Beyond Riches: The Inexplainable Trillionaire

Chapter 10: The Arrival

The grand hall of Silvercrest University blazed with light. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen fireworks, marble floors polished to mirrors, music drifting through the air. The annual Donor Banquet had begun, it was a status symbol, a playground for billionaires to show off, and a way to say, "I matter to the Silvercrest family."

The parking lot had become a car show. Trevor's custom Rolls-Royce Ghost which was a ten million dollars car pulled in. He stepped out, adjusting his cufflinks, and five more cars rolled in beside him in unison. It was the Golden Five, as planned.

The crowd erupted. "Adam's new Ferrari, twelve million! His suit's Valentino, three million!" "Jessica's Bentley Continental, fifteen million, and a five-million-dollar dress!" "Jason's Brabus, twenty million, and a two-million-dollar watch!" "Cady's Porsche 911 Cabriolet—her jewelry could feed a small country!" And finally, Brad's Lamborghini Miura SVJ, thirty million, matched with an eight-million-dollar Tom Ford custom and Celia stepped out on his arm.

The Golden Five gathered, basking. "Another year, best dressed and richest," Adam spread his arms. "Some things never change," Jessica adjusted her diamond bracelet. "Peasants gawking like they've never seen a Porsche," Cady laughed. Brad pulled Celia closer. "Get used to it, babe. This is your life now." She smiled.

Then another car arrived, it was a Bentley Flying Spur, fifteen million. Amelia stepped out. Her dress was simple, a flowing midnight-blue gown, no flashy diamonds, minimal makeup. Yet every head turned away from the Golden Five. Whispers: "Most beautiful woman on campus. Jessica and Cady don't come close."

Amelia walked to Trevor, ignoring the stares. "Hey."

"Barely," Trevor muttered. "My dad's still furious. I'm only here because we prepped weeks ago." Amelia nodded. "Same. My father froze everything except what I had already arranged." They stood together, caught in a storm they hadn't created.

The Golden Five approached. "Well, well, the traitors," Adam called. "Surprised your daddies let you out," Jessica added. Trevor and Amelia stayed silent.

"Where's your little charity case?" Brad looked around dramatically. "The broom boy should be begging for scraps." Jason snapped his fingers. "He must be back in jail. Police don't take kindly to fraud at Spirit Bank."

Amelia's head lifted. "What happened at Spirit Bank?"

Celia stepped forward, eyes glittering. "We saw Ethan today, scheming his way through the bank. Funny thing, turns out your friend is secretly a billionaire. A centibillionaire, actually." Brad mocked and Jason laughed as well.

Trevor and Amelia exchanged shocked looks. "Ethan a billionaire? That's not possible," Trevor said.

"That's what I thought," Jessica joined in. "But if true, he's richer than both of you combined, and he's been lying this whole time. Some friend."

Amelia didn't stay down. "If Ethan really is a centibillionaire," her voice cut through, "he's richer than sixty percent of your group." She looked at Cady, Jessica, Adam. "And equal to your family's net worth, Brad. The same you've been bragging about."

Gasps and whispers filled the lot. The Golden Five's smirk faltered. Adam recovered first. "Even if that were true, which it's not, he would be a hundred billion times richer than your families. Both of which are going bankrupt in seven days. Or have you forgotten?" He said as their smirks returned.

"Are your families already feeling the heat?" Jessica taunted. Brad nodded. "My father says Cole lawyers are drafting papers. Flinch media is preparing a smear campaign." Jason added, "Better start looking for apartments in the bad part of town. Rent's cheap."

Celia held up her hands. "Let's end this joke about Ethan being a billionaire. I know him better than anyone. He barely has a thousand dollars." A student asked, "Then how did Golden Samson escort him through the bank?" "Persuasion," Celia said simply. "That's how he got me. He's probably running a con at Spirit Bank. Soon they'll figure it out, and he'll be in prison where he belongs."

"Exactly," Adam agreed. "The sun would have to turn cold as ice before Ethan makes a billion." "Hell would freeze over," Jessica added. "The oceans would dry up," Cady joined. "Face it," Brad finished. "Your friend is a loser, always has been, always will be."

Adam stepped closer, almost friendly. "By the way, Jessica and I are still waiting. Ethan promised to bankrupt our families before midnight. That was almost twenty-four hours ago." He checked his watch. "Tick tock."

Jessica sighed dramatically. "While we wait for Ethan to fail, you two should get used to the streets."

Trevor looked at the ground and Amelia's face was unreadable. Nothing had changed, their accounts were frozen, their parents furious and the Golden Five still held all power.

Just then, an engine's rumble cut the air. Every head turned toward the driveway as a Pagani Huayra approached with it magnificent sliver blue stripes. Its engine sang a song most had only heard in videos.

"Holy shit... a Pagani Huayra. Fifty million, mass market edition." "I heard there's a limited edition version, only one in existence, over a hundred million." "Nobody in this city could own that." "That kind of car gets locked in a trillionaire's vault."

The door opened as Ray Steflon emerged. The crowd erupted in cheers and bows. "The son of Donald Steflon! The second most powerful man in the world's son!" Ray soaked it in, adjusting his fifteen-million-dollar Brioni custom suit, smiling like the world existed to serve him.

He walked directly toward Amelia. "Amelia, you look incredible. Ready for our date tonight? I've got so much planned." This was the deal she had made to supposedly get Ethan out of jail. Unknown to her, Ray had nothing to do with it, but he'd taken full credit.

"Ray," she said flatly.

The Golden Five descended like worshipers. "Mr. Steflon! An honor!" Adam bowed. "Ray, you look amazing!" Jessica curtsied. Even Celia bent at the waist. Ray acknowledged them like a king accepting tribute.

Adam noticed Trevor and Amelia standing straight. "Ray, Trevor didn't bow to you." Ray's smile faded. "Why didn't you acknowledge me? Do you want to be punished?"

Amelia stepped between them. "Are you a god that requires worship, Ray?" Everyome gasped at Amelia's audacity. Before Ray could respond, Jessica and Cady flanked him, touching his arms. "Don't mind her, Ray. Amelia supports lowlifes instead of elites." Cady added, "She thinks peasants matter as much as we do, disgusting."

Ray nodded slowly. "Elite students should rule over lowlifes. Don't worry, when she becomes my woman, I will make sure she stops." The crowd cheered. Amelia's stomach turned.

Brad stepped forward like a sly fox. "Ray, remember that lowlife you slapped three times at Spirit Bank this morning?" Ray's face brightened. "Of course. The stench who bumped into me, I made sure Austin Ross and Golden Samson dealt with him severely. They're supposed to send video evidence. I'll post it so the world sees what happens when you cross an elite."

Brad's grin widened. "That lowlife is the same person Amelia called you to help release from jail."

Ray's smile vanished. He turned to Amelia, eyes cold. "You made me help a lowlife. Why would you undo something done to a lowlife by fellow elites? Lowlifes repulse me. I despise them, and you made me do this."

Amelia didn't flinch. "I asked for your help, and you gave it. That was the deal."

"The deal has changed." Ray stepped closer, close enough she could smell his cologne. "For this insult, you owe me more than a date. Tonight, after the banquet, you're going to offer me your body. That's the new price."

The parking lot went silent as Amelia's hand moved before her brain told it to. She slapped Ray across the face. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again," she said, voice shaking with rage.

Everyone gasped once more and the lot was stunned silence. Whispers erupted like wildfire.

Ray touched his cheek, shock shifting to fury. "You just hit me."

"Stay away from me." Amelia said.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" His voice was quiet, more terrifying than a scream. "Your family is already in trouble. The Golden Five's parents are preparing to destroy your father. The only person who could have saved you was me. And now? You're dead meat."