Shame to Fame; The Rise of the Duderte Empire

8- They will Pay.

"You could have told me to come over instead of you coming over yourself. Especially with the Young Master." Mr. Henry said to Mr. Robert while Arthur followed closely behind them trying to stop his eyes from looking around the big shop.

"It's fine. Also, the Young Master wanted some fresh air. He also needs to know here in case he wants to send someone else if, by chance, I'm not around."

'Who in New York doesn't know here?' Mr. Henry whispered to himself finding Mr. Robert's answer ridiculous but he didn't dare say it out loud.

Who in New York would dare to provoke the Duderte Empire?

"Please, have a seat." Mr. Henry offered gesturing at the red leather couches in the room.

"Do you want Coffee or Tea?" He asked once Arthur had sat down.

"Just water," Arthur whispered.

"Right away, Young Master." He replied and waved over one of the gawking attendants to get a glass of Cold water for Arthur.

She bowed and walked away to get the water. 

"Now, how can I help you?" Mr. Henry asked.

"Laptops," Arthur replied.

"The best ones," Robert added. Mr. Henry nodded his head and smiled. He waved over another assistant and whispered in his ear.

The assistant bowed and walked away to bring the laptops. The girl who went to get the glass of water returned at this time and set down the glass in front of Arthur.

"Thank you," Arthur whispered. She looked up briefly and she felt her heart skip a beat when her eyes met his warm ones. Her face turned beet red and she immediately stood before bowing quickly and fleeing from the scene.

"These are the new MacBooks that just got shipped in this morning."

"MacBook?" Arthur whispered under his breath his eyes glued on the laptop with the sign of Apple on the back in the man's hand. 

The latest edition of the MacBook was on the lips of everyone in College. Everyone wished their parents could get it for them. Of course, the rich kids in the school had gotten it and showed them off to their group of friends who were gushing over it like they had been told their future was secure.

Arthur had always envied the kids who flaunted it around. It came with its bag hence if you were holding the latest MacBook, anyone who recognized it would immediately know that's what you were holding. He couldn't even wish for that laptop. Even the lowest quality of laptop, he couldn't afford it so who was he to wish for something as big as that?

But now, his first ever laptop would be a MacBook! A freaking MacBook! He so badly wanted to scream out loud but he had to compose himself as he watched Mr. Robert discuss the method of payment with Mr. Henry. 

"We'd be getting the latest iPhone available. What's the latest one in the market?" Mr. Robert said with a smile.

"Alright, sir. We'll pack it and send it over to the mansion before noon." Mr. Henry replied with a bigger smile. 

"Let's go, Young Master." Mr. Robert said with a bow.

"The colors. I want to choose the colors." Arthur said looking straight at Mr. Henry.

"Oh. For the MacBook, we have it in just colors Black and White. Which would you like to go for?" Mr. Henry asked.

"White for the MacBook and Black for the phone," Arthur said with a tone of finality.

"As you wish, Young Master." Mr. Henry replied with a smile. He walked them to the car before bowing as the cars drove out of sight. He didn't stand until he could no longer hear the car tires. He stood with a smile on his face.

Anytime the Duderte Empire visited his shop, he had made it big that day. He happily skipped into his office with a big smile on his face. 

~~~

 The laptop and phone were delivered to the Duderte Mansion a few hours later. As a gift, Mr. Henry had put a black airpod in there for Arthur.

The next morning, Arthur was dressed in a white shirt and black pants. A brand new leather bag sat on his back, the latest model of the Rolex wristwatch adorned his wrist, and the most famous yet unique model of Gucci Shoes was covering his feet.

Gone was the old, poor, dirty Arthur. This was a brand new man and he was going to act it in school.

"You look good, Young Master." Mr. Robert praised with a smile. Arthur lifted his eyes to make eye contact with him in the mirror. He gave a small smile and looked at himself again. 

He wasn't looking so bad.

"Lay off the buttering up." An old voice came from behind them. Both turned their faces to Rodrigo Duterte who stood at the door with both hands folded on his cane.

"I wasn't. He does look good." Mr. Robert said with a bow.

"He takes after me."

"Mom. I take after Mum. Thank God I don't look like you." Arthur joined in the conversation giving a slight shiver after he completed his sentence.

"How dare you?" Rodrigo Duterte said with his eyes widened.

"Oh, you know I'm not lying." Arthur rebutted.

"This kid!" 

All three men gave slight chuckles but Rodrigo's heart was the most full. Even though it was for a brief moment, he liked that his son was having a light chat with him.

He was definitely making progress.

"Go on and show them who their father is." He said with a nod.

"Alright. See you in the evening." Arthur said with a nod looking over his outfit again. He looked good.

"Have a fun day."

"Oh, I will," Arthur replied with a smirk. He gave a slight bow to his Father and walked out of the room with his Father and Mr. Robert closely behind him.

He took two slices of bread and a glass of orange juice before he headed to school in the car his Father had prepared for him.

"This is Jacob, he'll be your driver from now on," Rodrigo said gesturing at the old man holding the door open.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Young Master." The man greeted Arthur with a bow.

"The pleasure is mine," Arthur replied helping the man stand straight. With a genuine smile, he sat in the back seat of the car. The man closed the door after him and bowed to his Father before jogging to the driver's seat.

The fleet of cars dashed out of the compound of the mansion in the blink of an eye. 

"Did you see it?" Rodrigo said suddenly.

"What, Sir?" Mr. Robert asked looking at Rodrigo's face.

"He smiled at me. He seems to finally be opening up to me." 

"I saw Master. I'm happy for you." Robert said with a genuine smile. 

"Immediately, send someone to the school. No one must bother my son. If anyone dares to, all I need to know is the Family's name."

"I'm sure Young Master can handle himself."

"You think?"

"Why not wait till he reaches out to you himself?"

"Do you really think that would work?"

"Take my word for it."

"Alright then. If he needs The Duderte's help with something and he doesn't ask for help, I'll ask for your head."

Mr. Robert gulped and looked down at his shoes. His Master wouldn't truly do that, right?

~~~

"Let me off here," Arthur said his eyes fixed on the school that was still a few minutes walk away.

"Here? We haven't reached the school yet." Jacob said eyeing the school.

"I'll walk the rest of the way. It's not so far anymore."

"As you wish, Young Master." His driver replied before jamming his legs on the break. He swerved to the side of the road and the car stopped.

"Thank you," Arthur said before moving to pull the door open.

"That's my Job, Young Master," Jacob said before getting out of the car and coming over to open the door for Arthur.

"I appreciate it, but I wouldn't want you running around at your age. I can open the door just fine by myself." 

"But-"

"No buts. That's an order."

"If you insist, Young Master."

Arthur smiled before walking away. He imagined the shock on his classmates' faces when he stepped onto the Campus. Especially Matthew and his friends and that bitch, Linda. 

Suddenly, a thought came to his mind. He could make them pay for looking down and ridiculing a poor boy. Was money everything? What about other qualities? Like having a good heart?

'You're only thinking of making them pay because you have the power and money to do so.' His subconscious mind told him.

A sigh escaped his lips when he realized it was right. Money truly is everything. And he has everything now. Time to make them pay. And they will pay.

But first, they needed to know he wasn't the poor, weak boy he was the last time they saw him. He had an entire empire behind him. That was what changed.