The manager regarded Tony with a skeptical gaze, her eyes scanning his disheveled appearance from head to toe. She didn't think much of him, judging from the condescending look on her face. He could feel her doubt and disdain radiating from her like a palpable force.
"We're not hiring a driver or a Bartender at the moment," the manager said, her tone carefully controlled. But Tony could hear the disdain in her voice, the skepticism that she had considered him nothing more than an errand boy. He held back a sigh, trying to keep his cool."I'll let that pass since we just met," he replied, not quite managing to hide his irritation. "Now, can we get down to business? I've had a long day, and I'd like to get this over with, " He said bluntly."My apologies for any misunderstanding," the hotel manager said, her voice dripping with feigned sincerity. "Our only available room is the presidential suite, which may be out of your budget. Are you sure you wish to proceed?"Tony could feel his patience fraying, his exhaustion deepening with every word. "Just get it over with," he said, his voice shaking with frustration. The manager's officious attitude was grating on his nerves, and he just wanted to be done with this whole ordeal."May I have your credit card to process the payment before showing you to your room?" the manager asked, her tone curt and unfriendly.Tony simply pointed to the card he had given to the receptionist. As the manager's eyes landed on the card, her expression changed from one of irritation to one of astonishment. The logo on the master card indicated that it was reserved for an exclusive few, those with immense wealth and influence. It was a rare master card."A... royalty master card?" the manager blurted out, unable to contain her surprise. Tony and the receptionist looked at her with confused expressions, unaware of the importance of the card. The manager's mind was racing, trying to comprehend what this meant. Was this man royalty? A member of the elite? It was hard to fathom because of his casual look.Tony and the receptionist exchanged glances, their puzzlement deepening. The manager took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "I... I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to...""You don't have to apologize, just learn to treat people better next time," Tony said, cutting her off. His tone was stern, yet understanding. The manager's face flushed with embarrassment, and she bobbed her head in a quick, jerky motion."I'd like to upgrade my room pay, and add the cost of the upgrade as a tip for you and the receptionist," Tony said, noticing their obvious distress. "You both look like you could use a little extra." The manager and the receptionist looked at him in disbelief, their eyes wide with gratitude.With a sense of urgency, the manager rushed over to the receptionist and snatched the card reader from her hands. She inserted the card and waited with bated breath as Tony typed in his PIN. The machine whirred and beeped, and finally displayed the word "Approved." The manager let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing as the tension drained from her body."Who will be showing me to my room?" Tony inquired, his voice soft and reassuring.The manager's voice wavered as she responded, "I will, sir. I'm at your service." Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the room key, "There's no need to be nervous," he said, "You're doing a great job." She nodded, her anxiety lessening slightly as they made their way to his room. "If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call me directly," she offered, scribbling her number on a card."Would you like some company?" the manager purred, her voice dripping with seduction. She had obviously found Tony attractive after knowing his status and was angling for a share of his wealth. "Thank you, but I'll be fine on my own," Tony said calmly but resolutely. Cheating on his wife was the furthest thing from his mind. He couldn't even fathom doing such a thing, not when he had promised to love and cherish her for the rest of his life. The very idea of it was repulsive, and the thought of betraying his wife while still wearing his wedding band made him feel sick to his stomach.The manager's smile evaporated, and she looked away, flustered and embarrassed. "Sorry to have bothered you," she said, her voice strained with discomfort.He looked away from her, ignoring her attempt at an apology. "I'd like a bottle of whisky, please," he said, his tone cool and detached. She nodded and turned to leave, but he spoke again before she could reach the door."And I'd prefer if a staff member could deliver it to my room," he added, making it clear that he didn't want any further interaction with her.As Tony pondered the manager's interest in him and her reaction to his card, he reached for it to examine it more closely. He was stunned to see that it was a royal card, an exclusive piece of plastic that few people in his country could claim to possess. With this master card in hand, the holder has access to a world of opulence and privilege, where any desire can be fulfilled, and luxury can be attained. The card is a passport to a life of extravagance and indulgence, a world where nothing is out of reach. It is a symbol of power and wealth, a tangible reminder of status and privilege. And for as long as the holder possesses this card, that world is theirs to explore. The card itself was worth millions of dollars, and he felt a surge of pride at being one of the lucky few to hold one.A few moments later, Tony was preparing to toast his new identity with a bottle of whiskey when his phone buzzed. The message that greeted him on the screen was from his wife, Helen. She had filed for divorce and needed him to sign the papers to finalize it. Without a second thought, he silenced his phone and put it aside, determined not to let her message ruin his evening. He had earned this celebration, and nothing was going to take it away from him.The soft bed and quiet surroundings of the hotel room lulled Tony into a deep and restful sleep, something he hadn't experienced in ages at the Lugard mansion. When he awoke the next morning, he felt refreshed and invigorated, ready to take on whatever the day had in store for him. He had never felt so well-rested and energized in a long time. Tony sprang out of bed, eager to get ready for the day ahead. He showered and dressed quickly in the casual clothes he had brought from the mansion the previous day. He had planned to spend the night in the hospital with his grandmother and get an early start on his job search the next day, his plans changed when he encountered his uncle at the hospital. "Greetings, young master," said the two men who were standing in front of the hotel door, bowing deeply as Tony emerged from his room. Tony looked at them in surprise, not recognizing them. "Who are you?" he asked, a note of surprise in his voice."We are your bodyguards, sir," they said in un
Just as Tony was finishing his meal, Maxwell and his wife entered the hotel lobby, their presence exuding wealth and power. It was clear from their regal bearing that they were the prominent clients who wanted to partner with the hotel. Maxwell's family was a prominent force in the city's real estate market, and the lugard had always been keen to maintain a strong relationship with them. Maxwell's marriage to their daughter had been a key part of that strategy. As Tony emerged from the dining area, he was met with snickers and jeers from Maxwell and Cecilia who had just entered the hotel. their faces twisted in mockery as they looked him up and down. "Look who's here," Maxwell said with a mocking tone. "The great job hunter himself," he added, the words dripping with sarcasm. His wife chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. "I'm sure he's here looking for one low-income job as usual," she said, a smirk playing on her lips and they both burst into laughter. "Greetings, Maxwell a
The last thing Tony wanted was to return to the Lugard's mansion so soon. He hoped that the memory of what Maxwell and Cecilia witnessed in the hotel would haunt them, leaving them wondering if it was all a dream. He knew that Lady Lugard and Helen would continue to mock and belittle Maxwell and Cecilia's story when they told them, confident that they would never be believed. In Lady Lugard's eyes, Tony was a worthless individual, and no matter how hard he tried, he could never accomplish anything of significance, there was no way her view would change because of a petty story from her daughter and son-in-law. As Tony sat on the hotel bed, he pondered the best way to acquire new clothes. Even though he intended to keep his new identity a secret, he did not want people to view him with disdain because of his shabby appearance. It was clear to him that he needed to acquire some fresh attire. When the cab he had booked online arrived, he got into the back seat. "Good day, sir," the c
"How do I possibly entertain someone of your stature?" Uncle Robert asked as they entered his office. "I apologize if the refreshments seem a bit humble." Tony nodded without saying a word for a few seconds. "Why has it taken you all this time to reach out to me?" Tony asked, his voice betraying a hint of suspicion. He couldn't help but wonder if Uncle Robert had known about him all along, and had only chosen to make contact now. Perhaps there was more to the story than he knew."Nephew," Uncle Robert said warmly, "before we begin our conversation, perhaps we should enjoy a glass of wine together?" He nodded at his bodyguard, who quickly disappeared into the adjoining room. Moments later, he reappeared with two glasses and a bottle of the finest vintage wine. "My nephew deserves only the best," Uncle Robert said, pouring the crimson liquid into their glasses. "That won't be necessary, Uncle," Tony said gently, not wanting to appear ungrateful. "I'm not here to be lavished with expens
As Tony sauntered up to Collins, who was standing by the entrance of the fancy restaurant, a mischievous grin on his face. Collins' eyes widened in surprise as he took in Tony's dapper appearance, his brows furrowed in confusion."Whoa, you look different! Did something happen this week?" Collins exclaimed, his head tilted in curiosity."Nothing much, let's just head in and grab a drink," Tony replied, his tone lighthearted as he tried to deflect Collins' question. But Collins wasn't about to let it go that easily."Oh no, no, no, not so fast," Collins said, stepping in front of Tony and blocking his path to the door. "There's definitely something different about you, and I'm not leaving this spot until you tell me what it is," he said, crossing his arms and staring Tony down. Tony knew he was caught, and there was no point in trying to hide it."Fine, fine," he said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "If you must know, then I'll tell you in there while we chill," Tony said pointing at
Collins found himself bemused and incensed by Tony's placid reaction to observing his wife in the company of another man. While Collins would have happily made a scene, he would not do so at the risk of disregarding Tony's wishes. Helen had never been a fan of Collins, regularly deriding their friendship as a union of poverty and failure. Collins yearned to confront her and make her realize that her infidelity was far worse than any financial hardship he had ever faced."Excuse me," Collins inquired, his voice tinged with incredulity, "Are you two divorced?" He directed the question at Tony, who seemed wholly unmoved by the scene unfolding before him.Tony merely grinned at Collins, raising his hands to show him the gleaming wedding band that adorned his left ring finger. "If we were," Tony stated, "I wouldn't be wearing our wedding band.""I'm sorry to ask," Collins implored, disbelief coloring his words, "but why aren't you more concerned about your wife having an affair? This isn't
Helen couldn't recognize Tony at first glance because he looked different in his new outfit. She was unsure if he was the one but then she saw Collins behind him and with no doubt knew it was Tony. "What are you doing here?" Helen questioned rudely the moment Henry got to the table. She chuckled when she got no reply. "Oh, why should I be asking that? I'm sure you are one of their new employee or probably running errands for one of your menial Job bosses," She said but still got no reply from Henry. "How much is the bill?" Tony asked the manager, not minding Helen or Philips's shocked look. "The bill comes to five thousand dollars, sir," the manager said in a polite tone."Just add it to my total bill, there's no need for a scene," Tony replied. Helen laughed at this."What bill are you talking about?" Helen asked sarcastically. "Are you trying to steal from your new boss? He's giving you a chance for a new look and you're already spending his money?" Helen laughed again. "We can re
As Helen drove home, her thoughts were a jumbled mess as she reminisced on what had happened in the restaurant. Could Maxwell and her sister be right about Tony and how he had treated them in the hotel? Had he changed so much, or was he just putting on an act? All of these can't just be a coincidence and if it was then an awful one for her. Helen's caller's tone snapped her back to reality as she picked up her phone, The sound of the phone ringing snapped Helen out of her thoughts, and she reached for it, her heart still racing. "Hello?" she said, her voice a bit shaky."Hi, Helen!" the voice on the other end said. It was Susan, her best friend. "How's it going?""Oh, hi, Susan!" Helen said, trying to sound more upbeat than she felt. "I'm doing okay, just a little busy. What's up?""Not much," Susan replied. "Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. Are you sure you're okay? "No, I'm not," Helen admitted. She felt a sense of relief at being able to tell someone the truth