Robert heaved a deep sigh of relief before preparing to alight from the car, but Simon held him back. "Young master," he said, his head bent in a plea. "I am sorry for not telling you the whole truth."Robert wriggled out of his grip and asked, "What do you mean?""I know you hate partying, but firstly, the meeting won't be held. Your hotel room and everything you need have been prepared for."Robert's eyelids fell in exhaustion as he inquired again, "So, Simon, what the hell am I here for?""Today is the 25th anniversary of this investment, and since Madam President won't be coming, you need to attend the party happening tonight. It's quite compulsory. I had to lie to you about the meeting so you would cooperate as fast as possible. Please, I am sorry. I am ready to take on any punishment you're about to give me."Robert's shoulders slumped in a mixture of defeat and disappointment. At this point, he really didn't know what to do with Simon. How could he trick him that way? Firstly,
Robert couldn't help but turn to see the owner of the voice, only to find a good-looking young man who looked to be around the same age as him and almost the same height. Looking at the young man, he was wearing a Moncler suit, so it was evident he was rich. Well, apparently, he is the son of the highest shareholder of the investment.Robert sneered. "Let go!""Mr. Gideon touched the glass first," the bartender tried to convince him.He grinned, and the next second, his face dissolved into a deep frown. "Who cares who touched it first? I said I want it, and he should let go!"The bartender shuddered in fear. She knew him; it wasn't the first time he was coming for the anniversary and any other parties held. He was known to be prideful, and most people actually did get scared of getting on his bad side because of how much power he holds."Young man, I just asked that you let it go now!" He flashed a knowing smirk at Robert, pushing to grab the glass from his grip, but Robert's grip was
He turned and looked at Robert with his fists clenched tightly, as if he was ready to kill him at that moment. He couldn't believe that what he had planned to do to Robert had backfired on him, and now he was the embarrassed one."You must be happy, huh?" He hollered. "Well, you should be worried about what you have just done to yourself!"Meanwhile, Robert stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and amusement. "Looks like you're the one who should be worried about stains, Gideon," he quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.The bartender gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh no, Mr. Gideon! I'm so sorry, let me get you a towel!"Gideon's face turned beet-red as he snarled, "This isn't over! You'll pay for this humiliation!"Within the next couple of minutes, lots of people in the hall had gathered at the scene, and Gideon was now the center of attention. Most of them were gossiping and murmuring about what had just happened. They took a close look at Robert, and
Meanwhile, Stanley was still confused as Robert got into the hall. He turned back to him and asked in a stern tone, trying to use his authority over him. "How the hell did you get in here? Who let you in?"Robert snorted. "I was invited by a friend, and I have every right to be here, just like you."Stanley let out a low chuckle. "Here, like me? That is highly impossible! A friend? Ha! You mean some desperate soul who felt sorry for you? You're a charity case, Robert. Don't forget your place. Now, I will urge you to bow and apologize.""My place is wherever I choose to be, Stanley. And right now, I'm standing in front of you, calling you out for your condescending attitude. And while at that, I will never apologize to a bully!"Stanley shouted, "You spilled wine all over his wine. Do you know how much that cloth is? You should be on your knees apologizing.""Well, I am not on my knees, and I won't ever be on my knees. He spilled wine over himself. All I did was an act of self-defense.
…….45 minutes later.The hall was in full buzz and people were dancing and having fun, waiting for the CEO to step up to the stage and give her final speech before the real party gets started. Most of the people in the hall were drinking and toasting each other, while some others were dancing to the pop music playing in the background, and some were still talking about what just happened, unable to stop laughing at how Robert had been dragged out of the hall. Gideon was seated in the front row of the hall, wine glass in hand; he had had to remove his jacket, as it was partially stained and wet.The hall was in full swing before the host quickly called everyone to order."Please, ladies and gentlemen, please be ready. The CEO will be here to address you all in a minute!"The giggles, whispers, and murmurs went into a hush after the announcement, and all eyes went straight to the stage as they anticipated Madam Dorothy. Some of the ladies whipped out their phones, ready to take video re
Gasps ripped through the crowd as they froze in absolute shock once they heard the news that he was the new CEO. Robert watched their reactions before he continued. "I am Robert, and I will be representing Madam Dorothy until the heir to M&P Financials is ready to take over."The crowd went up in giggles and audible gossips. Most of them didn't know of Madam Dorothy's son or what he even looked like, while most of the high-ups knew she had a son but they didn't also know him; they haven't seen him before."Oh my, I thought her son would be her heir? I actually thought it was her son.""No one knows what her son looks like. What if this is him and they're playing mind games with us?""I don't think so. I really don't think this is her son. If it is, then I think she would have made an announcement earlier."Stanley couldn't believe what he was hearing. Robert was now the newest CEO of M&P Financials? How was that even possible? He still saw him on the school group headline where he was
Turning around, Robert was surprised to see Gideon in front of his car."Hey, Mr. Simon," Gideon casually greeted with a soft smile.Simon reciprocated the smile with a handshake. "Hey, Gideon, how have you been? It's been quite a while since I saw you."The two of them greeted each other awkwardly, and Simon quickly excused the two men. Hearing Robert tell him to cut their profit by 50 percent, he just knew something was up, so he quickly connected the dots and left the place for them to have a one-on-one talk with each other.Gideon finally cleared his throat and said, "Look, Robert, ehm, I think I'm sorry about all that happened inside. I didn't know you were the new CEO, and you know, Stanley came along to say you're just a broke campus nerd, so I misunderstood."Robert growled, "So even if I was a broke campus nerd, you get to treat people the way you did? Does it make any difference to whom I am for me to get treated right?"Gideon's face flushed with embarrassment. He kept mute
.After the first ring, Ben picked up the call."Hello?" he said in a hesitant voice. "Hey, Rob?"Robert inhaled sharply. "Who the hell posted all these lies?""I don't know, man. I was offline for my family lunch when Jacob called me and informed me of what was going on. He said it was Olivia who started the rumors."Robert's fists began to clench slowly and his face started to turn red as he muttered coldly, "That bitch!""The news is all over the place, not just the school group. Different blogs are beginning to carry it with much more appealing captions and headlines," Ben complained bitterly.Robert's heart began to pound in his chest. All he could think of was Lily - she was the most vulnerable one amongst the two of them. If the news was really hitting the outside world, the scrutiny was going to be harsh. For over ten minutes, Ben explained to Robert how everything started to trend. Apparently, Olivia was only getting back at her for exposing her fake life with Owen.After he
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