Chapter 7: 1 Million Dollars

Uhm, Benjamin scratched his head, uncertain of how to respond.

Madam Evelyn gestured beside her and said, "Sit down.

Benjamin nodded and took a seat.

Evelyn looked at him with a warm smile and inquired, "What's your name?"

"I'm Benjamin, mom," he replied.

A joyful expression spread across the woman's face. The name Benjamin seemed to remember her of something, but apart from that, another thing made her smile. "What... did you just say?" She asked.

"I meant my name is Benjamin," he clarified.

Evelyn shook her head, her eyes glistening with emotion. "No, the word you mentioned after your name."

"Mom?" Benjamin repeated.

Evelyn nodded, her smile now tinged with tears as she wiped her eyes. She looked at Benjamin and shared,

"You know, i also have a son named Benjamin and if was to be around, he would have been like you by now. It's been years since I heard the word, 'mom' addressed to me."

Benjamin nodded, understanding her sentiment. He then inquired, "What happened to your son? And what do you mean if he was around?"

Evelyn let out a sigh and began, "I lost my son and..." She trailed off looking sad and teary.

She shook her head and said, "Let's move on to a different topic. Tell me, why were you in that state yesterday?"

Benjamin shook his head, expressing his reluctance. "I don't think it would be okay to talk about it, I don't want to bother you please."

Evelyn looked at him, her eyes kind yet firm. "If I were your mom, would you have said the same? Or do you not feel like telling me because I can't be your mom?"

Benjamin quickly responded, "No, no, please, that's not it. Actually, life has been a bit difficult for me." He went on to recount the events, from his encounter with Dorothy to being kicked out of class, searching for a job, and the subsequent attack.

Evelyn listened attentively, her brows furrowing at times. "Disrespecting you just because you aren't rich? Is that what people do nowadays?" She frowned. "What about your parents? Where are they?" She asked.

A bitter smile crossed Benjamin's face. "They are dead and gone."

Evelyn sighed, her expression filled with compassion. "Oh my, that is sad. What if I give you enough money for yourself? You could use it to start a business. One million dollars wouldn't be bad."

Gulp!"

Saliva echoed in Benjamin's throat. The amount alone was overwhelming, and he was unsure of the associated terms. Who would just give a stranger a whopping $1 million? Moreover, he knew nothing about this woman named Evelyn.

"No, thank you. I appreciate what you've already done. It's enough."

Evelyn chuckled and said, "I had them bring some clothes for you last night. Let me get them for you. We'll talk about the money later." With that, she got up and walked away.

Immediately after she walked away, Benjamin looked around in awe.

"Damn, this is what we mean by wealth. See, a room alone displaying wealth," he muttered to himself. Then a thought struck him.

"Oh sh*t, Austin and Matthew might have looked for me since I didn't return yesterday," he realized. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and tried to turn it on, but the cracked screen made it difficult to see.

"My phone is now damaged too. I'll have to find a way to get a new one," he concluded, tucking the phone back into his pocket.

In just a matter of minutes, Evelyn returned to the hall, holding two gift bags in her hands.

"These are yours; check them out," she said kindly. Benjamin nodded, eager to see what was inside. He picked up the first bag and opened it. What he found left him stunned. He looked up at Evelyn, almost speechless.

"Lu... Lui... Louis Vuitton," he stammered, his voice filled with disbelief. The bag contained a complete Louis Vuitton outfit.

Evelyn smiled and confirmed, "Yes, it's yours. Now, check the next one."

Benjamin gulped, then proceeded to open the second bag. Inside, he found a box. He carefully took it out and opened it. To his amazement, a pair of red Louis Vuitton shoes lay inside, accompanied by a price tag indicating their value.

"Wow!" Benjamin exclaimed. He had never worn anything so expensive in his life, and he was genuinely grateful.

In his excitement, he unconsciously took Evelyn's hand and said, "Thank you, Mom. I really appreciate it."

Evelyn returned his smile warmly. Just then, a lady entered and said, "Madam, the food is ready. Please come to the dining area."

Evelyn nodded and turned to Benjamin. "You must be very hungry. Join me in the dining room," she invited.

Benjamin eagerly agreed. After all, he was indeed very hungry. He followed Evelyn to the dining area.

Getting to the dining room, Benjamin was directed to a seat, and Madam Evelyn took her place beside him. The ambiance was luxurious, and the table settings were top-notch.

The lady in attendance began to serve, presenting a spread of delectable dishes. There were exquisite dishes like lobster thermidor, truffle risotto, and beef Wellington. The aroma was tantalizing, making Benjamin's stomach rumble. It had been a long time since he'd had the pleasure of such fine dining.

As the meal progressed, a bottle of the finest Château Margaux was presented. The deep red wine was poured into crystal glasses, its rich aroma filling the air. Benjamin marveled at the label, realizing this was no ordinary wine.

"Enjoy yourself, Benjamin. Feel at home." She said

Benjamin nodded happily and started eating.

A few minutes into the meal, the dining room was suddenly disrupted by the man who had gone to fetch the prescribed drugs. His hurried entrance caught Madam Evelyn's attention, and she looked at him with concern.

"Ezra, what's wrong? Where are the drugs? And why are you panting like that?" Evelyn inquired, her brows furrowing.

"President Evelyn, please, I need to talk to you. It's urgent," Ezra replied urgently, his voice strained.

Evelyn sighed, clearly frustrated. "Can't you see that I'm eating?"

Ezra nodded anxiously. "I understand, President, but this is urgent. It's very important. You must come."

Evelyn turned to Benjamin and said, "Please enjoy yourself. I'll be back soon."

Benjamin nodded and resumed his meal, though his curiosity was piqued by the exchange.

Evelyn followed Ezra to a quieter area, her expression worried. "Ezra, can't I eat in peace anymore? What's wrong?"

Ezra gulped, his eyes wide with urgency. "President, your child is around. The tracker is active now."

Evelyn's eyes widened in astonishment. "What? Where? Let's go quickly before we lose track again."

Ezra shook his head, a mixture of shock and apprehension on his face. "The shocking thing is that the location indicates that the person we are looking for is in this house."

"Gasp!" The collective astonishment was evident, quickly replaced by a collective frown. Evelyn's voice grew more demanding, her concern mounting. "What are you trying to tell me? Did you guys check thoroughly?"

Ezra nodded, a hint of assurance in his tone. "You know the computer department has skilled people. Of course, that's the information I received, and following the directions, this was where it led me to."

Evelyn shook her head in disbelief, struggling to process the startling revelation. "Quick, call one of them." Ezra acted swiftly, dialing a number and anxiously inquiring, "Where's the location now?"

A voice on the other end responded, "Butler Ezra, you are near the person; just take a few steps."

Evelyn's shock deepened. She turned to Ezra, urgency in her voice. "Quickly, call the number and see if there'll be an answer."

Ezra nodded and promptly hung up the call, then dialed another number. Immediately, Butler Ezra started to call the number, Benjamin's phone also started ringing at that same moment.

Question: Who do you think Benjamin actually is?