Both Elijah and the guard turned toward the sound, startled. Standing there was a man, probably in his late forties. He wore see-through shades that revealed piercing eyes beneath, his physique still fit and impressive. A glint of metal caught Elijah’s eye, and he noticed an expensive watch around the man’s wrist. Elijah’s heart skipped a beat in recognition—Jason Caldwell. Or, as most people called him, Jay Caldwell. He was one of the city’s most respected businessmen, the CEO of its largest construction company. Seeing him up close was a rare moment, leaving Elijah thinking if Mr Cadwell was the owner of the hotel. "Mr... Mr... Mr. Jason!" The guard stammered, quickly letting go of Elijah’s clothes, his stern expression replaced by an awkward, forced smile. Without even glancing at Elijah, Jay turned to the guard, his voice sharp. "What’s going on here? Why are you holding him like that?” The guard straightened, scrambling to justify himself. "Sir, this young man here.
Elijah glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed he had just about 25 minutes left before his birthday, just as his dad had mentioned. The realization sent a surge of excitement through him as he turned back to the receptionist. "Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard great things about it—stunning views, a private jacuzzi, a private terrace,” he repeated confidently, refusing to let anyone doubt him.The receptionist’s face tightened as she glanced at the well-dressed couple nearby, who were watching the interaction with growing interest. Clearly annoyed, she forced herself to stay calm. "Um, sir, the penthouse suite is quite expensive," she said, raising an eyebrow, as though challenging him.The young lady beside the man turned to him with a slight pout, wrapping her arm around his neck. “Darling, why not book the penthouse for us?” she suggested sweetly, casting a dismissive glance at Elijah.The man hesitated, eyeing Elijah skeptically. "Hmm, why not another room, since he says he wa
As Elijah stepped into the elevator, he felt a rush of excitement. It had been ages since he'd even ridden in an elevator, let alone one this sleek and polished, lined with mirrors and soft lighting. The feeling of luxury surrounded him as he pressed the button for the top floor. The doors closed with a quiet hum, and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.This was his first real taste of what having money and freedom felt like. No more being looked down on or treated like he didn’t belong. For the first time, he had control over his life, and tonight was just the beginning.Soon, the elevator glided to a smooth stop at the top floor, and with a soft ding, the doors slid open. Elijah stepped out into a quiet, dimly lit hallway lined with luxurious carpeting and framed artwork. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hall, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Finally, he reached his suite door. With a quick swipe of the key card, the door unlocked with a satis
As the app loaded, he spotted a live video that immediately caught his eye. He clicked on it, and in an instant, the face and voice of Sierra Lane filled his screen. Her voice, rich and velvety, seemed to pour out of the phone, captivating him entirely.Sierra Lane, the TikTok sensation with a voice like no other. In her early twenties, she’d already gathered millions of followers who couldn’t get enough of her soulful performances. Sierra herself was striking, with long, wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, framing her expressive face. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she sang, and she wore a comfortable yet stylish outfit, perfect for her laid-back yet engaging vibe. Her talent wasn’t just in the smoothness of her voice but the warmth she brought with each note, making every live session feel like an intimate, personal concert. The walls were adorned with a few colorful posters of her favorite artists, and various musical instruments were scattered around—a guitar leaned c
As Sierra finished her song, she glanced down at the comments, hoping to see another message from FlibbityBoo. Her smile faltered just slightly when she noticed that he was no longer watching the live. A small pang of disappointment hit her—she had hoped he would stay long enough for her to thank him properly or maybe chat a bit more. Still, she couldn’t help but beam with joy over the incredible support he had shown.Turning back to the screen, she spoke to her audience, her voice full of excitement. “Wow, I honestly can’t believe tonight! FlibbityBoo, if you’re still watching somehow, thank you again. You really made my night—no, you made my whole week!”….Elijah checked the time on his phone—it had already been 25 minutes, and he was starting to feel his stomach rumble. He was just about to lay down on the bed to wait a little longer when the doorbell suddenly rang."They’re here already?" he murmured, pleasantly surprised. He quickly walked over to the door, expecting to see a t
The woman looked down and gently placed a hand on her daughter’s head. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. She’s my daughter. She wanted to come along, but if this is a disturbance, I can send her back…” “No, no,” Elijah quickly shook his head with a reassuring smile. Then, he crouched a bit to speak to the little girl directly. “Hey there, little one. It’s almost one in the morning—shouldn’t you be asleep by now? Don’t you have school tomorrow?” The young girl looked up at her mother for a moment, then back at Elijah, her tiny voice both sweet and determined as she replied, “I already had enough sleep.” Her voice was adorable, and it made Elijah chuckle. He nodded approvingly, amused by her steady answer. “Alright, then. You’re a tough one.” With a welcoming gesture, he invited everyone in. They made their way to the terrace. When they reached the terrace, the woman looked up at Elijah with a friendly smile. “What’s your name, sir?” Elijah returned her smile warmly. “I’m Elijah Westbr
Lily nodded enthusiastically, clasping her little hands together. “Thank you, Uncle Elijah!” she said, her voice filled with pure joy.Elijah then pulled out his phone and transferred the entire amount needed for Lily’s school fees, plus an extra sum for them to buy her a special gift. He turned to Lily with a smile. “Guess what? I sent your mom some money to get you a teddy bear.”Overjoyed, Lily wrapped her tiny arms around Elijah in a hug, her happiness almost contagious. The woman thanked Elijah profusely, her eyes wet with gratitude, and together, she and Lily slowly made their way out, glancing back at him one last time with looks of deep appreciation.As Elijah opened each dish, he was greeted by an impressive display that looked almost too beautiful to eat. The seafood platter gleamed with vibrant colors—lobster tails, juicy shrimp, and delicate scallops, all arranged over a bed of ice and garnished with slices of lemon and sprigs of fresh herbs. Beside it was a plate of per
Sierra shrugged lightly. “I don’t know, Dad. It’s just an anonymous account—no profile picture, no bio, just some random username. But whoever they are, they were generous tonight.”Her father’s frown deepened as he listened, concern etched into his expression. “Sierra, you need to be cautious. You have no idea who’s on the other side of that screen, or why they’re doing this. People don’t just hand out money for no reason. It’s not normal.”Her mother chimed in gently, “Your father’s just looking out for you, honey. It’s wonderful you had someone supportive tonight, but…just keep your guard up.”Sierra nodded, though a hint of frustration lingered. She understood her father’s concerns, but tonight had felt special. “I’ll be careful, Dad, I promise.”Elijah finished his food then his drink, savoring the last sip with a contented smile. Tonight felt like a new start, and he was truly happy for himself. Setting down the empty glass, he stretched, feeling the satisfaction of the incredib