From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

No one moved at first.

The black card lay on the glass counter like a foreign object, quiet and unapologetic. The laughter that had filled the space moments earlier did not return. It hovered in the air, unfinished, waiting for permission that never came.

The salesgirl who had mocked Adrian was the first to react. She was stunned so much that her heart trembled the black card could be used globally and it's only issued to multi-millionaires but unknown to her in the case of Adrian he wasn't a multi-millionaire but a billionaire with nine figures in his account and more to come.

Her smile twitched, then collapsed entirely as it dawned on her that Adrian could be a tycoon disguising himself.

Jason didn't buy this either, he caressed Mira on the thigh. “Haha, do you think I will cower at your feet because of this fake card? Go on, debit it lets see if it doesn't go through I’d save his face by buying it.”

The junior sales girl reached for the card with fingers that were suddenly unsteady and hurried toward the register. “One moment,” she said too quickly. “I will get the machine.”

Jason leaned back slightly, arms folding across his chest. His expression shifted from amusement to anticipation. “Let us see how this goes,” he said lightly.

Mira stared at the card, her lips parted. Her eyes flicked from the card to Adrian, then back again.

“You are joking,” she said. “This is some kind of joke.”

Adrian said nothing.

The salesgirl returned with the debit machine cradled in her hands as if it were fragile. She placed it on the counter and slid it toward Adrian. Adrian smiled as the room was quite with anticipation, mostly waiting for his failure so they they'd be an outburst of laughter. Especially Mira and Jason.

“Please,” she said.

Jason stepped closer. Mira followed, her nails digging into Jason’s arm.

“Go on,” Jason said. “Let us watch.”

Adrian picked up the card calmly and inserted it into the machine.

The screen lit up.

He typed in four digits without hesitation. Which was his birth year.

The machine processed.

A soft beep sounded.

Beep!

A green light appeared displaying Approved to their awe.

For a second, no one breathed.

Then the machine buzzed, the receipt printed out and the sound was loud in the silence.

Mira let out a sharp laugh that cracked halfway through. “That is impossible.”

Jason’s smile vanished. “Run it again.”

The salesgirl stared at the receipt, then at the screen. Her face drained of color.

“It went through,” she whispered.

Mira’s composure shattered.

“You think you can humiliate us like this,” she snapped, her voice rising. “You stole that card Adrian, are you so jealous of my relationship with Jason that you have to go that far. There is no way that thing belongs to you.”

Jason nodded quickly. “Exactly. He probably picked it up somewhere. Or stole it.”

Adrian withdrew the card and slipped it back into his pocket. And turned towards the door.

“Stop him!” Mira shouted. “Will you let someone like him buy such an expensive jewellery and pay for in hefty amount. If words gets out that your store entertained a stolen card what will happen to your reputation.”

The younger salesgirl who had helped him earlier stepped forward cautiously. “Sir,” she said gently, "you can't leave just yet. If that is alright.”

Adrian nodded. “That is fine.”

Jason laughed sharply.

He turned toward the door, then paused and pointed at Adrian.

“Actually,” Jason said, his voice louder now, “I think you should stop him.”

The salesgirl holding the receipt froze, her career was on the line. Now she wished she had listened to Especia, besides she's new, what if the manager implicates her and she's fired.

“No, he cannot leave just like that,” Jason continued. “That card is stolen. Call security.”

Mira folded her arms. “You really think someone like him can own a black card.”

Panic flickered across the salesgirl’s face. “Sir, I'm really sorry but you will need to drop the jewellery also.”

“Do you think I stole the card too?” Adrian asked irritation flaring his face.

“I’m sorry sir,” she said, voice shaking. “If this is anything similar to fraud, I could lose my job.”

The other salesgirl who had been assisting Jason stepped in quickly. “I told you,” she said sharply to her colleague. “You should have known better. He does not belong here.”

Jason smirked. “Call the police.”

Mira nodded eagerly. “Yes. Send him to jail.”

The word echoed.

Jail.

Adrian felt irritation sharpen, but his expression did not change.

“This is unnecessary,” he said evenly. “Verify the transaction.”

Jason scoffed. “With who. Your imaginary bank.”

The store manager emerged from the back, drawn by the raised voices.

“What is going on here,” he asked.

Jason turned immediately. “This man stole a black card and tried to use it here.”

“That is a lie,” the younger salesgirl said quietly. “We just need to verify. I think it's a misunderstanding.”

The manager looked between them. His gaze landed on Adrian. “Sir,” he said carefully, “is this your card.”

“Yes,” Adrian replied.

Jason laughed. “Do you hear him? He’s an arrogant fool.”

The manager turned to the register and picked up the receipt. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“This transaction is valid,” he said.

Jason’s face darkened. “That does not prove ownership. I can use anyone card so far I have the password. How could a scholarship student make that kind of transactions?”

Mira added, “Anyone can swipe a stolen card.”

The manager hesitated, tension tightening his shoulders.

“For protocol,” he said slowly, “we will need to verify his identity.”

Jason smiled. “Good.” waving his and towards the manager. “And have your security close by so he doesn't get away.”

Adrian met the manager’s gaze. “Do what you need to do.”

The manager nodded while he placed his phone to his ear.

Jason scoffed, leaning against a display case of $100,000 watches. "Don't forget to tell them he’s a thief, Manager. My father, Robert Whitmore of the Whitmore Conglomerate, is a board member at the Central bank. If you let this rat go, I’ll have my father strip your position by dinner."

The manager nodded and turned away, Jason leaned closer to Adrian, lowering his voice. “You should have stayed invisible. Now if you get arrested for stealing, the college will revoke their scholarship and throw you back to the street.”

Mira watched, her expression twisted with disbelief and rage.

Adrian said nothing. The glass doors remained closed with Jason gesturing to the security to stay alert.

The Manager dropped the phone. It dangled by the cord, the voice on the other end shouting commands that sounded like thunder.

"What did they say?" Jason demanded, his smirk wavering. "Did they confirm he's a fraud?"