Michael's phone buzzed interrupting his quiet evening at home he'd planned for himself. The caller ID read, "James." Michael’s heart softened, a smile tugging at his lips. James was a good friend, the kind who'd been there for him when things had been rough, especially during the time Ryan had tossed him into a trash alley. James had been his savior, providing him with fresh clothes and healing oils."Hey, James," Michael greeted, "It’s been a while. How have you been?"James's voice came over the line, warm and familiar. “I’ve been good, Mike. Listen, I was calling to invite you to my cousin's birthday. Melody's turning 23, you remember her?”A pang of reluctance hit him. Melody was far from his favorite person. “Ah, James, you know she and I don’t exactly get along.”James was quick to reassure him. “I know, I know. But she’s changed, Mike. I promise she won’t give you a hard time. Besides, I could use a friendly face there.”Michael sighed. He owed James, and he was not one to for
24 Shaking his head in disbelief, James muttered, "No way. That can't be right."The fat guy, who had been engrossed in his dessert, looked up with a bewildered expression on his face. "I didn't even order that lobster!" he protested.Melody turned to her friends, desperation creeping into her voice. Her hand instinctively reaching for her credit card. "Guys, I can't pay for this. I only have $15,000." She looked at Nina and asked, "Do you have any money?" Nina rummaged through her bag and pulled out two hundred dollars. "I have some cash, but it's not enough," she replied.James sighed and reached into his wallet. "I only have $150," he said, disappointment evident in his voice.Melody's gaze fell upon the fat guy, who was busy licking his plate clean. She cringed at the sight and asked, "Do you have any money?"The fat guy grinned and burped. "Nah, sorry. The worst is already here, so I might as well enjoy it," he said, pointing at his empty plate.James turned to Michael, a glim
Once outside the restaurant, James couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Mike, where did you get the money to pay for Melody's bill?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation. Michael hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer without revealing his secret. He knew he couldn't tell James the truth about his newfound wealth, at least not yet. "I had some savings, that's all," Michael finally replied, hoping it would be enough to satisfy James's curiosity. But James wasn't convinced. "Savings? Come on, Mike, we both know you weren't exactly rolling in dough before," James pressed, his brow furrowed with suspicion. "Where did you really get the money and that card?" Michael could feel his anxiety rising with each passing second. He knew he needed to come up with a believable explanation soon, or risk exposing his secret to his friend. "Look, guy, can we just drop it for now? I promise I'll tell you everything once I can," he said, hoping to put an end to t
The following evening, Michael and James made their way to Donovan's party. It was located in the exclusive neighborhood of Belvedere Heights. The mansion, bathed in soft, ambient light, stood majestically against the evening sky. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by a tastefully decorated room, its elegance rivaling a grand ballroom.James, brimming with excitement, nudged Michael forward as they spotted some old classmates. "Come on, Mike. Let's go say hi," he said, his enthusiasm infectious. Michael reluctantly followed, his heart pounding in his chest with apprehension.As they joined the group, James regaled the crowd with stories of their high school days, and everyone laughed along. Michael, on the other hand, felt out of place, his anxiety heightened by the occasional mocking comment from his former bullies. One of their former classmates, Lary, who happened to be Donovan's best friend, caught sight of Michael and sneered, "Well, if it isn't the loser who could never
The room buzzed with excitement as Donovan directed everyone to the front of the room. Chairs were pushed aside, creating a large open space. "Alright everyone," he called out, "it's time for a game of 'Remember When'." A collective cheer erupted from the crowd, everyone eager to relive their high school days, except for Michael. He stood awkwardly at the back, a sense of dread pooling in his stomach. Donovan took charge of the game, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Now, let's see...where should we start?" He paused, a smirk playing on his lips before turning his gaze towards Michael. "Ah, yes, Michael. Remember when you tried to ask Victoria to the prom but ended up tripping and falling flat on your face?" Laughter erupted and Victoria shot Michael a look of disgust. "Oh, I remember that," she snorted, "it was priceless." The room filled with laughter at her comment, each chuckle a dagger to Michael's heart. Undeterred by the cringe on Michael's face, Donovan continued, "And who
James realized that Michael had stormed out of the room, his angry footsteps echoing down the hallway. Concern flooded James, pushing him to act quickly. Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed outside in search of his troubled friend. And there, on the front porch, stood Michael, seething with a mix of fury and hurt."Michael, wait!" James called out, his voice laced with urgency. "Where are you going?"The anger simmering within Michael was palpable as he turned to face James. "I can't stand being around them anymore, James. They're relentless with their mocking," he spat, his voice trembling with pent-up emotions.A flicker of understanding danced in James' eyes as he reached out a comforting hand. "I understand how hurtful it is," he began gently, "but running away won't solve anything. Come back inside and face them head-on."Michael's body trembled with conflicting emotions. The idea of confronting those heartless, despicable people filled him with both dread and a desperate ne
"Donovan, I won the jackpot! Who's the real winner now?" said Michael with a victorious smirk. The crowd was stunned, and Donovan was fuming with anger. He couldn't believe he had let Michael win the grand prize."Feeling less confident now, huh?" taunted Michael, turning to Donovan with a triumphant smile.Donovan, his face red with anger, shouted, "How did you win? This wasn't supposed to happen!"Michael chuckled and replied, "Well, Donovan, sometimes luck is on my side. Looks like it's not your day."Donovan's teeth ground together in frustration, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "Impossible," he muttered to himself, storming towards the wheel. He gave it a furious spin.But as soon as he turned the wheel, a bucket of stinking rotten fish water fell from above and poured over his head. Donovan's face contorted in disgust and anger as his clothes were drenched in fishy water. "Yuck!"Stunned silence gave way to raucous laughter. "Oh, Donovan, you smell like my grandma's week-old se
Three days later, Edward called Michael, who was still fast asleep. Startled by the ringing phone, Michael groggily answered, "Hello?"His father's authoritative voice resonated through the phone, "Michael, it's Edward. I have some news for you."Rubbing his eyes, Michael replied, "What is it, Dad?"Edward informed him, "Mr. Weller, the Marketing Director of Vanguard Industries who was supposed to accompany you, had an unexpected issue. Therefore, I want you to present yourself as the new Marketing Director of Vanguard Industries for the contract signing."Confused and still half-asleep, Michael protested, "But Dad, I'm not prepared for this. I don't even know the details of the contract! Can't we reschedule?""No time for that now, Michael. I've already informed them you'll be there. You have to represent the company." Edward said.Without giving Michael a chance to argue further, Edward abruptly hung up. Annoyed and reluctantly accepting his situation, Michael grumbled as he got out