31Xavier didn’t respond to Greg’s cutting question. He didn’t have to.Instead, he slid his arm around Joyce’s waist and pulled her close, his hand resting protectively on her hip. Joyce, for the first time since they had stepped into that hostile house, felt a deep swell of pride for her husband. There was something different about him now, the quiet composure, the way he refused to be rattled by their taunts.She tightened her grip on his hand, silently telling him she was on his side.Keisha’s voice cut through the moment like a sharp blade. “He’s even unemployed,” she spat, her lip curling. “That’s why he has all the time in the world to read Wikipedia like an idiot.”Her tone dripped with venom, and her eyes glittered with the satisfaction of landing another insult.But Xavier only smiled, slowly, deliberately. It wasn’t the smile of a man wounded. It was the smile of a man who knew something they didn’t.Greg, leaning lazily against the doorway, chuckled darkly. “I think that’s

33The moment Xavier heard Phillips proudly announce his executive position at Barrols, his heart gave a quick, amused flutter. Perfect, he thought. If he’s working in my company… then tomorrow, he’s done for.The thought warmed him in a way that no fireplace could. But his expression remained composed, almost bored, as if Phillips’ presence was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. He glanced at the man from head to toe, the faintest curve at the edge of his lips.But there was something else, an urge to test just how blind Phillips really was. I wonder if he even knows who he’s talking to, Xavier thought. His eyes narrowed slightly in calculation.“Tell me, Phillips,” Xavier said casually, his voice dripping with polite interest. “Have you met the CEO? Why don’t you tell us about the big man himself?”Phillips puffed up instantly, pride radiating from him like perfume. “You’re goddamn right I’ve met the CEO!” he boasted, his grin widening. “A great man. He trusts me. I’m basically

35Everyone stared at Xavier as though he’d spoken another language.Greg’s brows drew together. “What are you even talking about?” he muttered, clearly irritated but also a little nervous.Joyce turned to her husband, her voice soft but urgent. “Xavier… what are you doing? Please don’t start another chaos.” Her eyes were full of worry. “I don’t want trouble. We can just… be on our own. We don’t need to stir anything up. Can’t we just go home in peace?”She stepped closer to him, almost as if shielding him from the others. “I want you to be safe. I don’t care if you’re poor. I love you, do you hear me?” Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes held firm. “Even if you don’t have anything, I will stay with you. All I ask is that we don’t cause any more problems. Let’s just leave quietly. That way…” she hesitated, glancing toward Philip, “…Philip might even be able to help you get a job at Barrols Cooperative Company. You know it’s the biggest employer in town. We can’t afford to make t

37Xavier stood like a man who owned the air in the room, watching Philip’s outburst from a distance. His expression didn’t betray amusement or anger, just the calm, almost effortless poise of someone who knew the real game being played.Philip’s stomping had rattled everyone. Keisha, for once, was frozen, her face unreadable, as though her mind couldn’t keep up with the reality unfolding in front of her. Greg’s brow furrowed as he sat back, looking from one face to the other, clearly unable to piece together the puzzle.Joyce’s voice broke the tension, soft but trembling. “Only the CEO could…” Her words trailed, her lips parting as if the thought was too large to say out loud. She turned sharply to her husband. “Xavier, what’s going on? Where are you the Ce….”She never got to finish.Philip cut her off abruptly, his voice rough and defiant. “He didn’t do anything! This is a big misunderstanding!” His face twisted in disbelief, sweat still glistening at his temples. “He cannot be the

39The room felt heavier now, the air thick with disbelief.Everyone stared at the slip of paper like it was a cursed artifact. The receipt of purchase, Barrols Cooperative Company’s own letterhead, a $35,000 payment, and the exact details of a classified warehouse, wasn’t just suspicious, it was impossible.Keisha was the first to break the silence, her voice sharp and quivering. “That’s impossible,” she said, her eyes darting between Xavier and the paper as though trying to see where the trick was. “He doesn’t even have that kind of money. He doesn’t even have thirty-five thousand dollars! That… that toy is worth thirty thousand, how could he pay for it?!” Her face twisted in a mix of shock and scorn. “It’s impossible for this to happen!”Philip, still holding the paper in a tense grip, turned on Xavier, his face a storm of rage and confusion. “You animal,” he spat, stepping closer. “No wonder, you’re a fraudster! How did you know the top-secret information from our company? Do you