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
Soon, Elijah’s breakfast was delivered—a delicious spread just as elaborate as his dinner the night before. He savored each bite, taking his time as he soaked in this rare taste of luxury. Once he was done, he tidied up, making sure his outfit was just right, then left his room looking well-dressed and confident.As Elijah approached the reception desk, the receptionist’s eyes widened slightly, taken aback by his transformation. Gone was the man in casual, rumpled clothes; now he stood before her, well-dressed, exuding confidence with a polished look that highlighted his striking features.“Good morning, sir,” she greeted with newfound respect, almost surprised by her own tone. "Did you enjoy your stay in the penthousesuite? And—oh, I see the clothes suited you perfectly.”Elijah nodded, a slight smile on his face. “Yes, thank you. It was a great experience.”The receptionist beamed, clearly relieved that he was satisfied.Elijah glanced at the receptionist, nodding appreciatively. "T
The room erupted into a mix of applause and astonishment, with several workers looking at each other in surprise. Sophia, standing among them, froze for a moment, her heart racing although she was aware she was the one to be promoted. She felt dozens of eyes turning to her.Damian extended his hand toward her and said warmly, "Miss Bennett, please step on stage.”Sophia inhaled deeply, smoothing her already pristine office wear as she walked forward. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, and the applause grew louder. As she reached the stage, she turned to face the crowd.Damian gestured for her to stand beside him. "Ladies and gentlemen, this promotion is not just a reward but a reflection of consistent effort and excellence. Congratulations, Miss Bennett."Sophia nodded politely, her lips curving into a gracious smile as she acknowledged the crowd. "Thank you," she said, her voice clear and steadyAs Sophia stood on stage, basking in the applause, the murmurs among the worke
The men remained silent, their shame deepening under Victor's harsh words. One of them finally stammered, "S-Sir, we tried our best, but that man... he wasn’t ordinary. His men... they were like machines—""Enough!" Victor roared, slamming his hand on the armrest, making some of the men flinch. "Excuses don’t interest me. You’ve embarrassed me and my son!"Daniel stopped pacing, his face twisted with fury. "They’re pathetic, Father. I told you they were useless! Elijah humiliated me in front of everyone, and these fools couldn’t even defend me!”Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. "I underestimated this person," he said, his voice low and calculating. He turned his gaze back to the kneeling men. "Get out of my sight. I’ll deal with your incompetence later.”“Sir,” one of them began, clutching his injured shoulder, “we… we need some money to treat our injuries.”Lawrence’s expression darkened, and without a word, he rose from his seat, the golden necklace around
"Save it!" Daniel interrupted, pacing back and forth as his anger boiled over. "You think this is minor? Do you know how badly this has gone? Do you know how humiliated I am?! You're the one who sent men and now look! It's a disaster!”The bystanders who hadn’t already dispersed began whispering amongst themselves, their curiosity growing at Daniel’s outburst. Daniel’s father sighed heavily on the other end of the call. "Listen to me, Daniel. Don’t make things worse for yourself. Leave the place now.""But Dad—!" Daniel began, his voice shaking with frustration."Enough!" his father interrupted, his voice sharp and commanding. "I’ll send someone to pick up those ten useless men you hired. They’re of no use to you now. Just leave before you embarrass yourself further."Daniel gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t argue with his father’s authority. "Fine," he muttered, though his tone was far from calm."And as for this Elijah," his father continued, his voice colder now, "don’t worry abo
Minutes later, Sierra walked out of the fitting room, and Elijah’s attention immediately shifted to her. The dress she had chosen fit her perfectly, its simplicity complementing her natural beauty. She adjusted the hem slightly, brushing a hand down the fabric as if to get used to the feel of it. Elijah’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he watched her approach. “Looks good on you,” he said sincerely. Sierra glanced at him, her expression soft but slightly self-conscious. “It’s just a dress,” she muttered, trying to downplay it, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Brandon, still standing at the counter, looked at Sierra and then at Elijah, visibly holding back his words. It was clear he hadn’t expected Sierra to actually leave the fitting room with a new dress that had been paid for. Elijah picked up the bags of clothes and sneakers, holding them effortlessly. “Ready to go?” he asked Sierra casually, as though the tension in the air from earlier didn’t exist. She nodded,
As Elijah reached the counter, he immediately recognized Brandon. His lips curled into a light smile, and he greeted politely, “Good afternoon.”Brandon, however, wasn’t having it. He crossed his arms and frowned deeper. “What do you want, please?” he asked with obvious irritation in his tone.Sierra noticed the hostility immediately, her brows furrowing. “Is that how you frown and speak to customers?” she questioned sharply, her voice carrying an edge.Brandon shot her a glare, clearly unbothered. “Customers?” he scoffed. “He came here yesterday and lied about buying clothes. After picking out $28,000 worth of items, he didn’t even have the money to pay. I’m yet to hang them back!” Brandon’s voice dripped with condescension as he turned his eyes back to Elijah. “Did you come to waste my time again?”Before Brandon could continue, Elijah cut in calmly, “Yesterday, there was a fault with my bank. Don’t worry, everything is working now. The clothes are still available, right? Just hand
The head of staff hesitated, still processing what had happened. "Uh... I—I think it’s around $15,000, sir. That includes the tables, chairs, glassware, and a few damaged fixtures."Elijah nodded and looked back at Daniel, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You heard her. Fifteen thousand dollars. Pay it now."Daniel’s face flushed red with anger and humiliation. "Fifteen thousand? Do you have any idea who I am? Why should I pay—"Slap!Elijah delivered a sharp slap to Daniel’s face, cutting him off. The crowd gasped, and even Sierra flinched slightly. Elijah’s voice was low but firm. "I’m not asking. You caused the damage, and you’ll pay for it. Or do you want me to call my men back to convince you?"Daniel swallowed hard, his fear evident. His hands trembled as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He opened a payment app and shakily asked the head of staff for the restaurant’s account details.The head of staff quickly provided them, and within moments, the transaction wa
Elijah’s cold gaze settled on the four remaining suited men. His tone was calm but carried an edge of command as he spoke. "Join him. All of you. Take those seven down together. I want to hear screams. Break their bones… and do it well."The suited men nodded sharply, no hesitation in their movements. One of them smirked, cracking his knuckles. “It’ll be over before you know it, Master Elijah.”Without another word, the five men advanced like predators closing in on prey.The seven men with weapons, now visibly shaking, tried to stand their ground. “Come on! We’re not scared of you!” one shouted, though his voice cracked.The air erupted into chaos as the suited men reached them. Screams pierced the evening, echoing through the area.“No! Please—ARGH!” one of the seven howled as his arm was twisted unnaturally, the sickening crack of bone splitting the air. Blood spattered the ground as another man tried to swing his bat, only to have it ripped from his hands and shattered across his
The five suited men exchanged a quick glance, their lips curving into faint smirks. One of them stepped forward slightly, nodding in acknowledgement. "Understood, Master Elijah," he replied crisply.The ten men, seeing this exchange, grew more agitated. “You think we’re scared of you?” one of them barked, raising his bat. “You’ll regret messing with us!”“Yeah!” another chimed in, gripping his sickle tightly. “You’re just playing tough, but you’re outnumbered!”Elijah folded his arms and leaned casually against the nearest surface, his expression unbothered. He turned to Sierra, who was standing nervously beside him, and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, they’ll wrap this up quickly.”Sierra looked at him, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief. "Elijah, are you sure—"He cut her off with a slight smirk. "Relax. It’s already over.”Two of the ten men, gripping their sickles tightly, exchanged a nod before charging toward the suited man who had stepped forward. The air was thi
The atmosphere thickened as the ten rugged men stepped closer to Elijah, their leader sneering as he raised his bat. “Kid, time for your limbs to go,” he said.But just as they were about to lunge, Sierra suddenly ran forward, stepping between them and Elijah with her arms outstretched. Her voice trembled but was resolute. “Please, don’t harm him! It wasn’t his fault. Daniel caused all of this!”“Sierra, move!” Elijah’s voice was firm, but she shook her head, standing her ground.Daniel’s face twisted in rage. “How dare you?” he shouted, his voice booming. He jabbed a finger toward his men. “Clear her out of the way and deal with him!”she shook her head, standing her ground.Daniel’s face twisted in rage. “How dare you?” he shouted, his voice booming. He jabbed a finger toward his men. “Clear her out of the way and deal with him!”Elijah remained calm, his gaze scanning the surroundings as if waiting for something. His hands rested casually in his pockets, but his eyes darted toward