As Oliver's words lingered in the air, murmurs spread among the queue of onlookers. Intrigued by his claim of being an SVIP, they began making snide remarks under their breath."SVIP? Ha, in those clothes?" a man in a tailored grey suit scoffed, adjusting his expensive watch. "He looks like he can’t even afford lunch, let alone hold a VIP status.""Is he out of his mind?" a woman in a sleek red dress muttered, rolling her eyes. "This isn't some backstreet store where you can play pretend.""Honestly, the nerve of some people," another person added, clearly irritated. "We’ve all been waiting in line, and now this guy wants special treatment?"The employee, emboldened by the growing discontent from the crowd, let out a derisive laugh. Her mocking tone cut through the noise. "Sir, I suggest you leave now before we’re forced to take more serious measures against you." Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of asserting authority, and her words carried a veiled threat.As if on cue, two fierce-
Oliver replied, his voice edged with a mix of anger and frustration. "This isn't about pretense or trying to impress anyone. It's about class—and class is earned based on contribution to society, something I don’t expect you to know anything about." He shot the man a sharp look, his patience wearing thin.As Oliver’s words hung in the air, the crowd’s reactions immediately followed, sparking a flurry of murmurs and amused comments."Contribution to society? What’s he even talking about?""Look at him, acting like some big shot. What’s he done for anyone?""Bet his ‘contributions’ are as fake as that card!"A middle-aged man near the back chuckled sarcastically, "Oh please, this guy? Contributing? More like he’s contributing to wasting our time."Another voice piped up, "Probably donated his old clothes to a thrift store and thinks he’s saving the world."The well-dressed woman from earlier sneered, "This is just embarrassing. What kind of contribution could he possibly be talking abo
As the tension in the bank reached its boiling point, the crowd's skepticism toward Oliver was palpable. Mocking comments, sneers, and the occasional jeer could be heard as people prepared to witness what they believed would be Oliver’s inevitable humiliation. Fueled by the man's relentless taunts, the crowd was growing increasingly rowdy, with onlookers closing in to watch the drama unfold.Just as the noise escalated into a near ruckus, a calm yet authoritative voice cut through the chaos, silencing the clamor. Heads turned as the source of the voice emerged from the crowd. A middle-aged man in a sharp suit, carrying an air of authority, walked briskly toward the commotion. His brow furrowed with surprise and disapproval as he took in the chaotic scene around him.It was the bank manager.Immediately, the employee who had been leading the charge against Oliver, along with the two security guards, straightened up, their faces lighting up with a mixture of relief and anticipation.
As Oliver and the manager left the commotion behind and headed into the office, the whispers from the crowd echoed through the bank."Did you see that? Oliver's being taken to the manager's office like he's some kind of VIP!" One person said."And that guy? Storming off like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way." Another person commented. "He was so full of himself, but now he’s running off like a baby who lost his toy." A third added.The air was filled with a mixture of amusement and awe, with people clearly seeing Oliver in a whole new light.Inside the manager’s office, the atmosphere was much calmer. There was a special ATM machine reserved for high-profile clients. The manager, now all business and respect, assisted Oliver with the transaction. Afterward, he thanked Oliver with the utmost courtesy, bowing slightly, and said, “Thank you for your continued trust in our services, sir. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you ever need anything else.”Oliver nodded and smiled,
The manager tried again, his voice trembling as he attempted to reason with Oliver, "You don’t understand… if the director comes and you’re still here, it won’t be good. Just… do as he says. Please, for your own sake."Oliver’s eyes narrowed in anger. "I’m not scared of him or his so-called director," he replied, standing his ground. "This has gone on long enough."Just as Oliver turned to leave, the man blocked his path, stepping directly in front of him. "Going somewhere?" he sneered, turning to the manager. "If you let him walk out of here, when the police arrive, I’ll make sure you’re arrested too—for aiding and abetting a criminal!" His voice was triumphant, as though he’d just cornered a wild animal. The manager froze, his fear now at an all-time high. "No… no, please…" he whispered. His eyes darted back and forth, filled with panic, looking at Oliver as though pleading for him to stay. "I… I can’t let him leave. We’ll both be in trouble."The manager, visibly trembling, turne
The crowd murmured louder now, their gazes darting between Oliver and the man as the tension in the air mounted.As the chatter in the crowd began to die down, the man raised his voice once again, ensuring all eyes were on him. "The last name on this ID card," he said, waving it in the air, "doesn't match the one he claims. So, clearly, he's a fraud!" Oliver’s heart skipped a beat. His mind raced as he suddenly realized the mistake he'd made that morning. A knot formed in his stomach as he grasped the gravity of the situation. He had grabbed the wrong ID, his old one, from his time at the orphanage. It conflicted with the name his mother had given him when she found him months ago. Though the issue had long since been corrected, no one in the crowd would give him a chance to explain.The air felt thick with judgment as the crowd began whispering again."He’s a fraud? After all that show of power?" one person muttered in disbelief."Unbelievable. So everything he’s been doing here—a
Oliver took a moment to steady himself, feeling the sting of the crowd's increasingly vicious jeers. Their judgment was relentless, and the weight of their scorn began pressing down on him. He knew that staying would only worsen the situation, so he decided to leave. Just as he turned to make his exit, something caught his eye through the large windows of the bank. Outside, two tinted Land Cruiser jeeps pulled up—vehicles that exuded wealth and power. As the crowd inside the bank noticed the scene unfolding, their attention shifted slightly. A guard in a sharp suit stepped out of the first car and opened the back door. From within emerged an elderly man, though not too elderly, perhaps in his late 60s. He wore an impeccably tailored suit that hugged his frame with the elegance of someone used to commanding respect. His hair was neatly combed back, and his posture was upright, radiating an aura of authority and control. He had a polished air about him—his wristwatch gleamed gold, a
But as Oliver finished, something unexpected happened.The mention of the name "Oliver Howard" seemed to pierce the director’s composure. His once stoic expression cracked, and for a brief moment, his eyes widened, a flicker of shock crossing his face. His lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came. His right hand, which had been resting casually on his cane, gripped it tighter, the knuckles whitening. He shifted on his feet, his posture stiffening unconsciously. His brow furrowed ever so slightly, and he blinked, as though trying to process what he had just heard.He cleared his throat, almost as if to regain control, but his surprise was evident to anyone paying attention. The air in the room felt even heavier, and the crowd could sense that something monumental had just been said, though they couldn’t fully grasp its significance. Oliver, seeing the man’s reaction, felt a wave of nervousness sweep over him, his heart pounding faster. For a few seconds, it seemed as
"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