From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

“Mr. Sterling,” Adrian said, his voice dropping to a dangerous chill. “I want to know exactly how much it costs to own the ground Lukas Leonardo walks on. I want to know the price of every brick in that University.”

Mr. Sterling bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the desk. “Consider it done, Mr. Vale. I will personally pull the debt records, the land deeds, and the board members' private interests. I will have the full report for you shortly.”

“Good,” Adrian said, tucking the black card into his pocket.

As he walked out of the bank, the heavy glass doors held open by the manager himself, a call came in.

For a moment, the city felt unfamiliar to Adrian. Not because anything had changed, but because he had. The black card rested in his pocket, heavier than its weight suggested. It was not the card itself that altered the air around him. It was what it represented. Access. Finality. A quiet end to certain conversations.

His phone vibrated bringing him from his head into reality, he checked the screen.

Lina.

He paused before answering.

Lina had been there when no one else was. She never laughed and mocked him when the other student did or looked away when he spoke. Rather when people whispered about him, she shut them down without drama, without expecting gratitude. She did not see him as poor or useful or temporary.

She saw him as her true friend.

Adrian answered.

“You answered! At last,” Lina’s voice spilled out, bright and breathless. “I’ve called you three times, sent five texts, and almost gave up hope. You’re coming, right?” Lina said, excitement bubbling through her voice. “It’s just a small birthday dinner. No drama, no crowds, and nothing crazy.”

“I will be there,” Adrian replied, trying to mask the fact that he forgot her birthday.

After the call ended, he stood still in the quiet of the street for a moment. He thought of the times Lina had shared her food when his pockets were empty. The way she pretended it was nothing. The way she had never once asked him for anything in return.

He felt bad and thought about the best birthday gift to make up for that.

A gift mattered.

Adrian turned toward the shopping district.

The jewelry store sat on a wide corner, all glass and light, designed to intimidate before the door even opened. The kind of place where security watched reflections more than faces. Adrian stepped inside without hesitation.

The air was cool, restrained, and perfect. Before he could take two steps forward into the room, a sharp familiar laughter followed him in. He recognized instantly it was the worst people he wouldn’t want to come across. It was Mira, his ex and Jason.

Adrian turned slightly, his face scrunched up into a frown as he knew there was no way things would go well with them in the jewellery shop.

Jason walked in with Mira beside him, her hand looped through his arm. She leaned into him comfortably, her body language claiming space that was not hers. Jason spotted Adrian at the same time and smiled.

Not surprised.

Amused.

He tightened his arm around Mira and kissed her temple.

“Well,” Jason said lightly. “This is unexpected.”

Mira’s eyes flicked over Adrian without feeling embarrassed only to assess him.

The salesgirl at the counter noticed them immediately. Besides the way they were dressed Jason's family reputation preceded him and his numerous appearances on the television screen.

Her posture straightened. Her smile sharpened. She hurried toward Jason, heels clicking eagerly.

“Welcome,I'm Especia and I will be attending to you.” she said brightly. “We just received a new collection. Please come this way. Jewellery designer's bag, the most expensive necklace from house Cartier.”

“Very Good. I want to buy one for my girlfriend.” the sales girl pointed towards the design in a special display glass, Mira's gaze followed, her heart melting into liquid while giving the necklace a lustful gaze.

“Baby, I want that necklace, it fits my complexion perfectly.”

The salesgirl did not acknowledge Adrian at all.

Jason glanced back deliberately, eyes flicking to Adrian as he followed the salesgirl. Mira did not bother hiding her dissatisfaction.

Adrian felt irritation rise slowly, he had arrived first.

That should not have mattered.

But it did. Especia, the senior salesgirl, was already fawning over Jason, gave Adrian a disdainful glare, her face shifted from a worshipful smile to a look of profound physical disgust, as if she had just stepped in something foul.

“Sir,” Especia barked, loud enough to draw the attention of every elite client in the room. “The exit is behind you. We don't have a discount section, and we certainly don't allow students to loiter for the air conditioning.”

Jason smirked, pulling Mira closer. “Oh, let him stay, Especia. It’s good for Mira to see what she escaped. Look at him—still wearing those same scuffed shoes. Adrian, are you here to see if we have any silver-plated scraps you can afford with your errand boy tips?”

Mira giggled, her eyes raking over Adrian with mockery. “Jason, don't be cruel. He’s probably here to buy a plastic ring for that little friend of his, Lina. I heard they share ramen in the library. How romantic and cheap.”

Adrian ignored them, and gestured for any available salesgirl.

A few moments passed before another salesgirl approached him.

She was younger. Quieter. Her smile was hesitant.

“Hello,” she said softly. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

Her eyes did not judge him. They did not skim his clothes or search for worth.

“I am looking for a birthday gift,” Adrian replied.

She nodded quickly. “Of course. Do you have something specific in mind.”

Adrian scanned the displays.

At the same time, Jason’s voice rose from across the room.

“That one,” Jason said, pointing. “The necklace. The one with the emerald cut.”

Adrian’s gaze followed instinctively.

It was the same piece that had caught his eye. Simple. Elegant. Understated.

He lifted his hand. “That one.”

The salesgirl assisting Jason laughed.

Her laugh was loud.

“Oh,” she said, glancing between them. “That piece is 2.8 million dollars. It's the limited edition Cartier sapphire and diamond necklace. It's a 1950s swag design with 34.91 carats of sapphires (Kashmir origin, unheated) and 40.09 carats of diamonds worth 2.8 million dollars.”

She smiled as Jason scanned Adrian then turned to the security guard near the door. “Mark, come here. We have a mental patient trying to touch the Sovereign collection. He’s probably going to try and run with it.”

She turned back to Adrian, her voice dropping to a hiss. “Listen, you pathetic scholarship rat. I spend more on my cat’s insurance than your family makes in a year. You are an eyesore. You are ruining the vibe of this establishment. Your very clothes are probably shedding dust on my marble. Get. Out.”

Jason chuckled.

Mira joined in.

“Adrian,” she said mockingly. “Do you even know how much that costs? 2.8 million dollars is a money you can't dream of owning your entire life.”

He said nothing. If it were in the past He would have felt bad for her mockery but he's no longer the old Adrian. A small smile crept on his face.

The salesgirl assisting Jason tilted her head toward the younger one beside Adrian.

“You need to learn how to choose clients,” she said. “Do you really think you will meet your sales target by entertaining someone like him?”

The younger girl flushed. “I am just doing my job.”

Jason laughed, pulling out a gold card. “Especia, just call the police. I’ll buy the necklace just to keep his peasant hands off it. Wrap it for Mira. It’ll be a nice ‘thank you’ for her dumping this loser.”

Mira laughed again. “Seriously. Where would he even get that kind of money.”

Adrian felt the moment stretch.

Eyes shifted subtly. Other staff slowed their movements.

This was familiar territory.

But this time, he did not step back.

He reached into his pocket calmly and placed the black card on the counter.

The sound it made was soft. But it carried power, straight from the bank. A limited card buying a limited jewellery.

“Will this cover it,” Adrian asked evenly. “Wrap it. I am in a hurry.”

The laughter died instantly.

The salesgirl who had mocked him froze mid smile.

Jason’s expression stiffened.

Mira’s eyes dropped to the card.

Then widened.

The younger salesgirl stared at it, then at Adrian, her mouth slightly open. She was excited, she would make her first sale but on the limited edition Cartier jewellery, she'd never imagined it. Her sales commission is going to be massive, the excitement radiating from her body as she quickly tends to Adrian.

“Sir,” he said carefully. “We will take care of that for you. But the gift wrapping will take roughly an hour because it's a high value piece”

Adrian checked his time, he was supposed to be at Lina's birthday party any moment from now.

Adrian did not look at Jason or Mira.

He watched as the necklace was placed into a velvet box.

“Forget it, just don't do any gift wrapping,” he added. “ include a note.”

“Yes, sir,” the salesgirl said quickly.

Jason cleared his throat. “This is a misunderstanding. And besides, the sales girl tended to us first. What will a toy for a card possibly purchase? You can keep on pretending to be wealthy for all you want people like you can only aspire.”

“Sweetheart, I wanted that necklace first.” Mira complained.

“Let's watch Mira.” Jason smirked, “just give it to him.”

Adrian turned to him then.

His gaze was calm.

“Is that so?” Adrian asked.

Jason said nothing and Mira looked away.

Adrian picked up the wrapped box when it was handed to him.

“Charge everything,” he said. “Including whatever they were planning to buy. Consider it a tip for taking Mira off my hands. Clearly, you need the financial help more than I do since you're struggling with the price of a single necklace, Jason Whitmore."