The Underestimated Tycoon

Chapter 7

Ethan stepped outside the club vicinity and pulled out his phone after he was in a silent area. He dialled the customer service number embossed on the back of his black unlimited card, and on the very first ring, the phone call connected, and a friendly but professional voice answered immediately.

“Welcome to Zenith. How can I assist you?” the voice asked professionally.

“I need my membership registered for tonight’s event at a club called Oasis,” Ethan said, his tone firm but calm.

The process took less than a minute. With a level of efficiency only the most elite memberships could offer, the operator confirmed his registration. Ethan pocketed the card, knowing full well that the only reason he could easily become an exclusive member at Oasis was because of the card.

It had been mentioned by Edward Crestwood that only a handful of individuals worldwide had the privilege of becoming members with this card. It was a mark of wealth, power, and connections that most people could only dream of.

He walked back to the entrance of the underground club. The two security guards who had taunted him earlier were still standing there, now looking a little less amused as he approached. They had already had their laugh with his initial attempt to get inside and did not appreciate his return at all. However, Ethan could care less about that. He swiped his card across the door panel, and the metal doors slid open without hesitation.

The guards blinked in surprise. One of them rubbed his eyes, thinking the door had malfunctioned.

"Wait," the taller guard said, stepping forward. "That can't be right. The system must have malfunctioned!”

Ethan calmly pulled out the black membership card and held it up for them to see. The guards exchanged uneasy glances, still doubtful. But Ethan’s expression remained cold and authoritative.

"Check it," Ethan said. His voice was soft, but there was a sharp edge to it that made them hesitate. Still, they summoned their courage and snatched the card from his hand.

They ran the card through their system, and were ready to throw Ethan out with injuries if it turned out that he was wasting their time. However, just seconds later, confirmation of Ethan’s highest-level membership appeared on their screens, and the guards’ smug expressions dropped instantly.

One of them cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Uh... Welcome, sir. Apologies for the misunderstanding.”

Ethan nodded and walked past them without sparing them another word. They weren’t worth his time after all.

Inside, the underground fight club was buzzing with energy. The crowd roared with excitement as holographic displays flickered in the air, showing real-time rankings of top fighters from around the world. The fights were brutal, and bloodthirsty cheers filled the dimly lit arena.

Aria and Natalie were seated near the front, laughing amongst themselves. They barely noticed Ethan as he walked in. Aria, catching a glimpse of him, smirked and leaned over to Natalie.

“Looks like the guards let him in because of us,” she said, assuming her presence had somehow opened the doors for him. Still, she was somewhat disappointed that the guards at the door hadn’t given him a tough time. She had hoped that he would be beaten mercilessly by them before being thrown out, but that hadn’t worked out the way she thought it would.

Meanwhile, Greg was in the center of the arena, basking in the cheers of the crowd. He had just finished his match, effortlessly defeating his opponent and improving his global ranking once again. On the holographic leaderboard, his name flashed near the top, marking him as the highest-ranked fighter in the city.

The crowd roared his name, but when Greg spotted Ethan entering, a sneer formed on his lips. His friends gathered around, clearly eager for another show.

“Well, well, look who finally made it,” Greg called out, his voice booming across the arena. The crowd hushed as they turned to see who Greg was taunting.

Ethan didn’t flinch under the attention. He met Greg’s mocking gaze with cool indifference.

Greg wiped the sweat from his brow, still grinning.

“You know, I’ve heard a lot about you, Ethan. Not exactly the guy someone like Aria deserves, don’t you think?” His words were laced with contempt.

Ethan didn’t respond, but a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes.

Greg chuckled, encouraged by the reaction. “Let’s be real, man. You can’t seriously think you have a shot with her. You’re just a nobody, and this whole engagement thing is a joke. Lily’s only with you because she feels sorry for you.”

The crowd began to jeer, egging Greg on. Ethan stood there silently, letting Greg’s words bounce off him, his expression unfazed.

“Look at you,” Greg continued, stepping forward. “Do you even have enough money to buy her a decent meal? Or is she going to have to start paying for your dinners too?”

Ethan wasn’t one to let insults get under his skin. Instead, he simply smiled.

“You talk a lot for someone who’s hiding behind a reputation that barely holds up,” Ethan finally said, his voice cutting through the noise.

Greg’s grin faltered for a moment. The crowd gasped at Ethan’s boldness, their jeers dying down to murmurs of curiosity.

“What did you say?” Greg’s tone darkened.

“You heard me.” Ethan took a step forward, his gaze hardening. “You can mock my engagement, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s real. And as for me being a nobody—well, I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you.”

The crowd tensed, sensing a confrontation brewing. Greg’s face twisted in anger as he took a step closer to Ethan.

“All right then, tough guy. Let’s settle this.” Greg sneered.

“How about a fight? If I win, you break off the engagement and leave Aria for good. But if, by some miracle, you win, then you can stay, and we’ll all pretend you belong here.” Greg proposed, laughing at the absurdity of his own proposal.

“Fight!”

“Fight!”

“Fight!” The crowd erupted into cheers, clearly excited for the fight.

Ethan regarded Greg like a child throwing a tantrum. It was as if a three-year-old was insisting on fighting an adult, fully convinced they could win. Ethan knew this was a waste of time—he could beat Greg without breaking a sweat. But the crowd’s taunts, combined with Greg’s arrogance, made it clear that if Ethan walked away now, they would assume he was scared.

“Fine. I’ll fight you.” He nodded reluctantly.