Victor’s curiosity was piqued, and he continued to probe. “Isn’t the merger a good deal?” he asked, his tone deliberately nonchalant. “It could help them foster development and progress.”Wilson’s response was laced with sarcasm. “Development? Progress?” he scoffed. “It’s just a way for them to consolidate their power and throw their weight around, all while sticking it to people like me. It’s a slap in the face.”Victor’s satisfaction grew with Wilson’s reaction. It seemed the man’s anger was more than just personal—it was visceral. Seeing the potential, Victor decided to dig deeper. “Why are you so angry? Do you know them personally?”Wilson’s eyes burned with fury. “I’m willing to do anything to bring Oliver down,” he declared. “He needs to learn the hard way. He can’t just come in and think he can outmaneuver everyone.”Victor’s heart raced with exhilaration at Wilson’s words. This was an opportunity too good to miss. Oliver Howard was not just his enemy; he was also the common
One week had passed since he visited the orphanage, and tonight was the fundraiser he had eagerly anticipated and looked forward to.Oliver stood in front of the mirror, his fingers brushing over the simple yet elegant outfit he had chosen for the evening. He opted for a crisp white button-down shirt, paired with a tailored navy blazer and dark grey trousers.His shoes were polished but understated, matching the effortless sophistication he preferred. He wasn’t trying to make a bold statement—tonight wasn’t about him—but he wanted to feel comfortable and confident for the event.As he stepped into his car and began driving through the calm, quiet evening, the soft hum of the music on the radio mingled with his thoughts.The memories came flooding back—the times he spent at the orphanage, kicking a ball around with the other kids, racing across the fields, laughing as they chased one another in the warm sun.He could almost hear their laughter now, as clear as day, and the corners of h
The car came to a smooth stop not far from where the group stood. The door swung open, and out stepped the driver—a strikingly handsome man, dressed in a tailored suit of charcoal gray, sharp and clean. His black leather shoes caught the light as he moved, and his deep blue tie stood out against the crisp white shirt he wore beneath his suit jacket. His presence was immaculate, a symbol of wealth and status.The driver glanced briefly at the gathering, his expression composed and unreadable, before stepping aside, as if waiting for someone even more important to emerge from the car. The man’s presence was unmistakable, commanding every eye in the vicinity as he confidently exited his car—a sleek, deep blue Aston Revano. The luxurious, high-performance vehicle gleamed under the fading sunlight, its opulent design drawing murmurs from the onlookers."Is that the new Aston Revano?" one guest whispered, eyes wide with admiration. "That’s a car you don’t see every day. Whoever owns tha
Ethan joined in, adding, “It’s funny how some people just can't handle a little friendly competition. They get left behind.”Oliver, maintaining his calm demeanor, replied, “Modesty isn’t about being left behind; it’s about understanding that actions speak louder than words.”With every jab Marcus and his friends threw, Oliver’s calm, modest replies seemed to leave them momentarily at a loss for words. “Seems like you’re all quite good at boasting,” Oliver said, “but sometimes the real measure of success is how well you treat others, not how much you brag.”Marcus tried to retort, but Oliver’s words seemed to cut deeper than intended, leaving him momentarily speechless.Just as the tension in the air became unbearable and the confrontation threatened to turn into a scene, a new figure approached them. A woman in her late fifties, dressed in an elegant, navy blue dress with intricate embroidery, her silver hair pulled back in a graceful bun, walked up to the group. She exuded an air
Meanwhile, one of Oliver's friends, noticing the tension in his clenched fists and the barely contained anger in his eyes, gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “She’s not worth it, Oliver,” his friend whispered. “Neither are they. Don’t let them get under your skin. They’re not worth your anger.”At that moment, Marcus, the rich guy, removed himself from Mrs. Thompson’s exaggerated embrace, wiping the sweat forming on his forehead. He shot Oliver a scathing and arrogant look, his eyes glaring daggers.“You should just accept defeat, Oliver,” Marcus sneered. “Even Mrs. Thompson can see that I’m superior to you in every way. You’re just a nobody trying to play with the big boys. You’ve always been a loser, and that hasn’t changed.”He stepped closer, smirking with arrogance. “Look around you. I’ve got wealth, status, and power. What do you have? A bunch of useless friends trying to pull you away from reality. Face it, Oliver—you’re nothing.”Meanwhile, the twins, Nathan and Nadia, wer
Before anyone else could respond, Oliver quickly took the opportunity to de-escalate. “We’re just having a friendly conversation,” he said, his voice even and calm. “Nothing more.”The man’s eyes swept over the group, his gaze lingering on Marcus, who still looked like he was about to burst. After a pause, the man nodded and suggested, “Perhaps it’s time for a change of subject. Why don’t we move away from here? Come with me.” His tone wasn’t a suggestion; it was a directive, but it was delivered with such grace and authority that it left little room for argument.Marcus and the twins fell silent, fuming but unwilling to oppose the man’s suggestion. It was clear that whoever this man was, he commanded a level of respect that even Marcus couldn’t challenge at the moment.But while the group was momentarily subdued, Mrs. Thompson, still simmering from Oliver’s earlier remarks, was not about to let things slide. She glared daggers at Oliver, her nostrils flaring as she prepared to unlea
Amid the lively atmosphere of the hall, the room gradually fell silent as Mrs. Thompson approached the microphone, her presence commanding the attention of everyone present. The buzz of conversation died down as the guests turned their gazes toward her, eager to hear the evening’s opening address."Good evening, everyone," Mrs. Thompson began, her voice clear and welcoming. "I want to thank each and every one of you for making it to this special fundraising event for the orphanage."She continued, "It’s a joy to see so many familiar faces, and even more so to see the young men and women who were raised within the walls of this orphanage, now standing tall and proud. Your support means the world, and it’s because of people like you that we continue to make a difference."As the applause filled the room, Marcus, who had been simmering in his anger from the earlier confrontation with Oliver, straightened up immediately. His mind raced, sensing an opportunity to once again assert his do
"You really have come a long way, Marcus," one older gentleman commented, shaking his hand firmly. "Mrs. Thompson was right to single you out. You've made quite a name for yourself.""Always knew you'd go far, Marcus," another chimed in. "You've got that determination and drive.""You're really the star of the night," a woman added, her smile beaming.These words, laced with admiration, only served to inflate Marcus’s already bloated sense of self-importance. The more they praised him, the more he puffed out his chest, his posture exuding arrogance.The twins, hovered around him, their exaggerated flattery almost unbearable. They laughed too loudly at his jokes, clung to every word he spoke, and constantly vied for his attention, making sure everyone noticed how close they were to him."Marcus, you’re just on another level tonight. Honestly, who could compare?" Nathan gushed, her voice almost too sweet."You're like the king of the room. Everyone's looking at you," Nada added, casting
"Doesn’t he know Mr. Hawkins?" a tall man in the back commented. "This CEO doesn’t tolerate disrespect, even in small things like parking. His job's probably over before it even started."Some people chuckled softly at the thought, while others exchanged worried glances."Bold for a newbie, huh?" someone remarked, shaking their head. "He doesn’t know who he’s messing with."Amidst the chatter, Oliver’s mind was racing. He felt a storm brewing inside him, the anger and frustration bubbling just below the surface. This public humiliation—the insults, the crowd gawking at him like some sort of spectacle—it was infuriating. He knew he had the power to retaliate, to put this man in his place. But he also knew that violence wasn’t the answer. Not here, not now. Oliver’s chest rose and fell with each steadying breath as he controlled his emotions, eyes hardening with resolve.Finally, he addressed the CEO. “Mr. Hawkins,” Oliver began, his voice steady but tinged with the simmering fire be
Oliver clenched his fists at his sides, struggling to hold his temper as the man’s arrogance reached new heights. The onlookers whispered more fervently now, curious to see how the standoff would end. The CEO’s relentless tirade had now transformed the gathering into a spectacle, where Oliver had become the subject of ridicule and questioning. Still, nobody knew who he really was.The security guard, who had been silently watching the entire ordeal, had grown increasingly irritated by the CEO’s pompous attitude. The arrogance, the way the man flaunted his authority—it was too much. He finally decided to step in, hoping to diffuse the tension."Mr. Hawkins," the guard started, addressing the CEO, "he’s promised to move the car—"But before he could finish, Mr. Hawkins turned his icy glare towards the guard, his eyes flashing with rage. In one swift motion, before anyone could react, Hawkins landed a menacing slap across the guard’s face. The sound echoed through the parking lot like a
After a long, exhausting night, Oliver returned home and collapsed into bed, drifting into the deepest sleep he'd had in days. He slept soundly, like a baby, too tired to even dream. Morning came quickly, and a soft knock on the door stirred him awake. The door creaked open, and his mother stepped inside, her presence filling the room with warmth."Good morning, Oliver," she said with a soft smile, "Did you sleep well?""Yeah, I did," Oliver replied, rubbing his eyes. "Morning, Mom."She approached the bed, sitting lightly on the edge. “I need you to visit Pearl Dynamics today. I was supposed to go myself, but something came up. You know how I’ve always insisted that you get more involved with the companies. It's important that you understand how each one operates.”Oliver sighed heavily, still feeling the weight of last night’s events, but he knew this was non-negotiable. “Alright, I’ll handle it,” he said, forcing himself out of bed.After his mother left, he dragged himself to the
Gasps filled the room. The weight of the revelation hit everyone like a tidal wave. Vanessa’s jaw dropped as she stared at the price in disbelief, her hands trembling slightly. Anita’s eyes widened, and a look of awe replaced her earlier skepticism. There was a murmur of shock and admiration as everyone absorbed what they had just witnessed."Four hundred thousand dollars?" someone whispered, stunned."That’s insane," another added. "I didn’t even know you could get a custom Patek like that."Nathan, on the other hand, was left speechless. The blood drained from his face as if all his confidence had evaporated in an instant. His once smug expression faltered, replaced by sheer disbelief. His gift—while appreciated—was a far cry from what Oliver had just unveiled. The room buzzed with whispers as people began comparing Nathan’s painting to Oliver’s gift."It’s not even close," someone muttered, loud enough for Nathan to hear. "Oliver’s on a whole different level.""Yeah, Nathan’s gif
Despite her defense, Oliver wasn’t satisfied. He couldn't shake off the overwhelming sense of betrayal—not from the people around him but from the circumstances that had conspired to humiliate him. His insistence on proving himself only spurred Nathan's amusement further.Nathan burst into mocking laughter, his voice echoing through the room. "Oh, this is just too rich," he sneered. "Mistakenly picked the wrong one? C'mon, Oliver, don’t kid yourself. If it walks like a fraud, talks like a fraud, well... it’s probably a fraud."Oliver’s frustration was mounting. He grabbed his phone, dialing his mother’s number again, the cold sweat on his forehead betraying his rising desperation. When the call didn’t go through, his grip tightened, and he cursed under his breath. Nathan’s taunts grew more relentless. "You’re a joke, man," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Trying to pull this off like you’re some big shot, and now look at you—sweating bullets over a fake watch. You m
Another girl in the corner whispered, "It’s embarrassing. I thought Oliver had more class than this."Nathan circled around Oliver, his voice dripping with mockery."You wanted to make me look like a fool, huh? Well, how’s it feel now? Must hurt, doesn’t it? Standing there, trying to defend a cheap knockoff while I’ve got a real, genuine gift." He leaned in closer, his grin menacing. "Face it, Oliver. You’re nothing but a fraud, and everyone here sees it now."Oliver stood there, his composure cracking. "I know it's not fake," he repeated, his voice quieter now, almost as if he were convincing himself as much as everyone else. "There’s been a mistake… it has to be."But the more he protested, the more Nathan’s smirk grew. "Mistake?" Nathan scoffed. "The only mistake here is you thinking you could come in here and show me up. But now everyone knows the truth, Oliver. You're just a guy trying to punch above his weight, and you fell flat on your face."Anita, who had been quiet througho
"He started it! Two can play this game, right? If Oliver's so sure, why doesn’t he show the receipt for his fancy watch? Or better yet, let’s check the authenticity right now!"The room grew quiet as Nathan’s challenge hung in the air. Oliver, calm as ever, didn’t flinch. He merely replied, "Show the receipt for your painting first, Nathan. After that, I’ll be happy to provide mine."A murmur went through the crowd as people exchanged curious glances. The tension was thick, almost tangible, as they awaited Nathan’s response. But before Nathan could come up with an excuse, someone else from the party chimed in. "Why don’t we just check online? Patek Philippe has an official site where you can validate their products using the serial number. Let’s see if it’s genuine."Anita, standing close to Oliver, felt a knot form in her stomach. Her fingers twitched with anxiety. She knew Oliver had money and could easily afford a watch like that, but the idea of him being humiliated in front of e
Nathan's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, a flicker of fear crossed his face. But he quickly masked it with more arrogance, his voice rising in desperation. “You're talking nonsense. You're just bitter because you can't afford anything like this, and now you're trying to ruin the night. You're just some arrogant narcissist.”Anita, sensing that the tension was about to boil over, stepped between them. "Come on, this isn’t necessary," she pleaded, her hands out in front of her. “It’s a party. Let’s not ruin it over this.”But Oliver was resolute. “If Nathan’s so sure about the authenticity of his gift,” he said, locking eyes with Nathan, “then I’d like to prove that the painting is not original.”The room fell silent at Oliver’s bold challenge. Nathan’s expression faltered again, but he quickly masked his unease with more bravado."Prove it?" Nathan scoffed, though his voice had lost some of its earlier confidence. “You’re just trying to make me look bad. You’re the one ruinin
He glanced at Anita once more, hoping that the grand gesture would make her fall for him. But Anita remained stoic, her expression unreadable, though her eyes flickered with something more calculating than impressed.Meanwhile, Oliver, who had been observing silently, maintained his calm demeanor, though a subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Nathan might have thought he’d outshone everyone, but Oliver had seen enough of such displays to know where this was headed. He knew arrogance often led to a downfall. He just had to wait.Meanwhile, Nathan was in his element, soaking up the admiration from the room. He grinned from ear to ear, loving every second of the attention. Vanessa couldn’t stop gushing about the gift, her voice high with excitement.“You never cease to amaze me, Nathan,” she said, her eyes still wide with disbelief. “This is... I don’t even know how to thank you! This is the most expensive gift I’ve ever received!”Nathan, feeling on top of the world, brushed