Beyond Riches: The Inexplainable Trillionaire

Chapter 5: The Garden

Trevor and Amelia walked beside Ethan into Mayfair Gardens' grand lobby. Having his friends nearby felt like stepping into shade after standing in the sun too long. But for the others, the tension only grew. Through the glass doors, Ethan could still see Celia's silhouette, the woman he'd loved, who'd just ordered security to throw him out. Deep down, he still loved her. He hated that, but eight months of his life didn't fade overnight.

He wished she hadn't betrayed him. If she had stayed, she would be riding this sunset with him, three hundred billion dollars and a connection to the most powerful family on earth. She could've had it all. Instead, she chose Brad Charlesly, trading a diamond for a shiny rock. When the truth came out, she would regret everything.

Trevor turned to the security guards, who stood frozen, processing that the shabby man they had tried to eject, was friends with the owner's son. "You three, what are your names?"

"Marcus, sir. And this is Domingo and Chen."

"You see this man?" Trevor gestured at Ethan. "He's my personal friend and guest. You will never harass him again. Understood?"

"Yes, Young Master Trevor." They bowed.

"Now get out of my sight." They scattered like frightened birds.

From across the lobby, Jessica hissed loudly, "How touching. Trevor playing the big man at his daddy's hotel."

Adam stepped forward, smirk back in place. "Feeling brave because we are in your family's little establishment? Don't forget who you're talking to."

"I know exactly who I'm talking to. Back down, this has gone far enough."

"Far enough? This whole night has been the most fun we've had all semester." Adam responded.

Amelia had been checking Ethan over. She tilted his chin, examining the bruise. "Did the police do this to you?"

"It's nothing." Ethan said.

Amelia said with concern, "It's not nothing, you are hurt."

"The chief's officers threw me to the ground, but I handled it. Seriously, I am fine."

"If you say so." Her voice was gentle. "We were on our way to the station after Ray assured us he would secure your release. On the way, we ran into two officers who claimed they had been fired because of you. They told us you were here."

The name Ray again, now from Amelia. Ethan lowered his voice. "What does Ray have to do with my release?"

Before Amelia could answer, Jessica cut in. "Oh my god, are you really this slow? Amelia called her friend Ray, he pulled strings, you got out. It not that complicated."

Adam crossed his arms. "Honestly, Amelia, wasting a favor from Ray Steflon on this lowlife, what were you thinking?"

Something clicked in Ethan's mind. "Amelia made a deal with Ray to get me out?"

"Finally, he gets it," Cady said, rolling her eyes. She turned to Amelia with a nasty smile. "So what did it cost you? A date? Something more intimate? We all know your history with him."

Amelia's fingers tightened around her purse strap. "Stay out of my business."

"It became our business when you stuck your nose into ours. What did Ray want?" Cady responded.

Ethan turned to Amelia. "What deal?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Her voice was laced with regret.

"Amelia," he pressed softly.

Jessica stepped closer, enjoying herself. "Ray Steflon's been trying to date our dear Amelia for years. She kept saying no and she called him pompous and immature. Can you believe that? If Ray Steflon showed interest in me, I would have said yes before he finished asking."

"Same," Cady added. "His father is literally the second most powerful man in the world. What kind of idiot turns that down?"

"Then go be with him," Amelia said flatly. "I'm still not interested."

Brad spoke up, smug. "You don't have a choice anymore. Ray doesn't do favors for free, especially not for lowlifes. He hates lowlifes as much as we do. So if you called him to save this one, you must've offered something big."

Jason nodded. "What did he want? Weekend getaway? Promise of an engagement?"

"I said stay out of it," Amelia snapped. "I'll deal with Ray myself."

Trevor stepped between them. "Enough. Brad, take your group, enjoy your reservations, and leave us alone."

Adam's eyes narrowed. "Careful, Stevens. Just because you own this building doesn't make you our equal. My family's the poorest of the Golden Five, and we're still worth nine billion more than yours. Watch your mouth, or your family might pay the price."

Trevor went still. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise," Jason answered. "You and Amelia decided to get involved in our business. Now we're making enemies of both of you."

Adam stepped closer, close enough for Trevor to smell his cologne. "Combined, our five families could bankrupt yours in seven days. Our parents already hate your parents and with one little push, one complaint escalated, and poof, no more Mayfair Gardens, no more Stevens empire, just memories and debt."

Trevor couldn't respond. They were right, the feud between their parents was old news, and adding fuel wouldn't take much.

Amelia grabbed Trevor's arm. "Come on. They're not worth it."

"Yeah, run along," Cady called. "Check your family's accounts while you still have them."

Adam cupped his hands. "Tell your dad to watch out for bankruptcy, Stevens."

The Golden Five burst into laughter. Celia laughed with them, clutching Brad's arm like a life raft.

Ethan stopped walking and Amelia tugged his sleeve. "Ethan, come on. Ignore them."

But something had shifted inside him, the weight of the cards in his pocket, the memory of Donald Steflon bowing. If it was true, if he really was the Silvercrest heir, he didn't have to be afraid anymore. He could put these spoiled brats in their place. Bankrupt their families with a single call, and nothing would happen to him.

"Wait," Ethan said.

Amelia and Trevor turned. "What is it?"

Ethan walked back toward the Golden Five. Adam saw him coming and his smirk widened. "Oh, look. The mop boy wants another round."

Ethan stopped directly in front of Adam, close enough to see the surprise flicker in his eyes. "Never," he said quietly, "threaten my friends again."

Silence crashed over the group. Then Jason burst out laughing. "Did he actually just..." He couldn't finish, catching his breath.

"Wow," Jessica said. "The pauper found some courage, how adorable."

Brad shook his head. "You really have a death wish, don't you?"

Trevor rushed forward, grabbing Ethan's shoulder. "Ethan, don't. You are making things worse."

"Listen to your friend," Adam said, recovering. "Walk away. If you don't, I swear, Trevor and Amelia will suffer for your stupidity. Their families will pay the price."

Ethan laughed out loud and confident, enough to make Adam's smirk falter. "You can't do anything to them. And whatever you think you can do, I can do to you a thousand times worse."

Celia stepped forward, confusion and anger twisting her face. "What is wrong with you? Where is this coming from? You're a janitor, a nobody. You clean toilets for pocket change. What could you possibly do to anyone?"

Ethan turned to really look at her, the woman who had whispered she loved him, then lied and sent him to jail. "Stay in your lane," he said coldly. "You're Brad's newest toy. Act like it and stay quiet."

Celia's face went white, then red. Her hand flew up to slap him, but Amelia caught her wrist mid-air and shoved her back. Then Amelia's own hand cracked across Celia's cheek.

The sound echoed through the lobby. Celia stumbled backward, clutching her face, eyes filling with tears. She looked desperately at Brad.

Brad stepped forward, fists clenched. "You just hit my girlfriend."

"And?" Amelia met his stare without flinching.

The Golden Five were furious. "Big mistake," Adam spat. "Both of you, Amelia, Trevor, your families are finished."

"Agreed," Jessica said. "One call and the Flinch media empire destroys your reputations overnight."

"Seven days," Cady echoed, pulling out her phone. "I'll start the countdown. Thirty million people watching your families fall."

Trevor's face went pale. Amelia stood her ground, but Ethan could see the fear behind her eyes. They were trying to be brave, but they knew what the Golden Five could do.

Ethan stepped forward, putting himself between his friends and their enemies. "Seven days is too long."

Adam tilted his head. "What?"

"Seven days. I don't have that kind of patience." Ethan's voice was steady, calm, almost bored. "So I'll use you and Jessica as examples to the rest."

Jessica blinked. "Examples? Of what?"

"You're the two loudest and the most annoying, Adam with his threats, Jessica with her commentary." Ethan shook his head. "So I'm going to bankrupt both your families before midnight tomorrow."