REVENGE OF THE VAGABOND

CHAPTER 1: BETRAYED

Oliver was sitting at his desk, typing away with a focused determination. He had been working late into the night, trying to wrap up a project that would soon reach a very good result. All around him, his co-workers were chattering away and getting ready to call it a day. But Oliver knew he couldn't leave until he had finished.

Suddenly, the sound of loud and surprised voices interrupted his work. Quickly, he looked up to see what the fuss was all about. His co-workers were gathered around one of the desks, all of them staring intently at something on a phone screen.

"What's going on here?" Oliver asked, curious.

One of his co-workers turned to him with a grin. "You won't believe it, Oliver. This is crazy."

Curiosity piqued, and Oliver moved closer to see what they were all staring at. It was a live video on a famous platform called Vidtube, showing a luxury mansion. At first, Oliver couldn't figure out why they were all so interested in it. But then, he saw something that made his heart drop.

The man on the screen was the son of the CEO of their company. And he was about to propose to the most beautiful girl named Merideth in the company.

Suddenly, Oliver felt a strong sense of sadness and hurt wash over him. He had been dating Merideth in secret for years, having a history together, having attended the same college and now he knew she was about to become engaged to someone else.

When Oliver joined one of the largest companies in the world, Merideth requested to work alongside him, and he helped her get the job. Despite Merideth's warning to keep their previous relationship a secret, Oliver couldn't help but love her and began saving up to propose to her. However, his dreams were shattered when Merideth betrayed him in the end. It was a painful lesson for Oliver to learn that sometimes, those we trust the most can still break our hearts.

Trying to keep his emotions in check, Oliver asked his co-worker, "That's Merideth, isn't it?"

His co-worker nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, it is. She's always been the talk of the office, you know."

Oliver couldn't believe it. It had been hard enough keeping their relationship a secret in the first place, but now it seemed impossible. He wondered if he should confront Merideth about what he had just seen. Or if he should just let it go and move on.

Either way, he knew things would never be the same again.

Oliver's heart sank as he continued to watch the live stream of the luxurious mansion on Adam's phone. His mind raced as he tried to process what was happening. He wasn't prepared for this announcement. Oliver's thoughts shot to the ring he had in his desk drawer. He had been saving up for this moment for months. The feeling of shock masked the hurt he felt deep inside.

His co-workers watched with excitement, but Oliver couldn't bring himself to feel happy for the couple. "That's incredible," his workmate Adam said as she walked over to him. "The CEO's son has impeccable taste. I'm sure she'll say yes." Oliver forced a smile and nodded, unable to form any coherent words.

Oliver stayed late at the office, not wanting to go home to an empty house. He needed time to think and process what had just happened. His mind was foggy, and he couldn't concentrate on any work-related tasks. As he sat at his desk, his co-worker walked over to him with a concerned look on her face.

"Are you okay, Oliver?" Adam asked, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Oliver felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"I'm fine," he lied, not wanting to burden anyone with his problems.

Oliver's co-worker, Amy, walked into the office with a huge smile on her face. She was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Let's go to Gold Lotus Hotel. The CEO invited everyone to come to his wedding proposal!" Sarah replied excitedly.

"It's incredible! It's one of the most luxurious hotels I've ever been to. The rooms are stunning and the service is impeccable. And the best part? It's only $60,000 for one night!" Max exclaimed, still feeling the buzz of her weekend stay.

"$60,000 for one night? Are you serious?" Adam asked incredulously.

"Yep, that's the price. But trust me, it's worth it. The whole experience is amazing. And the food? Oh my god, you wouldn't believe it. We had a meal there that cost $20,000! But it was so good, we didn't care about the price!" Amy gushed.

Oliver couldn't wrap his head around the idea of spending that much money on a hotel room or a meal. He was content with his usual budget-friendly accommodations and meals.

"Come with us Oliver," they invited and Oliver only wanted to come for the sake of seeing her secret girlfriend.

Oliver stormed out of the company headquarters, feeling a betrayal like he's never felt before. His heart pounded as he thought about what he had just witnessed in that live stream. His secret girlfriend, Meredith, was kissing the CEO, and for the whole world to see.

He couldn't believe it, he thought he had found someone special, someone, he could trust and rely on. And now, everything he had built up in his head had come crashing down.

As he rushed to the place where she was, he could feel his anger and frustration building up inside him. The thoughts started to flood his mind - how could she do this to him? What did he do wrong?

As he arrived at her apartment, he didn't even bother to knock. He barged in to find her sitting on the couch with a look of surprise on her face.

Oliver couldn't believe what he was seeing. The love of his life, Merideth, was standing in front of another man. Tears streamed down his face. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Is this real? Are you gonna do this to me, Merideth? My love?" Oliver asked, his voice trembling with emotion.