Stepping out with Ezra, Benjamin's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the sheer size and beauty of the entire estate. It seemed like it would take hours to explore every corner. He noticed a number of men in black stationed strategically around the house."Butler, who are they?" He asked pointing at the men. "These are the bodyguards, they're very strong and can protect you from danger." Ezra saidBenjamin nodded about to reply when his gaze fell upon a sleek Range Rover parked nearby. He asked in astonishment, "Is that for my mom? And which Range Rover model is that? It looks different from the other Range Rovers I've seen."Ezra nodded and explained, "Yes, Master. This is just one of the cars your mom uses when she's in Elysian City. It's the Land Rover Range Rover 4.4 Petrol LWB SV, valued at $500,000.""Damn! 500,000 dollars?" Benjamin muttered, walking over to the car to get a closer look. He couldn't resist the urge to open the door and sit inside, relishing the luxurious
Ezra nodded and said, "I understand, young master. It's okay to be emotional. It's time to live life to the fullest."Benjamin nodded, his heart filled with gratitude. He started the car, driving around the garage under Ezra's instructions, reveling in the exhilaration of it all.The next day, Benjamin was still in bed, savoring the comfort of his luxurious room and the spacious bed. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. He opened his eyes and inquired, "Who's there?"A lady's voice replied, "Young master, breakfast is ready. Madam Evelyn is in the dining room waiting for you.""Alright, please tell my mom I'll be there in a few minutes," Benjamin said, getting down from the bed. He stretched and looked around at his beautifully appointed room. "I had a good sleep today, the first time in more than 19 years," he mused, a contented smile gracing his face.After selecting a shirt from the well-organized wardrobe, he freshened up. Then, he stepped out of his room. Making his way to t
Maverick, turning heads, suddenly locked eyes with Benjamin, and he was taken aback. His astonishment stemmed from two main reasons: firstly, he had expected Benjamin to be seriously injured, but here he was, seemingly unscathed. Secondly, Benjamin was clad in a Louis Vuitton ensemble, from his top to his sneakers."Benjamin Hayes?" Maverick called out, the surprise evident in his voice. Dorothy, who was at his side, swiveled her attention towards Benjamin, equally stunned by the transformation.They both were stunned seeing Benjamin. Maverick brought Dorothy to the phone office to buy her a phone and since the phones at that place are expensive, they never thought the popular broke guy would be seen around. "Oh my God, isn't that Benjamin? Why does he look so... different?" She thought, her expression tinged with a hint of anger.Meanwhile, Benjamin, fully aware of their gaze, paid them no mind. He simply moved forward to stand beside them, patiently waiting to discuss his intended
The sales lady didn't understand and asked what they meant. Maverick cleared his throat and said, "Do you think because he's wearing some fake nice cloth means he's capable of buying these stuff? He's a popular broke guy on campus and can't even afford a three square meal, so what makes you think he'll be able to afford something even more than $200?"Hearing this, the sales lady was a bit stunned, she took another look at Benjamin and was a bit stunned because he was looking handsome and the way he was dressed made him look responsible and not like someone who couldn't afford meals. Benjamin, hearing Maverick's words frowned. "What nonsense are you trying to say?" He askedMaverick leaned in and casually remarked, "You know, young man, it's always important to consider whether one can truly afford such extravagances."Dorothy chimed in, feigning concern, "Yes, Benjamin, these are quite costly items. Are you sure you can cover the bill?" Her tone dripped with mock sympathy.As the t
The sales lady quickly packaged a 12 Pro Max for Benjamin, who later presented it to Dorothy as a gift. She accepted it graciously, giving him a warm hug and a kiss. Meanwhile, Maverick swiftly handled the payment.Turning to Benjamin with a smug grin, Maverick warned, "Next time you try to compare yourself to a rich man like me, you should be careful." He then turned to Dorothy and said, "Let's leave, babe."With a cold glance at Benjamin, Dorothy added, "Stinking poor rat pretending to be rich." They walked out together.As they approached the parked cars, Dorothy's eyes were drawn to the Range Rover parked looking so neat. "Wow, this is so beautiful," she exclaimed, moving closer to admire it.Maverick concurred, saying, "This is a high-end model of Range Rover. The owner must really be wealthy."Dorothy expressed her desire to take pictures with the car, but also voiced concern about potential repercussions. Maverick reassured her, stating, "Don't worry, if any problem arises, I'
Benjamin, this time hearing that the purchase was successful took the card. "Package everything together, please," he requested. The sales lady promptly complied, presenting the bundled items to him with a polite, "Thank you for your purchase."Benjamin couldn't help but chuckle. "You were so rude to me earlier, looking down on me and threatening to have me arrested if anything goes wrong so why the change all of a sudden?"The sales lady felt embarrassed and bowed her head in shame. "I'm really sorry for what happened, I only did that because of what your friends said.""Friends?" Benjamin sneered. "They aren't my friends and moreover, stop looking down on people or stop thinking they are poor because of what others say. If I hadn't forcefully taken the phone, would you have given me the chance to prove myself?" He askedThe lady was speechless again not knowing what to say. The truth was she wouldn't have allowed him. "I'm sorry, please forgive me for my behaviour." She said in a
"Really?" Benjamin was a bit stunned and happy hearing that. "Do I need to sign to officially take over as the CEO?"Evelyn nodded and said, "Of course, sign and that's all, you can read through it."Benjamin nodded and then picked up the file, after reading through, he quickly signed it and handed it to Evelyn. "It's done mom." He saidEvelyn nodded and took the file. "Congratulations son, you can go and visit the company anytime from now on, I'll get it sent out." She saidBenjamin nodded. "Hey Hayes, it's finally time to soar high into the sky." He said with a smile and walked out. The next day, after freshening up, Benjamin sat down for breakfast and contemplated his transportation choice for the day."Mom, I have a class. Can I use the Range Rover?" he inquired.Ezra, who was also at the table, interjected, "Master, I thought yesterday you said you liked the Bugatti Chevron?"Benjamin nodded. "Yes, I do like it, but it would be more convenient to use the Range Rover for school.
What?" Hearing the mention of $5000 each shocked them. One of them finally looked at Benjamin and asked, "Are you sure about this?"Benjamin met their eyes with assurance. "Absolutely. Consider it an appreciation for your understanding."Gulping audibly, they hesitated, as the amount was large. Finally, one of them relented, "Alright, young man. We'll make an exception this time."Benjamin smiled and smoothly pulled out his sleek iPhone 15 Pro Max. Seeing the top-of-the-line gadget, the guards were immediately convinced that Benjamin might be very rich. Benjamin opened his banking app, which was now linked to his $3 million card. Without wasting time, he noted down their account details, and just as swiftly, he transferred $5000 to each of them.Ting! Ting! The soft chimes of their phones confirmed the arrival of the unexpected funds. The guards stared in disbelief, their expressions a mix of astonishment and gratitude."Wow, young man, don't worry. Anytime you need something, just
The rugged man clenched his fists, his pride warring with his fear. “You can’t be serious,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.Abdelkarim cocked the gun audibly, tilting his head. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Reluctantly, the rugged man lowered himself to his knees, the humiliation evident on his face. His companions followed suit, each moving with visible hesitation. The restaurant’s patrons and staff watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they bore witness to the surreal scene.One of the men reached for Abdelkarim’s shoe, his hand shaking as he wiped at it with his sleeve. Abdelkarim smirked, glancing down at their feeble attempts. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “Put some effort into it.”As the men continued their reluctant task, Abdelkarim’s tone turned colder. “Now, let’s add some respect to the mix. Each of you will address me properly while you’re down there.”The rugged man looked up, his face twisted with fury and shame. “What do you mean?”Abdelkarim leaned in s
The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point
The room went tense as Abdelkarim froze, his gaze darting nervously to the man’s threatening expression. Around them, a few other patrons glanced over.Cipherella’s delicate brows furrowed with concern as she leaned closer to Benjamin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Master, they’re trying to bully him," she said, her eyes darting between Abdelkarim and the rugged man.Benjamin didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the scene, observing every detail—the posture of the men, Abdelkarim’s unease, and the simmering tension in the air. Finally, he nodded slowly and said, "Let’s just watch for now.”"But Master—" Cipherella started, her worry evident."Relax," Benjamin interrupted gently, his tone calm but firm. "Let’s see how he handles himself first. If things go too far, I’ll step in."Cipherella hesitated, but she trusted Benjamin’s judgment. She bit her lip and stayed quiet, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as her eyes returned to Abdelkarim.Meanwhile, Abd
As they entered, Benjamin's gaze swept over the bustling interior of the establishment. The atmosphere was thick with chatter, clinking glasses, and faint music playing in the background. At one side of the room, a group of rugged-looking men occupied a long table. They were loud, drinking and eating heartily, with wisps of smoke curling from the cigarettes and cigars they casually puffed.Their appearances were striking—some had jagged scars running across their cheeks.Others had scarves tied around their heads, their expressions hard and uninviting, with sharp eyes that scanned the room like predators on the lookout. A few wore leather jackets with frayed edges, while others had rugged shirts and boots.Benjamin took note but didn’t linger on them. Instead, he calmly made his way to an unoccupied corner on the other side of the room. He settled into a chair with an air of quiet authority, his face betraying no hint of concern. Cipherella followed closely, her gaze flickering brief
Benjamin settled back onto the couch, gesturing for Cipherella to sit. She listened intently as he recounted the night's events."Cipherella," he began, "I met Abdelkarim yesterday. His boss wasn’t exactly treating him right, and he seemed ready for a change."Abdelkarim shifted uneasily, but Benjamin continued. "We ended up being followed by three of Darnell's men. They tried to corner us, but I convinced them to switch sides and work for me. Abdelkarim here was part of that, and he’s proven he’s willing to take on something bigger.”Cipherella raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “And they just… agreed? Just like that?”Benjamin nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Sometimes all it takes is to show someone what they’re worth. They’d been risking their lives for scraps. Now, they have a reason to be loyal." He glanced at Abdelkarim, who looked both grateful and a little overwhelmed.Cipherella sighed, finally relaxing a bit. “If you trust him, Master, then that’s enough
The men exchanged nervous glances, doubling down on their story despite Darnell's threat. The first man cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Boss, like we said, it was just a routine check. We saw the car following and thought it could be a minor threat, so we stopped to make sure it wasn’t an issue. But they turned around as soon as we approached."The second man nodded quickly. "Exactly, boss. We didn’t think it was worth disturbing you for something so small, figured we could handle it ourselves.”Darnell's gaze remained icy, not buying the excuses. His eyes bored into each one of them, but they held firm, each nodding in agreement, sticking to their story. "We were just looking out for you, boss," the third one added, trying to muster confidence. "Didn’t want to waste your time.”Darnell narrowed his eyes at them one last time, as if weighing the truth of their story. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the tension. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Get back in
The men climbed out of their cars and walked over to Darnell’s vehicle, where he stood waiting, his expression already dark with suspicion. As they approached, he wasted no time.“What’s wrong?” Darnell’s voice cut through the silence, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Where’s the last car?”The men looked at each other, shifting uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We...we don’t know, boss. One minute, they were right behind us, and the next...they weren’t.”Darnell’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want excuses. Give me an answer.”They fumbled for words, but all they could offer was a helpless shrug. Frustrated, Darnell took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Fine. Who was in the last car? Give me their names. Now.”The men stammered for a moment, then rattled off the names of the three who had been in the missing car, exchanging nervous glances as they waited for Darnell's reaction.Darnell narrowed his eyes, his impatience evident. “Call them. Now,” he ordere
As the men disappeared down the road, Abdelkarim turned to Benjamin, a worried crease on his brow. "Do you trust them? What if they tell their boss everything?"Benjamin's expression was unwavering. "They won’t."Abdelkarim’s eyebrows rose, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "How do you know?"Benjamin smirked, a trace of confidence in his eyes. "Because I gave them something Darnell never has: respect. They’ve been doing his dirty work for scraps. Darnell treats them as disposable. But me? I just paid them a month’s worth in minutes and offered them a way out. Right now, loyalty is cheap—but it’s the one thing Darnell can't buy.”Abdelkarim nodded slowly, his gaze steadying with newfound determination. “I’m ready to work for you, Benjamin,” he said with a slight smile. “But... tonight, I don’t have anywhere to stay. I might just end up sleeping in the car.”Benjamin’s expression softened. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “As long as you’re willing to follow m
Benjamin looked at them intently. “How much do you want to be paid?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.The men glanced at each other, hesitating for a moment. Finally, one spoke up, “Every month… pay us double what Darnell does.”The other nodded, adding quickly, “Yeah. 2000 dollars each.”Benjamin smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected them to ask for something outrageous—10,000, even 50,000 dollars a month. Instead, they only wanted a mere double of what Darnell paid them. To someone like him, 2000 dollars was nothing, even if he had to pay them that amount daily.“Deal,” he said without hesitation, nodding once.They stared at him, dumbfounded. “Wait… deal? Just like that?” one of them asked, disbelief evident in his voice.Benjamin shrugged. “2000 dollars a month is nothing to me if you’re loyal and good at what you do.”They exchanged glances, still stunned by his response. "You... you really mean that?" one of them asked, sounding almost hopeful.Benja