The days following the protest at ESU were a whirlwind of events that rocked Nathan's boat. Nathan didn’t waste time after the protest, just within 48 hours of the demonstration, he had launched a new initiative under the Project Kickstart umbrella, a new project called Kickstart Relief. This was a large-scale food distribution program aimed at feeding the masses affected by the worsening recession.Trucks loaded with non-perishable goods, fresh produce from partnered farms, and hot meals prepared by local kitchens rolled out daily to community centers, shelters, and low-income neighborhoods across New York City. Nathan personally funded the first wave with a $25 million injection from his private accounts. Volunteers, many of them who were Kickstart kids and their families, helped pack and distribute the supplies to the needy.The news outlets couldn’t stop talking about the whole venture. Even CNN ran segments on it titled as “Pauper King Steps Up as Recession Bites Low."Fox Busine

Nathan woke up to the sharp vibration of his phone on the nightstand just at the other side of the bed. He could see faintly that the room was still dim, with the little morning light just beginning to creep through the curtains covering the windows. Rhea laid beside him, breathing softly, with her head resting near his injured but healing shoulder. This was the first time he was waking up with a woman or anyone that wasn't his grandmother, sleeping right by his side on a bed. He made a very silly grin, one that he would not have made in any other circumstances, and then reached over her sleeping head, carefully and picked up the phone. It seemed as though she did not even hear the phone go off.Nathan checked and It was Brune.He answered the call quietly, not wanting to wake Rhea up. “Morning, Brune," he said. “Turn on your television or go online right now,” Brune said, his voice tightened up in a very serious manner. “It’s everywhere. Just go and check what's online."Nathan s

Amelia stood frozen, her mocking smile gone.She watched as more and more students joined Nathan, willingly, and happily, turning the punishment into some communal chore. "What are you people doing?" She asked, raising her voice. "This is a punishment for only Nathan. Why are you helping him?" Her voice was beginning to sound like that of a helpless person."Just save it, Amelia" some other student said as he mopped the floor close to her feet. "Move!"Amelia became red hot on the face due to anger. She turned and walked away without another word.By midday, the entire school was talking about it. Videos and photos of Nathan and dozens of students cleaning the school together flooded social media. #PauperKingCleansESU began trending again. The story spread far beyond the campus, as news outlets picked it up. “Students Rally Behind Nathan Rhodes After Dean’s Punishment” “Pauper King Turns Humiliation Into Unity”Even Martha Thunberg a short comment, commending him. “At least he’s

The Lee family penthouse felt colder than usual that morning. It was not a very usual morning, and the cold itself was not the most unusual thing about it. Normally by this time of the day, it would not have been hard to see a number of servants scurrying on and about doing chores. But today it was different. There was no one but the family, no one but the family of Lee, in their huge house that now seemed to be some sort of reminder that not all houses are homes.The grand living room, which was once a symbol of untouchable wealth, now carried the weight of quiet desperation about the place. Mr. Lee sat at the head of the long marble table, with his face all drawn and tired. Mrs. Lee sat to his right, her fingers still with a shimmering manicure, were tightly interlaced. Michael and Melody sat opposite each other, and the space between the both of them was thick with a kind of unspoken frustration. It was as obvious as the morning sun rising just outside of their house, but yet qu

Nathan’s grip tightened on the phone.“Melody Lee?” he said, seeking to be sure.“Yes,"” Rhea's voice said. Nathan could hear the distrust in her voice, as he exchanged a quick look with Brune.“I’ll be right there," he said. He hung up and turned to Brune. “Melody, the daughter to Victor Lee, is at my house. She wants to talk.”Brune raised an eyebrow. “An interesting turn of events, and timing," he said.Nathan nodded. “Too interesting. But I’ll handle it. I want you to just keep an eye on the Bronze coverage. Let me know if anything new breaks.”Brune gave a single nod. “Be careful," he said as Nathan grabbed his coat and headed for the elevator.The drive home felt longer than usual as his mind raced through the possibilities of what to come. Why would Melody show up at his house unannounced? After everything she and her family had done, and had planned to do with him? What could she possibly want?When he arrived, Rhea was waiting just inside the front door, with her arms cr