Chapter 3

When Mr. Lombardi requested for Ric, the cashier immediately motioned for Ric to come to the counter while she returned to the back of the counter. However, when Mr. Lombardi saw Ric he had doubts in his mind but he was a smart man.

Mr. Lombardi masked his doubts and greeted Ric in a polite manner. "Good afternoon Sir, I am Lombardi Leones."

Ric was a bit embarrassed but he managed to introduce himself "Ric Mariano" 

Mr. Lombardi was careful to not offend Ric because the Mariano last name was not very popular in Avrilla city and he suspected that Ric may be from a very rich and wealthy family.

"Mr. Mariano, please how much would you like to withdraw?" The cashier asked roughly, since the card wasn't fake, she was going to humiliate Ric and prove that the card didn't really belong to Ric. 

"Please call me Ric, I would like to withdraw thirty thousand dollars." Ric immediately added.

"But the minimum withdrawal with this card is hundred thousand dollars at once" The cashier asked, her suspicion further confirmed. If Ric was the owner of the card then he would know this fact.

"Then I'll withdraw the minimum," Ric replied immediately, not wanting any more attention. 

After that, Ric entered his birthday into the card reader as the passcode and the transaction was successful.

The transaction was successfully completed!

What?

"Oh my God!"

Everyone in the banking hall was shocked!

"Was this man really a very rich and humble man?"

"He even tolerated all our abuses earlier." 

"Did he actually just withdraw one hundred thousand dollars at once?"

Everyone including Mr. Lombardi was staring at Ric in disbelief.

"What if he stole the card, I don't believe that he is the owner of that card" a woman who had been irritated by Ric's presence immediately said.

The cashier, who was not convinced that this man could be a rich man, immediately agreed that he must have stolen the card. It was easier for her to believe that.

"I can't give you the money simply because you input the pin. Mr. Lombardi please I would like to call the manager to verify his identity so that we can be sure that he didn't steal the card." The cashier said as she made a call to the bank manager.

When the manager came she was disappointed to see the man that was posing as a rich man whereas he was just a thief but she didn't show it.

" Sir, please we would need to verify by scanning your identity card." Unlike the cashier that was rude earlier to Ric, the manager spoke to Ric in a calm manner.

The manager was also careful not to misjudge Ric should Incase he turned out to be the real owner of the Dragon heir Diamond card.

Ric immediately brought out his identity card and handed it over to the manager.

"This card carries Ric Maximilanno Sir, is that you?" Even if the Manager could see the similarities in the photo on Ric's identity card, she still asked confused but politely.

"Yes please, that's me but I unofficially go by Mariano." Ric clarified.

This was the first time he was being addressed with the Maximilanno last name. When he and his mother were kicked out of the Maximilanno mansion, he had started going by Mariano, his mother's last name.

The Manager didn't probe further, she swiped it and discovered Ric's details were the same as the details on the Dragon heir Diamond card, she immediately thought to herself that Ric was a very Rich and powerful man who was hiding his identity in Avrilla city and her staff almost made her offend him.

"I knew the card didn't belong to this poor man, he's a thief!" the cashier bragged when the manager remained silent after comparing the details.

Slap!

"You fool! Are you blind or are trying to close this bank? Who are you calling a poor man and a thief? I don't think you appreciate your job here anymore." The manager gave the cashier a tight slap across her face much to everyone's surprise. 

"I'm sorry Mr. Maximilanno, my staff didn't know who you are. Please forgive her and don't take it out on our bank." The manager begged Ric.

Mr. Lombardi watched the scene unfold.

The cashier was somber as she regretted looking down on Ric in the beginning, she thought that if he really wanted to take his revenge on her he could easily ask the bank manager who wouldn't hesitate to fire her.

The cashier immediately fell on her knees before Ric and begged for his forgiveness. "Please Mr. Maximilanno, punish me, not our bank. Forgive my ignorance, I didn't mean to offend you Sir, please forgive me."

Her beautiful face was already stained with tears as she groveled at Ric's feet hopping to curry favor with him and obtain his mercy. 

Ric was a bit embarrassed by her display and tried to dismiss her but she wouldn't stop crying and begging until Mr. Lombardi assured her that Ric wasn't going to take any action against the bank for her actions. 

Ric wasn't used to being wealthy and powerful so he naturally didn't know how to handle the situation.

Ric didn't know how he would carry so much money out of the bank so he asked Mr. Lombardi for his help.

"Please do you have a bag where I can put all of this Money?"

"Yes, wait a minute." Mr Lombardi replied before rushing out of the bank and returning with a duffle bag. Mr Lombardi handed the bag to the cashier before offering more assistance to Ric.

"Brother, did you drive? I can walk you to your car with my security." Mr. Lombardi was so polite he even addressed Ric as brother.

"No, I didn't drive." Even though Ric had his driver's license, it had been temporarily seized during his jail term and he didn't even own a car after his license was returned to him. Ric made a mental note to get a car to aid his movements.

"Then come with me, I'll drive you home." Mr Lombardi offered after Ric retrieved his cash and card from the cashier.

Many of the customers in the bank wanted to also offer to drive Ric home but they were too scared that their request may offend Mr. Lombardi so they remained quiet.

When Ric left the bank, he received a message. He confirmed that it was a message from Benhardt.

'Serene Resorts is owned by the Maximilanno family. I have called the manager to inform him that you would be spending a few nights there and he's expecting you. Ask for Johnson when you get there.' The text read.

"I am going to the Serene Resorts, please can you take me there?" Ric explained when they got to Mr Lombardi's car. 

"Of course brother, it's just a few streets down the road." Mr Lombardi was being very kind to Ric because he thought to himself that he had encountered such a wealthy and powerful man.

Mr. Lomardi knew that only the elite and powerful could book a room in the prestigious Serene Resorts so he decided to treat Ric with respect and caution.

The Serene Resorts was renowned for its exquisite finesse and luxury. It was a huge manor located at the hill side of Avrilla city just before the famous Vittorio commercial street and served as one of the major attractions of the city.

When Mr. Lombardi pulled over at the Serene Resort gate, he offered to assist Ric to his room but Ric blatantly refused.

"If you tell me your address, I would like to return your bag to you." Ric said.

"Alright brother, if you won't let me assist you then please take my business card. I run the Lazeeza resort on Vittorio street, please stop by so I can host you for dinner and you can return the bag then. My phone number is on this card, please call me if you need any assistance at all." Mr Lombardi told Ric as he handed him his complementary card before Ric alighted from the vehicle.

Though Mr. Lombardi was a billionaire, he was a simple man and he drove a small red Bentley. 

When the security guards at the resort gate saw Ric alight from the Bentley, they didn't try to stop him at all even if there was a look of contempt on all their faces when they saw how cheaply dressed he was.