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 unison, still bowing. Tony noticed a small crowd had gathered to watch the scene unfold. The bodyguards' clothes bore a royal seal, indicating that they were high-ranking members of the royal security detail. They were even higher-ranking than the bodyguards he had seen with his uncle."Are you here from my uncle?" Tony asked, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity. The two men nodded in confirmation, and he felt a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation. On the one hand, it was thrilling to think that his uncle provided him with royal bodyguards. On the other hand, he worried that this kind of high-profile protection would draw too much attention to him. He wanted to keep a low profile, at least for now."How did you find me?" Tony asked, suddenly anxious about the idea of being followed. The hotel manager quickly approached them. She had been standing in the distance with the onlookers."Good morning sir. We informed them immediately we saw your master card. The seal on the card is reserved for royalty, and we were aware of the special treatment that comes with it. It turns out that your mother is one of the largest shareholders in this hotel, and she has placed you in charge of her shares." The manager added, her tone far more respectful than it had been the previous day. "That's...understood," Tony said, his eyes darting between the bodyguard and the hotel manager. "But I'm not interested in any sort of protection at the moment. If I ever need it, I'll get in touch with my uncle directly," he added, his tone flat and dismissive."As you wish young master," The bodyguards chorused and bowed, before retreating to the background. Tony exhaled a long, slow breath, feeling the tension in his body dissipate."Do you need anything this morning, sir?" the manager asked tentatively, her voice quavering ever so slightly. "We've prepared a VIP suite for you, in case you'd like to move from your current room. All expenses have been covered since you're a shareholder," she added, her eyes wide with anxiety."That's very kind of you, but I'm perfectly happy with my current room," Tony said, "Please don't worry about it. I'll let you know if I need anything.""Perhaps you'd like some breakfast, sir?" the manager asked tentatively, and Tony could tell she was trying to make up for her yesterday's blunder."That would be most appreciated," he replied, smiling warmly to put her at ease. "It's been a long night, and I could use some sustenance."The manager's shoulders relaxed and she nodded in understanding. "I'll have breakfast brought up to your room right away," she said, a relieved smile finally breaking across her face."I'd prefer to have breakfast in the executive dining hall," Tony replied, sensing the manager's eagerness to please. "It would be lovely to take in the ambiance and the view of the surroundings," he added, watching as her expression changed to one of relief."Of course, sir," she said with a nod, and he could tell that she was grateful for the chance to make amends. "I'll make sure everything is arranged," she added before turning to leave.It was clear to Tony that the hotel staff had been instructed to treat him with the utmost respect, even though he wasn't dressed in the usual regalia of royalty. They were unfailingly polite and considerate, going out of their way to make him feel welcome and comfortable. He couldn't help but wonder if the manager had something to do with it.As he continued to observe the staff, he began to notice small details that confirmed his suspicions. The waiters and waitresses seemed to have been briefed on his preferences, and they went above and beyond to ensure that he was well taken care of.Tony found himself seated at a table laden with an array of delectable dishes, enough to satisfy even the most discerning palate. He took his time to carefully select a few of the items, then instructed the staff to distribute the rest among themselves.The manager approached Tony's table with an apologetic look on her face. "Pardon the interruption, sir," the manager said, her tone respectful and calm, "Some prominent clients will be arriving shortly, and they have expressed an interest in discussing a potential partnership with the hotel. It would be an honor to have you join us in the boardroom if you're available," she continued, her eyes trained on Tony's face, gauging his reaction.Tony waved a dismissive hand. "I'm sure you can handle things without me, there's no need for me to join," he replied softly.As Tony savored the delicious meal in front of him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over him. In less than 24 hours, his life had taken a complete turn - he was now a member of a wealthy and powerful family, and he had access to a world he had never even imagined. He still couldn't quite believe it was all real, but he had to admit that he was enjoying the feeling of luxury and privilege that came with his new identity. It was an experience like no other.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
Tony's sudden transformation became the topic of discussion in the lugard's mansion. While Maxwell and Cecilia felt Tony was more than just an employee in the hotel where they had met him, Lady Lugard and Helen stood their ground that Tony would always remain a nobody. "You look like the cat who ate the canary," Cecilia observed, with a sly smile, noticing Helen's satisfied expression as she sat down at the dining table. "What's going on?""Oh, it's nothing of importance," Helen said dismissively, though Cecilia could tell she was holding something back.Cecilia was not easily fooled, and she could tell when someone was trying to hide something from her. She narrowed her eyes, determined to get to the bottom of Helen's mysterious expression."Now, now, don't give me that coy little smile," Cecilia said, leaning forward and giving Helen a piercing look. "You're hiding something, and I want to know what it is. Come on, Helen, spill the beans."Helen shifted uncomfortably in her chair,