As soon as Hannah, Ava, and Dave arrived at the Cents' Sports Club and made their way through the entrance, heads turned, conversations paused, and all eyes focused on Hannah and Ava.
Their beauty was undeniable and captivating! Ava's dark, wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, perfectly complementing her emerald green dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. Meanwhile, Hannah's fair complexion and delicate features were also accentuated by a flowing lavender gown that made her look like she had stepped out of a fairy tale. Dave was dressed in simple attire—a plain shirt and trousers that marked him as a commoner in the eyes of the club’s elite, so no one seemed to notice him. However, Dave wasn't perturbed. Some of the young men, dressed in their finest attire, were captivated by Hannah and Ava's ethereal beauty. One of the men, Clark, who had been pursuing Ava for some time, approached her. "Ava, you look absolutely stunning. You're simply irresistible," he remarked with a charming smile. Ava, accustomed to such attention but uninterested in Clark's advances nodded and offered a faint smile in response, searching for Jerry amongst those involved in the game. Clark was undeterred so he leaned in slightly with a more intimate tone, "You look incredibly sexy today, Ava." However, Ava remained nonchalant with her gaze drifting away as if uninterested in Clark's compliments. When Clark noticed her lack of response, he persisted, hoping to capture her attention. Almost immediately, his eyes shifted to Dave who stood calmly beside Ava. Upon seeing Dave, Clark gave him a condescending look, especially when he noticed Dave's simple attire. Clark believed that Dave was probably Ava's bodyguard because he couldn't be Ava's boyfriend, after all. To attract Ava's attention, he asked, "I hope this guy isn't your boyfriend. I mean, look at him. It's obvious he's not from our world." Ava felt a bit embarrassed, but Hannah quickly added, sarcastically. "He's her boyfriend. So what about that?" "What?" Clark looked on in disappointment. How could this lowlife be Ava's boyfriend? Was she blind to even go out with someone like this? This was ridiculous! Nevertheless, Clark decided to try his luck. "You know, Ava, if you gave me a chance, I would take care of you. Unlike him," he nodded towards Dave, "I can tell he's not capable of providing for a beauty like you." Ava, maintaining her composure, replied nonchalantly, "Thank you, Clark. I'm not interested." Then she turned towards the field, searching for Jerry with her eyes. Jerry was an imposing figure with broad shoulders and chiseled chest which gave him a statuesque appearance, while his strong, sinewy arms were a testament to his athletic prowess. No doubt, Jerry's handsome features were striking and well-defined. Meanwhile, in the central area of the club where the noble competition was taking place, all eyes were fixed on the intense match between Jerry and his opponent. As the match reached a critical point, the tension was palpable. Jerry's precision and agility were on full display as he executed a series of impressive shots, earning enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The young ladies, in particular, were captivated by his prowess and their cheers rang out in support of their favourite player. "Go, Jerry!" one of the girls shouted with her voice filled with excitement. "He's amazing!" another exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. Hannah and Ava joined in the applause as they exchanged knowing glances, appreciating the skill and dedication Jerry displayed on the court. The match continued with Jerry gaining a decisive edge over his opponent. Each point he won was met with louder cheers and more fervent applause. The crowd's energy was infectious, and even those who had been indifferent at the start found themselves drawn into the excitement. As the final point was played, Jerry delivered a powerful serve that his opponent struggled to return. The ball sailed past, landing just inside the baseline. The umpire called, "Game, set, match!" and his call was drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Jerry, smiling broadly, raised his racket in triumph and acknowledged the applause with a gracious wave with his eyes scanning the crowd. The girls continued to cheer with their admiration evident on their faces. Ava turned to Hannah with her eyes sparkling with excitement. "He's incredible, isn't he?" Hannah nodded, equally impressed. "Absolutely! It's no wonder everyone is so taken with him." Jerry made his way through the crowd, approaching Ava, Hannah, Dave, and the group of people gathered around them. He was greeted with enthusiastic congratulations and admiring glances from the young women who had been watching him intently throughout the match. "Ava, Hannah!" Jerry called out with his voice filled with the excitement of victory. "I'm glad you could make it." With her eyes sparkling with amusement, Ava stepped forward to give Jerry a congratulatory hug. "You were amazing out there, Jerry," she said, her admiration clear. Hannah smiled warmly at Jerry with her eyes reflecting genuine appreciation for his skill. "Congratulations, Jerry. That was an incredible performance." As Jerry basked in their praise, his gaze shifted to Dave, who stood quietly beside Ava. Seeing Dave, his expression changed from one of joy to one of confusion and slight irritation. "Who’s this?" he asked with a frown creasing his handsome features. Hannah responded before Ava could speak. "Oh, that's Dave," she said with a sneer. "Ava's husband. He’s a lowlife and cheap guy with no money or background," She laughed lightly, clearly enjoying the jibe. Ava shot Hannah a reproachful look, but Jerry's attention remained fixed on Dave. Jealousy flickered in his eyes, but he forced a polite smile. "Is that so?" he said with a strained tone. "Nice to meet you, Dave." Dave extended his hand with a calm, composed demeanour. "Nice to meet you too, Jerry," he replied, unfazed by the insult.Jerry's blood continued to boil in indignation at the sight of Dave.How could someone like Ava, his dream goddess, be married to a commoner? It was a humiliation he could hardly bear!In Jerry's mind, Dave was not just unworthy of Ava; he was unworthy of being his rival. The mere thought of competing with someone like Dave filled Jerry with disdain. He decided he needed to put Dave in his place and teach him a lesson about where he truly belonged!With confidence, Jerry faced Dave with his voice dripping with condescension. "Hey, Dave. Why don't you join me in the noble sports competition today? Let's see how much of a man you are."Dave looked at Jerry expressionless, "I'm not interested, Jerry," he replied casually.Jerry's eyes narrowed. He was not accustomed to being dismissed so easily. "What’s the matter, Dave? Afraid you can’t keep up? Afraid you'll embarrass yourself?" He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a mocking whisper. "Or maybe you just know that you're not
Upon hearing Jerry's remarks, the crowd burst into laughter. Jerry's smug smile widened as he soaked in the attention, feeling victorious, even before the competition had begun. He had every reason to believe that Dave would crumble under the pressure."Come on, Dave! Prove you’re not just a waste of space!" someone shouted from the crowd."Yeah, Dave, show us what you’ve got, if you’ve got anything at all!" another person added.Dave, however, was not someone that could be easily pushed around or manipulated. He gave Jerry a cold look."Hey, man, if you’re so eager to make a fool of yourself, then I’ll grant your wish. I’ll compete with you. And when I win, everyone will see who the real fool is."The crowd fell silent for a moment, shocked by Dave's retort. Then the laughter resumed, louder and more boisterous than before. Jerry's eyes narrowed with his smile fading into a tight-lipped grimace."How could a loser like you even talk of winning? I'm sure you've never played sport
Despite the lack of evidence, the murmurs of cheating and deceit continued to circulate among the members of the club. For many of them, it was easier to doubt Dave's character than to accept that someone from a humble background like his, could defeat Jerry so effortlessly!Jerry, who had been seething with anger and embarrassment, now found a twisted sense of relief in the crowd’s continued mockery of Dave. The accusations of cheating provided him with a convenient escape from the humiliation of his loss. As long as they continued to mock Dave, his pride remained somewhat intact!"Did you see how he played?" another club member whispered to another. "No way someone like that jerk could beat Jerry without some kind of trickery.""I know, right? It just doesn't add up," the other replied. "Jerry is one of the best. That guy must have done something sneaky."Jerry, overhearing these comments, felt a smirk tug at the corners of his mouth. Though he had no proof that Dave had cheat
Dave, however, remained unperturbed. Instead, he met Jerry's and the others' gazes with a look of indifference, which only served to unsettle Jerry further.Jerry, feeling the pressure of the crowd's scrutiny, knew he had to act quickly to shift the attention away from the competition. He forced a smile and turned to Ava with his voice smooth and composed. "Ava, there's something important I wanted to discuss with you today."Ava, who had been glaring at Dave with obvious disdain, turned her attention to Jerry. "What is it, Jerry?"Jerry's smile widened, sensing an opportunity to regain control of the situation. "I heard from my Uncle that Carl Mullen, the head of the Kevton Chamber of Commerce is hosting a banquet tonight. I know you've been working hard to help your family's business, Smithly Associates, join the chamber. This could be your chance."Ava's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? Carl Mullen is in town?""Yes," Jerry confirmed. "I thought you might want to attend t
Jerry's face froze with a flicker of disbelief crossing his features. "What are you talking about, loser? I got the information directly from my uncle.""Well, your uncle must have missed the latest update," Dave replied calmly. Jerry burst into laughter as he turned to Dave with a sneer. "You know what, fool, it's pretty bold of you to claim the banquet is cancelled. Do you even know who Carl Mullen is?" He laughed once again with a condescending tone lacing his words. "Someone like you probably doesn't even know what a banquet is, let alone anything about its status."Dave remained composed, unfazed by Jerry's mockery. He took another sip of his drink and met Jerry's gaze steadily.Jerry, feeling confident in his superior status, continued, "You shouldn't envy my connections and background, jerk. It's not something someone like you could ever understand." Jerry's tone took on a sarcastic edge, masked with a veneer of politeness. "But, if you really want to attend the banquet,
Most of the club members remained surprised at Dave's prediction. Most of them speculated involuntarily that Dave might be a big shot who was disguising as a commoner. Otherwise, it made no sense how he could assert so confidently that there was no banquet that evening.Ava, who had initially dismissed Dave's claims, now found herself in a swirl of conflicting emotions. How was Dave informed that the banquet had been cancelled?She rationalized that he must have overheard the news from somewhere.Despite her belief, the regret of missing out on the banquet gnawed at her.It was a missed opportunity for her to enter the renowned chamber of commerce which was a crucial step for her family's business, Smithly Associates.Jerry, who had been so confident in his assertions, was now filled with uncertainty as he tried to process the unexpected turn of events. His confidence was shaken, and for the first time, he felt a pang of doubt about his judgment.Just then, Hannah broke the sile
However, Dave was unperturbed. Instead, he stood quietly amidst the onslaught with his expression unreadable. Ava's prejudice and misunderstanding of Dave also deepened. She couldn't believe she had entertained even a flicker of belief about his words. To her, his behaviour now seemed nothing short of desperate! She felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration at being associated with him. "You know," Jerry said, cutting through the laughter, "we should all have dinner together this evening after we leave the club. It'll be a nice way to unwind." The suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement. However, just as the group began to settle into the idea, Dave's phone rang. It was Carl Mullen calling, so he answered the call. The club members watched him with a mixture of amusement and disdain, convinced that this was just another ploy for attention. "Master," Carl's voice was urgent, "my daughter's condition has suddenly worsened. I've made all the arrangements, and she
Dave didn't bother to explain himself. He simply ignored Hannah's jibes, and walked away! It didn't make any sense trying to prove how much he didn't need Ava's help. His focus was on something far more important - Carl Mullen's daughter, so he made his way to Carl's house. When he arrived at the grand estate, the family butler was already waiting at the door, his demeanour respectful and calm. "Good evening, Master," the butler greeted, bowing in respect. "Mr. Mullen is not home at the moment. He is still occupied with matters related to the new membership qualifications of the Great Kevton Chamber of Commerce. It may take some time before he returns." Dave nodded, understanding the situation. "That's fine." The butler continued, "Mr. Mullen has made it clear that you may begin treating his daughter at any time. There is no need to wait for his return. He trusts your expertise and doesn't want to waste your valuable time." "Thank you," Dave replied. "Please le