CHAPTER.41. Olivia's face went pale with shock as she gasped, "Owen, look!"Owen, still distracted by his phone, didn't bother to look up. "What's up, Liv?"She nudged him. "Look over there by the door - it's Robert!"The name struck a chord in him, and he quickly looked around. "Where? Where is he?"He scanned the room and when he finally spotted Robert, he couldn't help but chuckle. "What's he doing here?"Olivia whispered, "I have no idea, but this hotel is super expensive. What could he be doing here?"Owen shrugged. "Maybe he's trying to impress someone, as he usually does, or maybe someone brought him here."Olivia was skeptical about Robert impressing someone. She turned to look at Robert and asked, "Impress someone? With what money? He fakes everything; he's always broke!"Owen laughed. "Who knows? Maybe he's got a sugar mama footing his bills."Olivia burst out laughing. "Oh, Owen, you're so ridiculous! But seriously, what do you think he's doing?"He couldn't help but glare
CHAPTER. VVIP room.The security guard looked at both of them. They both appeared well-kept, with no signs of being worn out or having torn clothes that would suggest poverty. Owen was wearing a Louis Vuitton nightwear ensemble with casual Prada slippers. While it may have seemed simple, the outfit was clearly expensive. In contrast, Robert was wearing a casual Givenchy shorts and a top. The security guard scrutinized them for a moment and he knew at once both of them were above average before speaking up."Young man, did you say you are lodged in the VVIP room?" He glanced over to Robert with a stern look and his tone was domineering."If so, may I see your card?"There was always a private VVIP membership card always given to each customer.Robert quickly dipped his hand into his pocket to retrieve the membership card he had been given, but it was not in the clothes he was wearing at the moment. He had left the card in the clothes he had worn the previous night after making a simple pu
CHAPTER. Exclusive invite.The lady walked over to Owen and his girlfriend, her face plastered with a frown as she spoke."I'm sorry, sir, but you'll need to leave this lobby. It's for the VVIP rooms only. The one for the VIP is right under this one,If you take the stairs you will find it down.”Owen was shocked,it was evident in his face."What do you mean we should leave when we're not done with our dinner?" he asked, shock evident in his voice.The lady's expression darkened. "Sir, I've made myself clear! You have to leave for the next lobby downstairs, but this one is strictly for the gentleman over there." She pointed at Robert. The hotel rarely sees anyone who wants to stay in the VVIP area, and she wouldn't let anyone disrespect their customer.Meanwhile, Owen's mouth fell open in shock at what the receptionist was saying. Firstly, he was shocked that she was behaving as if she didn't even know him. Other times when he came, she was usually all smiles and very polite, but now she
CHAPTER.43.Prey.Robert asked skeptically, "You are still in your nightwear. Were you so worried about me that you couldn't take your bath before rushing here?"Lily glanced at her outfit and quickly covered her face with both hands. She was embarrassed. She didn't know she was still in her nightwear. Actually, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about Robert's safety. First, she had initiated the date, and then Robert had gotten into a fight with her ex, whom she knew was so dangerous and might come back looking for him. She couldn't bring herself to sleep comfortably, and once it was morning, she wanted to make sure that he was safe.But now, she had just given out the wrong impression.She quickly composed herself, remembering that Robert was still one of her students.She laughed. "Maybe a little. I couldn't sleep after you got caught up in the rain last night. I was just slightly worried my student might catch a cold or something."He chuckled. "Don't worry about me. Just a lit
CHAPTER 44.Superhero.When he got to the section for the chocolate cakes, he couldn't help but marvel at the varieties they had. When they said they were the best, no lie was told. It was a very hard decision for him to pick the one he wanted since all of them had their unique designs. There were cakes in different shapes, and each of them had a specific beauty.When he was done, he headed to the counter to make payments for his purchases. As he was waiting in line, he heard someone shouting behind him. He was about to ignore the commotion, but then a resounding slap and a scream followed.He turned and quickly stepped up to where the action was taking place, out of curiosity. A lot of other people were already gathered to watch the unfolding scene. When Robert arrived at the scene, he was quick to get the reason for the gathering. A young man of his age stood motionless, looking aggressively at a lady who seemed to be at least two years younger than him. The young man was well-dresse
CHAPTER.45The man let out a small laugh and stylishly wiped away a tear rolling down from the corners of his eyes. It wasn't out of the gravity of laughing, but he was sobbing silently in pain. He had posed to be a strong and strict bigger person so he wouldn't give up now and let Robert win. Robert's grip was too hard for him to snap out from. He scrutinized Robert for a moment and noticed that even if he might not be wearing expensive clothes like him, he had such nice strength that he couldn't intimidate."Do you know how much these shoes cost? Do you fucking know?" He hollered at him. "Well, I don't expect you to know shit when you wear such cheap tacky wears like those slippers you're wearing now!"Like a flash, everyone's eyes went to Robert's leg, and there it was - he was wearing just a casual Prada white living room wear, it was from the hotel, and he had forgotten to change back to his normal wear. Now there was no way he was going to defend himself. The onlookers were also
CHAPTER.46."Who's in for my deal? You both combined can't afford it. Let's go, girl." He gave her a predatory look, which made the girl shudder."I know this superhero dude can't afford it!" He thought to himself before turning back to the girl.But before he said anything, Robert quickly interrupted him. "750,000?" He asked, shock evident in his voice.He had been buying expensive shoes, but never in his life has he bought any shoes as expensive as this one. Meanwhile, the girl's face dissolved into a deeper frown once she noticed that her savior didn't have such an amount to save her from the man. Besides, she wasn't expecting him to pay up such a huge amount for her when he had just met her that day!The man nodded his head and smiled. "What now? You can't afford the shoes, mister superhero?"The whole place went hush, eager to hear Robert's response."Call your account number!"The man shuddered in fear. He was taken aback when Robert asked for his account number, and he couldn't
Gasps! There was a hushed silence as everyone suddenly drifted their eyes to Robert. Was he being serious now? They couldn't believe that he had paid almost one million dollars and he was still so calm. They were shocked and embarrassed that the person they thought was broke had such an amount in his possession.A confident smile spread across Robert's face. He stood tall, his posture strong and commanding. "Get down on your knees. What are you waiting for?" he snarled.The man shifted uncomfortably due to the embarrassment. He avoided eye contact with Robert by all means. Now he had no choice but to go on bended knees to the same person he had just called names a few minutes ago. If only he had known that Robert was that rich, he would have avoided him by all means. With such money, it was crystal clear that Robert could make him disappear in the blink of an eye.He walked closer to where the girl was standing and slowly went down onto the floor on both knees. "I am sorry for earlier
The company, once vulnerable in the wake of Madam President’s death, was now regaining its footing under Robert’s guidance. But his journey had only just begun, and he knew that he needed to be vigilant, for there were still enemies lurking in the shadows.His mother’s funeral, though somber, had not only been a farewell but also a declaration to the world that Robert was no longer the boy who lived in his mother’s shadow. He was stepping into his role with a newfound sense of purpose, and he would not be undermined.In the weeks that followed, Robert spent long hours at the company’s headquarters, pouring over documents and familiarizing himself with every intricate detail of the empire his mother had built. His butler, an older gentleman named Alfred who had served the family for decades, became an indispensable ally. Alfred had known Robert since he was a child, and he had seen the boy transform into the man standing before him.One evening, Alfred found Robert still working in hi
Madam President, as she was fondly known to the world, was a woman of unparalleled influence and charisma. Her life was a tapestry of triumphs, woven from years of building her empire and leading her company with a firm but compassionate hand. She had overseen countless business successes and was a beloved public figure, admired for her resilience and business acumen.But even the strongest of leaders are not invincible. Behind closed doors, the indomitable Madam President had been battling a relentless illness. The diagnosis had come suddenly and without warning, sending shockwaves through the lives of everyone who knew her, especially her only son, Robert. Despite her physical decline, she never let her illness dim her spirit or her drive to oversee her company’s affairs. Robert often marveled at his mother’s sheer determination, even when she was confined to her bed, issuing orders and signing documents with the same unwavering authority.The family spared no expense in providin
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as the final figure was announced. Lila’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling at the sheer audacity of it all. How could this be happening? Robert was supposed to be the pauper here, the one barely scraping by, not the one making extravagant purchases without a second thought.Meanwhile, Anita’s smile grew even wider, a mix of disbelief and glee painted across her face. To her, it felt as though she had won the jackpot, her wildest dreams unfolding right before her eyes.Robert, however, merely smiled sheepishly, his calm demeanor unshaken by the staggering total. He turned to Anita and said, "I hope you’re satisfied with your picks. Let’s get these wrapped up."At the same time, When the assistant called out the total—$350,000—the shock on Lila and her companion’s faces was almost palpable. Lila’s eyes widened in disbelief, her carefully calculated confidence beginning to unravel as she processed the staggering figure. The man besi
Lila and her companion stood frozen, their eyes locked on Robert. The confidence with which he moved, the calm in his demeanor, and the absolute lack of fear in his voice were all completely at odds with the image of him they had clung to for so long. Every word he spoke, every action he took seemed to defy the expectations they had so carefully built around him.Lila's breath hitched as she watched Anita wheel the overflowing cart towards the register. Her gaze darted to the items, her mind racing as she tried to calculate the worth of everything piled inside. Her heart sank as the numbers began to add up—thousands upon thousands of dollars. The realization was like a punch to the gut. Could this really be happening? Could Robert, the man she had always considered beneath her, actually afford this?For years, Lila had carried a deep-seated belief that Robert was a nobody, someone to be mocked and dismissed. But that belief was now crumbling under the weight of what she was witnessin
Robert let out a calm smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as a cold expression settled on his face. "You're right, why won't I?" he responded, his tone icy and composed.Lila's scorn was unmistakable. She threw her head back and let out a sarcastic laugh, her eyes gleaming with mockery. "Really? Robert afford a bag this much?" she sneered, her gaze landing on the $89,000 price tag of the bag Anita had been eyeing earlier. "You? A pauper like you? Trying to level up so bad—it’s laughable!"She continued, "You’re in way over your head, Robert. You’re just digging your own grave, pretending to be something you're not. This is going to put you in serious trouble one day, mark my words."Her words dripped with disdain, but beneath her confident exterior, a seed of unease began to sprout. She couldn’t shake the memories of her past encounters with Robert. She recalled their run-in at the Luxor Hotel—how she had expected him to be exposed as a fraud or a thief, yet, to her bewilderment, he ha
The words hit Lila like a slap to the face. Her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. For a moment, she was rendered speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a retort. But soon, the anger boiled over, and she exploded into a furious rant."You—how dare you!" she sputtered, her voice rising in pitch. "You think you can talk to me like that? Do you know who I am? I’ve got more class in my little finger than you’ll ever have! Those bags—those bags are worth more than anything you’ll ever touch! You’re nothing but a lowlife, a pathetic little con man who can’t afford even a scrap of what I have!"Lila’s face contorted with rage, her voice dripping with venom as she continued to rant, her words becoming more disjointed and desperate as she tried to regain some semblance of control over the situation. "You’re the joke here, Robert! A joke! And as for you," she spat, turning her glare towards Anita, "
The tension in the air was electric, thick and oppressive like a storm cloud ready to burst. The other guests, who had been observing the escalating situation with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, began to murmur amongst themselves, their voices tinged with both anticipation and judgment."Serves him right," one diner whispered, barely hiding a smirk. "He must be out of his mind to go up against someone like Mr. Smith.""Foolish, really," another chimed in, shaking their head. "He’s asking for it. The manager’s going to toss him out on his ear, just wait and see."The whispers grew louder, with some even casting pitying glances at Robert, while others openly mocked him. "He has no idea who he’s dealing with," one person commented with a sneer. "Smith’s a regular here, practically untouchable. That guy is done for."Anita, sitting beside Robert, could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was visibly fidgeting, her fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the table. The thought o
Robert remained unnervingly calm as Mr. Smith's voice escalated, his threats echoing through the luxurious hall of the VIP section. His demeanor was as steady as a still lake before a storm, showing no hint of the tension burning beneath the surface. The more Mr. Smith ranted, the less Robert seemed to react, his composed expression only further fueling Mr. Smith’s fury.Mr. Smith sneered, his voice thick with venom. "You act like you’re above it all, like you own this place, you think everyone else is just as deceitful as you?"The other customers, were now turning their heads, their curiosity piqued by the growing commotion. Some whispered among themselves, while others watched intently, their food momentarily forgotten.Robert, sensing the perfect opportunity to twist the knife, leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. "Well, Smith," he said with a casual shrug, "if you must know, I own this place."Mr. Smith froze mid-rant, his eyes narrowing as he processed what Robert had
As Robert and Anita left the lively birthday party, the evening air was cool, and the city lights glittered around them. Anita’s stomach growled audibly, and she burst into laughter.“Okay, that’s embarrassing,” she said, rubbing her belly. “But seriously, I’m starving. We’ve been surviving on potato chips, cupcakes, and candy all night. I need some real food—something warm and hearty.”Robert chuckled, nodding in agreement. “I hear you. I can’t believe they called that a party spread. You know what? Let’s go somewhere special. I know a place.”Anita’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Special, huh? Fancy or casual?”“Oh, very fancy,” Robert said, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”Curiosity piqued, Anita grinned. “Alright, lead the way. Just don’t make me wait too long; I’m already dreaming about a perfect, gourmet meal.”They drove through the city, the anticipation growing as Robert pulled up to an elegant, upscale restaurant. The establishment exuded s