"Ooh, my goodness! I need to feel them. Are they for real?” Another lady asked as she bent to massage the golden coins with her soft hands, spitting them and listening to the sounds in both ears. Jordan didn’t know what she was doing. He continued to dive into a daze. “My, oh, my! I don’t freaking believe this! Am I dreaming or something?” The lady continued talking to herself like a lunatic.“We need to hurry and count them as fast as possible, but make sure you test them well.” The manager said Jordan still did not understand, but he did not want to sound more like a tomfool than he already looked.“Okay, sir!” The rest of the employees agreed as each took a spot and started counting.The counting and testing took long minutes that felt like some long decades. The manager and Jordan were working with their eyes as they stood erect behind the employees, but every now and then the manager’s eyes could veer off from the ground and get stuck at Jordan. Whatever he was thinking, Jordan d
Jordan was fiddling with the money while still bathing in incertitude in the car. He had re-counted it countless times, and if only he had a way, he would have checked his bank account balance myriad times too. But the sudden millionaire did not even have a phone. All he could do was trust that his millions were saved in the bank. “So, where to, Jordan?” Ana asked. All along the destinationless drive, they had been staring at Jordan. He was behaving so weirdly, but they were so happy about the terrific sudden change in the poor man’s life. They were extremely thrilled to see the sweet, antsy Jordan, contrary to the always cool and composed version of him. Ana remembered asking Jordan how he would act if he became rich someday. It was a wild ‘out of the blue’ question back then, which has now turned into a mind-blowing reality. And she had been given the golden opportunity to be a witness to what money could do to Jordan Rivers. She could not wait to see the moneyed version of him. Wo
“Nothing. So, what is your plan now, Jordan? You are now a millionaire? What are you going to do with your millions?” Mr. Jonathan asked. He was just cloaking his hurt about Jordan no longer being able to work for him behind that question.Seriously, who would have planned anything that soon? The guy was obviously swimming in disbelief as it was. He was still finding it so hard to believe how swiftly things had turned for him. He could not have planned anything. The idea of ‘what next’ might still have not crossed the poor guy’s mind.Jordan discharged a short chuckle. “My plans? I am still yet to come to terms with the fact that I have all those millions in my bank account. How can I plan for anything in this confusion? If this is real, if at all this isn’t a dream, I would not want to screw myself by making hasty decisions. I just want to clear all these incertitudes for now.” Jordan explained like a wise person.That was what a sane and wise person would have done, and Jordan had b
Ana and Jordan walked to the entrance of the Hilton Hotel. Jordan was still dirty from the dragging of the dirty sack that carried his wealth. People looked at him and walked a distance away, but he did not care, and neither did the girl whose hand held his tight as if percolating some comfort to him. She even smiled at him while everyone wrinkled their noses as if they were walking past some rotten garbage.“Excuse me. You cannot go in!” A security officer stopped Jordan at the entrance. They did not even let the machine check on him. Their naked eyes had scanned his outside appearance and judged him. The nature of humans—deep sigh!“Why?” Jordan asked.“Why? All the customers will leave this hotel if they even catch a glimpse of you. Look around and see for yourself how disgusting you look. Nobody can stand you. This is a very high-profile hotel. Not for beggars like you. Leave!” The officer saidJordan looked around, and everyone who was coming behind them stood at a distance behin
Upon tracing a guest house at a cheaper cost because he did not want to go through another embarrassing moment, Jordan walked in. The cashier made a look but still managed to act casually with the gentleman.“I need a room for two.” Jordan said. He had seen Ana trailing behind him through those sharp streets and scary corners. He had kept his ears in the air for any call of attention, but he was glad that nothing scared the poor girl. He could see her as she leaned on the door outside. She was probably too embarrassed to approach him. But for how long could she stay away?“Okay, sir. A single room and two beds go for $30, and separate rooms go for $50 a night. Which one do you prefer?” The lady asked.Jordan thought for a while. He had not even bought clothes to change. He figured that he could use Ana’s help. She had a phone, and he could not forget how fast she got him the suit a few days ago. “The first one.” He said this, pulling out the dollars and handing them to the lady.“Okay
Minutes later, Jordan left the bathroom dripping wet with only a towel covering his lower part. Ana was busy admiring the things she had ordered. She was sure that she had gotten the right sizes, and she could not wait to see him dazzling in them. Her face was conjured up by the sight of Jordan, which her poor eyes could not handle. She stood up, looking at the door."Umh, here is the bill.” She handed him the bill without even looking in his direction.“Alright. I will make the payments while you take a shower.” He said this as he took the receipt for the bill from her.That is such a wise idea. Ana thought as she took off to the bathroom. “Sure.” She said this when she was at the bathroom door.“I am famished. So, don’t take long in there.” Jordan said, and Ana walked in.An hour later.Jordan and Ana rode back to the Hilton hotel, stinking of riches and dazzling in their new exorbitant attire. They tapped their feet down from the Ubber they had hired and made their way towards the
Ana could have guessed even without looking that she had heard that voice from somewhere, but she had to turn around to confirm. Before she could even turn completely, a third person invited himself to their table and perched next to Ana. Jordan scanned the new face of the galling man. It did not seem so familiar, but he was certain that he had seen it somewhere. He just could not remember where. “What the hell are you doing here?” Ana screeched at the man, keeping her tone at bay and tossing her plate of food aside. The face of the man angered her like always, and she knew he was not there for anything good. “Is that the way to greet your betrothed, whom you disappeared without informing? I had to go through a lot of trouble to find you, you know.” Derric stated, glaring at Ana. Derrick loved Ana. Even though she had just been arranged for him, she had managed to steal his heart. But that was not the only reason he was there. De’Luka had reached an agreement with Derrick and his f
Derrick maintained mutism for a minute. He felt like he had spilled more than he should have. He did not want to reveal his real intentions for being there. Ana and Jordan were not supposed to get wind of the reasons behind his visit and what he wanted. He knew that messing something up would result in severe consequences that he could not bear—they would lose millions worth of investment, and Mr. De’Luka would chop his head off if he made things more difficult for him than they already were. And Ana? She would never forgive him. He did not want to imagine the messed-up situation of their plan. He stood to lose everything if he screwed up. He would even prefer failing to convince Ana and leaving with the secrets still safe with him rather than disclosing the truth. He could never risk that, even as the last ace up his sleeve to win Ana. “I am still waiting, Derrick! How has Jordan ruined my life?” Ana asked again. He shook his head. “I heard all about the saga at your family’s hotel