At first, Oliver had no intention of revealing himself. He preferred to stay in the background, letting his actions speak without the need for recognition. But as he sat in the corner, watching Marcus's face light up with satisfaction, smug in the belief that no one would step forward, something shifted within him. The knots in Marcus’s stomach tightened with each passing second, and the more he saw Oliver advancing toward the stage, the harder his heart pounded in anger.Marcus’s mind raced. "No, it can’t be," he thought, a storm of disbelief and fury rising within him. His fists clenched, and his face grew red with frustration. His carefully crafted superiority was crumbling, and it was Oliver, someone he’d always considered beneath him, who was responsible. The notion of Oliver donating such an enormous amount was like a punch to the gut, one he wasn’t prepared to take. “This… this has to be a joke,” Marcus whispered to himself, trying to rationalize what was happening.As Oliv
Marcus, visibly shaken, struggled to maintain his composure. His face was a mixture of disbelief, anger, and frustration, and when he finally managed to speak, his voice was shaky, barely holding back his emotions. "This… this is preposterous!" he stammered, his words tinged with frustration and confusion. "How could someone like Oliver—how could this happen? There's no way he could’ve made a donation like that!It's—it’s impossible!" His eyes darted around the room, seeking validation from anyone who would support his crumbling sense of superiority.The twins, always quick to latch onto Marcus's feelings, were right there to bolster his ego, fawning over him as if they hadn’t just witnessed the event unfold. "Exactly, Marcus!" one of them chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief. "There's no way Oliver could've done this. It has to be some mistake or… or maybe a joke!"The other twin quickly added, "You’ve always been the one who supports this event. Oliver? Donating two million? I
Meanwhile, across the room, Marcus and his two loyal disciples seethed with resentment. They couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed. Oliver, once considered beneath them, was now glowing under the spotlight, basking in the praise that Marcus had expected to receive.“Look at them,”Marcus muttered, his jaw clenched as he watched people now regarding Oliver with newfound respect. “This is ridiculous. He doesn’t belong here.”The twins nodded in agreement, their faces twisted in disdain. “It’s infuriating. We need to confront him.”Driven by a mix of anger and intrigue, they approached Oliver with a sense of entitlement, ready to challenge him. As Marcus and the twins closed in on Oliver, the atmosphere thickened with tension. Marcus was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with disbelief and contempt.“So, Oliver,” he sneered, crossing his arms defiantly. “Care to enlighten us on how a nobody like you managed to come up with two million dollars? Or did you rob a ba
As Oliver got home, exhausted from the whirlwind of events of the day, he went straight to bed. It was the weekend, and he'd already resolved to spend it doing absolutely nothing. Sleep came quickly as his body sank into the comforting embrace of his bed, the events of the past week fading from his mind.When morning arrived, Oliver was still fast asleep, wrapped in a deep, restful slumber. The world outside could have been crumbling, and he wouldn't have cared. But suddenly, the screeching ring of his phone pierced the quiet air. He groaned, shifting under the covers and pulling a pillow over his head in a futile attempt to block out the noise.The phone rang again. And then a third time.Frustration bubbling up, Oliver finally scrambled to find his phone on the bedside table, his eyes still clouded with sleep. After some fumbling, he managed to grab it, squinting at the screen to see who could possibly be disrupting his weekend peace.It was Anita.He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
As Oliver and Anita settled into the car, the atmosphere between them was light and playful. Anita leaned back in her seat and glanced at him. "So," she began with a grin, "how does it feel driving such a stunning lady around?" Oliver smirked. "Well, considering I'm used to driving myself around with no company, this is a nice change." Anita chuckled. "Oh, I see. So, I should feel honored, right?" "Maybe," Oliver teased, eyes flicking towards her briefly before returning to the road. "But don’t let it get to your head." "Too late," she said with a wink, causing them both to laugh. They continued chatting about random topics, from the music playing in the background to Anita's excitement about the party. At some point, they joked about their past outings, and Oliver found himself surprisingly comfortable in her company. He was not used to this—being so at ease with someone. Usually, he preferred solitude, but Anita's presence felt oddly natural. "You're not so bad yourself, you
The compliments continued to flow in and Oliver couldn't help but feel proud that they've come together. “She looks like she just walked out of a Vogue magazine,” someone whispered, loud enough for the whole group to hear. “How is she so perfect?” “She’s like one of those models you see in designer shows, but even more flawless in person!” yet another girl added, her voice filled with admiration. With each compliment, Anita’s chest swelled a little more. Her head was lifted slightly, basking in the glow of their words. Her heart was already soaring as each flattering remark made her feel like the queen of the night. They had even likened her to a goddess, which left her nearly giddy. After soaking in their adulation for a few moments, she finally found her voice. "Thank you, everyone," she said, smiling graciously, though the pride was clear in her tone. "You’re all so kind." But while the compliments continued, the only guy in the room couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
As the knife was passed around for guests to take turns cutting the cake, the guy snatched it and, with a smug grin, gestured toward Oliver.“Hey, why don’t you cut a slice for everyone?” he said loudly, his tone dripping with mockery. "Or maybe that’s not something you’re used to, seeing as you probably have someone do it for you."The crowd’s laughter was awkward, a few people glancing uncomfortably between Oliver and the man. It was a subtle but deliberate attempt to embarrass Oliver, positioning him as someone out of place, too refined or detached to even do something simple like cutting a cake.Anita, who had been standing nearby, immediately sensed what was happening. Her eyes darted between Oliver and the guy, realizing the malicious intent behind the gesture.Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her expression sharp as she intercepted the knife before Oliver could respond.“Oh, I think Oliver’s done enough for the night,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tens
Eyeing the moment, he stepped forward again, his voice cutting through the noise. "Alright, folks," he said with a sly grin, "I think we’ve all calmed down now, haven’t we?" He gave Oliver a pointed look, his tone dripping with mockery."He continued, "How about we move on to the gift presentation? After all, I’m sure everyone here brought something special for the celebrant."His eyes flicked toward Oliver for a brief second, certain that this was his moment. He was convinced that Oliver had come empty-handed, and this would be his final blow to undermine him."Let’s see what we’ve got!" the guy added, rubbing his hands together in fake enthusiasm. The crowd turned their attention toward the table where the celebrant, a glowing young woman in her birthday dress, stood expectantly.Without hesitation, Anita reached into her bag, a confident smile playing on her lips. From it, she pulled out a thick bundle of $50 bills and handed it over to the celebrant. "This is $5000," she said ca
"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