With a malicious glint in his eyes, Maxwell turned towards Michael, a smirk playing on his lips. "Eighty thousand dollars," he declared, his voice echoing through the silent room. His gaze met Michael's, holding a clear message. "Can you afford that, Michael?"The room held its breath, the tension palpable. Guests exchanged glances, whispers fluttering like butterflies around the room. The host, a man seasoned in countless auctions, had never experienced such an electrifying spectacle. He raised an intrigued eyebrow, his eyes scanning the room in anticipation of the upcoming spectacle.Michael's gaze met Maxwell's with unwavering determination, a cool confidence emanating from him. The corners of his mouth twitched, resembling a slight smile as he contemplated his next move. The room held its breath, the tension palpable, as everyone eagerly awaited Michael's response.A few whispered exclamations danced through the crowd as Michael's voice cut through the silence, "Two hundred thousa
Olivia, who had been cheering for Michael's success in winning the bid, felt a pang of jealousy pierce her heart. "I can't understand why Michael would spend such an exorbitant amount on a necklace just for a girl." She thought assuming it was for the girl she first saw him with at the coffee shop. This girl was actually Emily . Her eyes darted around the room, and she noticed the expressions of shock and awe on the faces of the other guests.One woman wide-eyed and amazed, whispered to her companion, "Did you see that? He just won the bid for an eight hundred thousand dollar necklace! Who is this guy?"Another man, his eyebrows raised in disbelief, muttered, "Must be nice to have that kind of money to throw around."Olivia couldn't tear her eyes away from Michael as he approached her, the necklace glimmering in his hand. He looked at her with a soft smile. "This is for you, Liv," he said, his voice laced with warmth.Her jaw dropped, and she couldn't believe her eyes. "Is that... f
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