After hanging up, the manager turned back to Elijah with an even brighter smile. “Everything is being expedited as we speak. And once this is complete, you’ll have access to all our VIP privileges—financial advisors, exclusive investment plans, you name it. We’ll cater to every need of yours.”
The manager leaned back slightly, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. He glanced at the records on his screen, his brow furrowing slightly. “If I may ask, Mr. Elijah, your account activity until recently wasn’t reflecting such large transactions. But from hours ago, your transactions seem to have jumped significantly. Is there a story behind this sudden change?”Elijah’s jaw tightened slightly, but he maintained his calm demeanor. He wasn’t about to share the details of how he got the money. Instead, he offered a vague explanation.“My trading account blew up.”The manager’s eyes widened, a mix of awe and respect spreading acrosSierra didn’t reply, but her lips pressed into a thin line as Daniel closed the distance between them.As Daniel got closer, his confident smile widened, and he casually slid his phone into his pocket. His eyes locked onto Sierra, ignoring the buzz of whispers and stares around them."Well, well," he began smoothly, his voice rich and playful, "if it isn’t Sierra Lane, the most beautiful sight on this campus. Should I assume you’re the reason the sun is shining so brightly today?"Betty snickered, nudging Sierra slightly. "Smooth as ever," she muttered under her breath.Sierra raised an eyebrow at Daniel, crossing her arms. "Is that your opening line now, Everhart? Did the Audi come with that level of cheesiness, or are you just getting rusty?"Daniel laughed, undeterred. "Ah, you wound me, Sierra. Here I am, pulling off those drifts just to get your attention, and this is the thanks I get? No applause?
Sierra narrowed her eyes at Betty, a playful suspicion lacing her tone. "Tell me, Betty, did this guy pay you or something? You're always supporting him, no matter what."Betty gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Me? Paid by Daniel Everhart? Oh, Sierra, how could you accuse me of such betrayal!""Betty," Sierra said flatly, "you're literally grinning right now."Betty burst out laughing. "Okay, fine, maybe I just like seeing you squirm. It's entertaining. But hey, if he did pay me, I’d be driving that black Audi of his by now."Sierra shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "You’re impossible.”Betty wagged her finger teasingly. "No, no. I'm just here to make sure you have an epic college story to tell one day. 'Remember that time Daniel Everhart, the campus heartthrob, begged me for a dinner date at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city?' Sounds pretty good, don’t you think?"Sierra rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, sure, Betty. Next time he bri
Elijah nodded calmly.Robert blinked, then offered a sheepish chuckle. “Well, I must say, Mr. Elijah, you’ve certainly surprised me. Not many clients come in with such… readiness.”“I like to get things done,” Elijah said simply.Robert nodded, his demeanor now fully respectful. “Well, let’s not waste any more of your time. If you’ll follow me to my office, we can go over the available properties and find something that suits your preferences.”As they entered the spacious, elegantly furnished office, Robert gestured for Elijah to take a seat in one of the plush leather chairs across from his desk. Elijah sat down, his expression calm but attentive as he observed the room—polished wood surfaces, framed certificates, and a large screen displaying luxury properties.Robert took his seat opposite him, folding his hands neatly on the desk. “Now, Mr. Elijah,” he began with a polished smile, “before we proceed, I must tell you that you’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for exclus
The rain was pouring heavily that night, drumming against the streets and rooftops with relentless force. A young man, his stylish hair plastered to his forehead, sprinted through the downpour, the rain soaking him to the bone. His old clothes clung to him, weighed down by the water as he ran towards the gate of the big house across the street. The rain was merciless, pounding against his back, the cold seeping into his skin as he shivered slightly.Reaching the large black gate, he knocked hard, the sound barely audible over the storm. He knocked again, louder this time, desperation creeping into his voice as he called out, "Come and open the gate! The rain is beating me—hurry up!”From the other side, a voice responded, gruff but amused, "Who wants to break the gate?"The gate creaked open, and the security guard peered out. "Oh, it's you," he said, recognizing the drenched figure.The young man didn’t wait for further conversation. He rushed through the gate, water splashing off
Elijah felt a sharp pain pierce his heart as Sophia’s words sank in. His face tightened with disbelief and anguish. "I disgust you? How, Sophia? Didn’t I try my best to do everything you requested?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hurt.Sophia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Requested? Try hard my foot. Are you the one taking care of me, or am I the one taking care of you, Elijah? Bold of you to think I'm in love with you." She sneered, her words biting. "I'm 25, and you're just 20. You're a kid, Elijah. Do you think I would ever be proud to point to a low, poor kid like you and call you my boyfriend? I'd be ashamed."Elijah stood there, stunned, each word cutting deeper than the last. He had known he was younger than Sophia, but he thought they had loved each other. After all, they had been dating for months, and she kept telling him his age never mattered—didn't that mean something? How she was keeping herself till they got married first. Wasnt that also somet
Elijah’s eyes darkened with frustration and anger, his chest tightening as Sophia’s words cut deeper. “I got some of those with my money too, Sophia! You can’t just take everything away from me!” he argued, his voice rising in anger. “You don’t get to tell me what I can or can’t take. I worked hard for what little I have!”But before he could say more, Damian stepped forward, his presence looming large as he towered over Elijah. With a smug grin, he placed a hand on Elijah’s chest and pushed him back. "Watch your tone, kid," Damian warned, his voice low and menacing. "You want to argue with her, you argue with me first. And trust me, you don’t want that." His eyes narrowed, his threat clear as he glared at Elijah.Elijah’s eyes filled with pain as he looked past Damian, locking his gaze on Sophia. His voice trembled,“Sophia, after everything we’ve been through, this is how you treat me? Like trash? Like I never mattered to you?”He took a shaky breath, his heart aching with betraya
Elijah hesitated for a moment, staring at the foreign number on the screen. Something about it felt off, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, he pressed the "answer" button and brought the phone to his ear."Hello?" he said, his voice wary.Almost immediately, a deep voice on the other end responded. "Hello, Elijah."Elijah frowned. "Who’s this?" he asked, a mix of confusion and irritation in his tone.There was a brief silence, just a few seconds, but it felt much longer. Then the voice spoke again, calm and deliberate. "Happy Birthday, Elijah."Elijah froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Happy Birthday?" he echoed, shock washing over him. "How do you know my name?" His mind raced—what birthday? He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years, not since everything fell apart.The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his confusion. "Happy 21st birthday, son. Daddy and Mommy wish you the best in life.”The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his
The screen came to life. Gasp!Elijah’s breath caught. There he was—a man in his late forties, maybe early fifties, sitting in a luxurious steady room. His sharp features were unmistakable. The room behind Marcus Steel was lined with bookshelves filled with leather-bound books. A golden desk sat in the background, papers neatly stacked—everything about him screamed authority and control. And yet, there was something gentle in the way he smiled, as though he held the entire world at his fingertips.The high cheekbones, the piercing green eyes, and the streaks of silver in his neatly combed hair matched every image Elijah had seen in magazines and on TV. But there was something more personal in the way he looked at Elijah now—something almost... familiar.Seeing that the man on his screen was actually the same as General Marcus Steel he had always saluted, his heart raced, and he felt his entire body tense up. A million thoughts swirled in his head: Was this real? Could he actually be