, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I've been accused of theft, of all things," he explained, his voice laced with disbelief. "The manager here refuses to believe the gold card is mine. He's threatening to call security on me."He went on and relayed all the events that had transpired, describing how he had been openly mocked and ridiculed by the manager.The butler listened attentively, a frown forming on his aged face. Such disrespect towards the young master wa
Allvar's lips curled into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor betraying none of the turmoil his accusers expected. “How… How did this hobo come into possession of this?" Mr. Alves gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as he scrutinized the exclusive card in his hand. Allvar remained impassive, his posture relaxed as he watched Mr. Alves struggle to reconcile the elegant card with the man before him. The manager cleared his throat, masking his astonishment with an air of accusation. His gaze darkened as he fixed Allvar with an intense glare. “You’re a criminal! Where did you get this card? This isn’t something just anyone can own. Where did you steal it from?” “From my family," Allvar replied casually, his tone devoid of concern. Emily froze, her pale face reflecting her confusion. She trusted Allvar's integrity but couldn't fathom how he had acquired such an item. In stark contrast, Derek and Serena scoffed simultaneously, their eyes rolling in unison. “Like your pathetic fam
206“Hey!! You're making a mistake here!” Serena called out in a harsh voice, her face scowling at the waiter, who turned slightly to acknowledge them once more.“Do you know who this man is?!” she demanded, pointing dramatically at Derek, who had the audacity to look smug. Emily could only roll her eyes at their theatrics.With newfound determination, Serena stomped toward their direction, intent on blocking their path. She crossed her arms and glared daggers at the trio. Pleased with the development, Derek swaggered forward to join her, standing beside her like a soldier in solidarity. He eyed the waiter and Allvar with disdain, sneering as if he owned the entire establishment.“Do you know who I am?!” Derek bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Do you realize what weight my family name carries? How dare you relegate me to the background just to attend to this nobody?!”He jabbed a finger toward Allvar, his contempt thinly veiled, while the waiter’s face twisted in confusion
205Allvar took a slow, deep breath to calm himself. Then, with steady hands, he reached into his wallet and extracted a sleek gold card his father gave him, it shimmered under the restaurant's ambient lighting. He placed it on the table with quiet confidence."I would like to be considered a VIP as well," he declared, his voice steady, betraying none of the inner storm churning within him.Derek's response was swift, his laughter sharp and full of disbelief. "Oh, come on! You think that piece of plastic makes you special here?" He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing into a mocking glare. "This isn't some game where you can just buy your way to the top. It's about who you are, and clearly, you're playing out of your league."As Serena joined in, Allvar's gaze turned toward her, wondering what had ever drawn him to such a cruel woman. Her beauty was undeniable, but now, her biting cruelty far eclipsed any physical allure she once held."Absolutely, darling. It's adorable you think a b
204Their heated exchange was abruptly interrupted by a waiter, who approached with an apologetic yet firm demeanor. “I must ask you to keep the noise down. This is a respectable establishment, and we need to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.”Derek’s face, now a picture of barely restrained fury, turned towards the waiter, his fists clenched at his sides as if he were physically holding back his anger. “Fine,” he spat out through gritted teeth, the words venomous. “But we refuse to sit near these… individuals.” His eyes, sharp with disdain, flicked towards Emily and Allvar, a clear line drawn.Serena, echoing Derek’s sentiment with a venomous edge to her voice, added, “Absolutely. We’d rather not share our space with such… bastards.” Her lips curled around the word, her disdain palpable. She tossed her hair, an attempt to regain some semblance of control, though the slight tremble in her hands betrayed her composure.The waiter, taken aback by the harshness of their words, replied in a