100 Billion Dollars In My Rented Apartment

Chapter 3 - The Flash drive

"Sir, I do not understand," Oscar stuttered, shifting his gaze to meet his wife who sat at a distance. As soon as their eyes met, she sprang to her feet in a rage and walked towards him.

"Pam, what is...

Before Oscar could speak, she silenced him with a thunderous slap across the face, one so powerful that it took everyone by surprise, family and guests alike.

Astonished, Oscar muttered "You slapped me,"

His voice was barely above a whisper, and his hand was fixed on his reddened cheek.

Pam did not flinch. She had warned him never to set foot in her parents' home again, or this might happen. She said she never wanted to see his face again, or she might disfigure it. Yet he showed up.

"I will do it again and again until you leave this place!" She yelled, "You brought your lowly self here, not to wish my parents a happy anniversary, nothing else but to beg... You have come here to embarrass me. Oscar, I already told you that I am done being with a man like you. Please leave!"

"Pam...

"You heard her!" Phil chimed in, "Leave this place, you are not welcome here, so get lost, loser!"

Oscar was silent; the slap was nothing compared to how this family had treated him in the past, but he was too quick to conclude that they might have a change of heart.

"Was your father right?" He managed to ask, forgetting everything else to focus on what mattered the most. "About the child, is it true, Pam?"

Pam looked away, not because she was ashamed, but because she didn't want to say anything and didn't want to be forced either.

"I said you should leave this place and stop asking questions." She backed away, "You have embarrassed me enough. Go back to your rented apartment and forget about me. Stop bothering me, Oscar, and we will send the divorce papers over to you."

"I've had enough," Mr. Adkin said. He was finally upset, and naturally, he just had to yell and show just how powerful he could be. "Where is Abel? Why did he let you past the gates? He should come and kick you out of here now so that you do not ruin my evening."

Oscar wouldn't let him do that, not this time. He stole one last glance at his father-in-law and wife before leaving on his own, his hand clenched into a tight fist. He came in, afraid, solemn and depressed; now he was leaving, upset, blood boiling, and his hands itching for revenge. Something about his unborn child ignited some kind of flame inside him, and now he's learning that he wasn't the father... it was impossible to digest.

Once he was outside the building, he paused and looked back, envisioning the mighty mansion in the flames that he was going to start. Right there, he swore to never set foot into that building again, to cut all ties with the family and to divorce Pam in his heart before she sends those papers.

He made up his mind to pay them back for all the pain they had caused him. Oscar knew right then and there that if he amassed wealth and power that surpassed theirs, he would crush them under his feet and avenge every single ill treatment. And as for the unborn child, he still had hope that it belonged to him, and he was going to find out one way or another. But for now, he was determined to work, to rise, so much that they would regret ever knowing who he was, but as he turned to leave, a black SUV halted right in front of him, almost crushing him in the process.

"What the..." he held back, startled.

Oscar wanted to step back, because it was quite suspicious for such an expensive car to stop right in front of him. And who knew? It might just be Mr Adkin who had sent men after him; it has happened before.

Just then, a young lady dashed out of the car, barefoot and panting as though she had just survived an attack. She wore a purple dress, had some makeup, and a few accessories, all indicating that she was from an influential background and was most likely returning from or heading to an event. But it didn't explain why she was panting and looking as though she was in trouble.

"Please wait," she pleaded when it seemed like Oscar wanted to leave, what would someone like her want with him anyway?

"I don't want to hurt you please," she continued, her voice breaking as she scanned the arena like she was expecting someone. "I need your help, and I don't have time to explain anything to you now. I will pay you heavily for this; you have to save my life, I beg you."

Still perplexed, Oscar asked, "What... what happened?" His voice was now dripping with concern, "Is someone after you?"

"Not one person," She replied, "But a lot of people. Listen, take this flash drive, it contains all you need to know about running the Evermore Comglomerate and even more. This thing in your hand is worth billions of dollars, so do not lose it, and keep a low profile if you want to stay alive."

With that, she tossed the flash drive to Oscar and ran back into the car, while holding the hem of her dress in one hand like a runway bride. Inside the car, she rolled down the window and took one last look at Oscar.

"Don't try to contact me," she said, "I'll be back for it in a week or two to pick it up."

"But how would you..."

Before Oscar could ask any more questions, she started the engine and sped off. And not too long after she was out of sight, numerous cars came driving through in the same direction, not one, not two, but twelve luxurious cars following behind each other. It looked like they were all on the chase, and whoever this mysterious lady was, she was their target.

As the street grew quieter, Oscar sighed and held up the flash drive; for some reason, it made him nervous. He believed that it might be what those in the other cars were after, and not the woman herself, and it must be so valuable, yet she gave it to a total stranger without even a means to communicate.

Oscar was lost for words, he wondered how she planned to reach him to get it back. But above all, her initial statements caught his attention,

"It contains everything I need to know about the Evermore Conglomerate," he muttered, gently putting the flash drive in his pocket.

"Does she want me to use it? Or to just keep it until she comes for it. But she wouldn't tell me about the flash drive if she didn't want me to use it... Ugh... this is so difficult to deal with." For a moment there, Oscar's mind drifted off from his pain and loss as he walked down the street thinking about nothing other than the flash drive.

.........

Normally, Oscar would've struggled to sleep because his mind was either filled with thoughts about his past losses or curiosity related to the flash drive. But, he had a good night’s sleep. However, instead of waking up feeling refreshed, he was jolted awake by the loud knock on the door, it was none other than his landlord again.

"I'm yet to receive my rent!" The old man ranted, slamming his palm violently on the door like he always did.

Upset, Oscar got out of bed and picked up his phone and quickly scrolled over to his bank app to check his account balance.

"If I have half the rent, I will just pay him off and end this madness." He promised himself, hoping that a miracle would happen, because the last time he checked, his account balance was nothing to write home about.

"One forty," Oscar sighed, gazing at the phone screen in frustration, it wasn't even up to half the rent. "Man, I'll just give it to him."

With that, Oscar walked out of the apartment, while the landlord was still throwing insults at him like water balloons.

"I have a hundred dollars," he said, keeping a straight face and skipping the morning greeting. "Will that make you stop knocking at my door every morning like I stole your money?"

The landlord paused and sized him with his eyes, "One hundred dollars?" He laughed. "You couldn't even afford to give me half the rent, you poor shameless idiot. You are not going to pay my rent... You want to live in my house for free... You brat!"

"But I've always paid you and you know that...

"Not until I start to disturb you!" The landlord interjected, "I no longer want you in my apartment. If I get a better person who wants to rent, I'll kick you out and let them in."

Oscar was taken aback. The neighbours were starting to murmur and mock him amongst themselves, and he could see the amusement in their eyes as though they enjoyed watching the landlord make fun of him.

"Pay me when you have all my money, I will not take a hundred dollars from you, not today and not ever...

"But sir," Oscar protested,

"I've left my warning!" The landlord cut him off, "And there is nothing you will do to change my mind about kicking you out. You just wait until I get a new tenant!"

With that, the landlord scoffed and walked away, his shoulder hanging high with pride and a smile plastered on his face as if mocking Oscar was an accomplishment.

Oscar, on the other hand, slid back into the house and slammed the door behind him. He sighed in frustration, running his hand through his messed-up hair.

"I hate this! I truly hate this, life isn't fair to me...

Oscar's voice trailed off when his gaze fell on the flash drive. It was on the side table drawer, next to his laptop, and staring at it felt like hope and wealth at his fingertips.

"I'm going to do this, I'll use it to enrich myself. " He told himself, "After all, she'll be back for it in a week or two, so why not enjoy it while it's in my hand?"

While speaking to himself, Oscar dashed to the edge of the bed and settled in. He grabbed his laptop, switched it on, and inserted the flash drive in the required port. However, just before he could do anything, his alarm clock rang out, almost startling him.

"Damm it!" He snapped and closed down the laptop.

"I'll check this when I'm back. Can't lose my real life job if this whole flashdrive thing doesn't work out."

He kept it aside to get ready for his depressing job as a janitor in a company he once worked for as a salesman.

Soon enough, he heard another knock on the door, and although it wasn't as violent as the landlord's knowing, Oscar still concluded it was him. "This landlord should leave already!"

He opened the door, ready to yell, only to be greeted by a young man in a white suit and a black tie. He held a bunch of papers in his hand, which he handed over to Oscar with a smile and said.

"My name is Carl Grillfidder, an assistant to Mr Adkin's family lawyer, and I was instructed to give these documents to you early this morning."

"Divorce papers," Oscar muttered, his shoulders falling in disappointment. "They are really going to do this to me aren't they?"

Carl Grillfidder nodded, "Mr Oscar, I suggest that you sign these papers soon. I will return to pick them up in the morning tomorrow...

"How about my child?" Oscar interjected, "You are a lawyer, does the law permit her to take my child away from me like that?"

"Mr Oscar," the lawyer chimed in, eyes cold and hands folded,

"Miss Pam is only eight months pregnant, the child's paternity will be tested after his birth. Until then, there is nothing to be done. And let me just add this, if you try anything... and I mean anything at all to claim that child, you will end up in jail. I'm very sure you know how powerful Mr Adkin is compared to you, so I suggest you lie low and stay in your lane. Have a nice day, Mr Oscar!" With those words, Carl Grillfidder turned around and walked away.

Oscar stood at the doorstep for a while, even after the lawyer was out of sight. He felt tears starting to gather in his eyes, yet he was determined not to let them drop.

"I'm not going to cry over them," he promised himself and bit back the tears. He held up the divorce papers and took a deep breath. Quickly, he went back inside and placed them in the side table drawer.

He didn't intend to sign them, not until he had gone through every line in the document and understood the requirements. He knew very well that the Adkins wanted nothing more than to cut ties with him, but not even they could come between him and his child... he was the father, that is.