HEIR from the STREET

CHAPTER 7

A PART OF Jon grew mellow and unsure of his situation but another part, the rich Stone part was defiant. And that was the part that came out. 

Rico and Kim laughed and brushed past Jon, bumping hard against his shoulders. 

Jon turned slowly and looked at them, "Well fuck you. The both of you can go to hell…" 

Rico stopped and turned, "What did you say?" 

Jon pushed his chest out a bit and stood tall. "I said fuck the both of you. I am going in there…" He pointed to the shop, " … and I am going to buy a gift. A very expensive gift for someone." 

There was silence for a moment before Rico burst out laughing. "Kim… Kim… did you hear that?" He continued laughing. 

"I did hear what he said," Kim replied coldly. Her face did not show any hint of a smile, "You can't afford a gift of more than 100 dollars, Jon. And even for that, you would have to almost starve for 3 months." 

Jon smiled, "Yes… that was then. And besides, you're never worth anything more than 100 dollars, Kim." 

Kim gasped. Her face turned red out of anger and embarrassment, even Rico snickered at what Jon said. 

She stared at Jon in anger for a moment, and as she opened her mouth to talk, Jon raised his hand to quell her, "Just hold it in, Kim. I can't stand you." 

With that, he turned, opened the door and entered the shop, leaving Rico and Kim standing outside with her mouth half open. 

"Nope, I have to see this," Kim muttered to herself. "I need to see him disgraced in the shop." She entered the shop after Jon. Rico looked lost for a moment, then he shrugged and followed Kim. "That some of a bitch is trying to save face by pretending to buy something from here. I also need to see him disgraced!" 

Jon turned to look behind him when he heard the bell tinker lightly because someone opened the door. He turned and saw Kim and Rico behind him. He smiled and turned towards the counter where a group of shop attendants stood. 

The shop attendants looked up too at the sound of the bell, they flashed wide smiles at the new customers – Jon, Kim and Rico – their smiles died off when their gaze focused on the customer directly in front of them. 

They saw his t-shirt which was a food delivery shirt. And his worn-out jeans. A few of them scoffed, and some others sneered. 

Kim saw their reaction and turned to Rico, "Did you see that?" She gave a girly laugh. "Rico, Rico, please tell me you saw that." 

Rico nodded. 

"You see, Jon." Kim said, walking up to Jon, "They know you are a failure and a fraud. You are a nobody." 

"I would like to get something from here, please," Jon said calmly even though he was boiling inside. 

"Jon. Poor Jon." Kim said mockingly. "Listen, your whole family combined isn't worth the cheapest thing here." 

Jon was surprised at the unexpected flare of protection and loyalty he felt that rushed up to his head, but he calmed it down as he realized that Kim has no idea. She still knew him as Jon Crutcher, the poor orphan that was raised in a Foster home and worked two jobs as a food delivery man and a cleaner. 

She did not know him as Jonathan Stone. Heir to the Stone Empire. 

So he calmed down, "She is not referring to the Stone family." He said to himself. 

"Yeah? Yeah?" Kim asked, putting her face up to his. "What was it you said?" 

Jon turned away, avoiding her face. "Go away from my space." He muttered. 

"You can't afford a space!" Kim yelled.

Luckily, they were the only customers in the shop so the shop attendants were all free to enjoy this drama to their satisfaction. 

"I said I would like to buy something from here!" Jon said in an authoritative voice. 

The person who was the leader gestured to another sales girl, "Go on, attend to him." 

The young sales girl who had not smiled at any ridicule thrown at Jon was just finally happy at being allowed to handle a sale. She was the newest employee at the store and had not been allowed to handle a sale before. 

"Good morning, Sir." She said politely. "What would you like to have?" 

Kim rested on the glass counter, paying incredible attention to the conversation between Jon and the sales girl. 

"Um, I saw a Louis Vuitton bag on the window show glass outside. I think it's very fashionable and I like it." Jom said, " … and now, I think I like this too." He pointed at a small bottle of perfume. 

The sales girl smiled, "The bag is a Louis Vuitton 1989 limited edition. It was specially hand sewn by Louis Vuitton herself." 

"What of the bottle of perfume?" Jon asked, pointing. 

"That is a Channel, sir. Also a limited edition." The sales girl said. She never once stopped smiling politely. 

Kim stood by, "I'm sure you've never seen anything like them before." She sneered at Jon. 

"Can you just leave me alone?" Jon snapped. 

"Hey, watch how you talk to her." Rico intervened. 

The shop attendants seemed to take Kim's side as there were affirming nods being given as Rico threatened Jon. 

"You want to beat me up?" Jon asked, facing off Rico. 

Rico laughed, "I would not need to even break a sweat, boy." 

There were giggles in the shop attendant's corner. 

Jon knew that Rico was right. Although Jon was not puny or small in size he was not a match for Rico.  Rico was made of pure muscles. He looked like who spent days in the gym. 

The bell tinkered and an elegant woman stepped in, breaking up the two men and making the shop attendants snap to attention so as to attend to the 'worthy' customer. 

The woman gave Jon a very long look before she scoffed slightly and turned to the attendant assigned to her. 

Jon faced the young attendant who still stood uncomfortably watching all the previous events unfold before her. 

Jon clenched his jaws and his fist was closed tight as he determined deep in his heart that he was going to make them all regret everything they were doing.