From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

“Especia,” the manager said, his voice dropping into an unyielding, dangerous chill. “Bring the second card validator out here. Now.”

Especia's head snapped up. A nasty smirk twitched on her lips. “Sir, why waste the energy? The terminal already processed it, and it is completely certain this is a stolen card. Look at him.”

“I am fully aware of your opinion,” the manager countered, his eyes locked onto the glowing terminal string. “I want internal network verification.”

A tense murmur rippled through the showroom. The elite clients moved closer, sensing the sudden shift in the air.

“He stole it,” Jason repeated, pointing an aggressive finger straight at Adrian’s face. “There is zero chance that asset belongs to him. Look at his clothes, Mira.”

Mira folded her arms tightly over her chest. A look of profound physical nausea twisted her face as she scanned his jacket. “This is genuinely embarrassing, Adrian. Did you honestly think a stolen card would make me come crawling back to you? All you are doing is making yourself look like a low-life, a criminal, and a desperate fool. Let us just end this joke.”

The manager ignored her completely. His gaze snapped back to the senior salesgirl. “Bring me the validator, Especia.”

“Yes, manager.”

Especia didn't wait for a third command. She was impatient to see the handcuffs click on the scholarship rat's wrists. As she hurried toward the secure back room, she shot a venomous glance at the younger salesgirl that clearly said: Prepare your resignation.

Jason leaned closer, lowering his voice until his hot breath hit Adrian's ear. “Now you're just embarrassing yourself in a fancy establishment, trash.” He pulled back, raising his voice so the entire room could hear him. “Last chance, rat. Kneel. Beg. Give me the card right now, and maybe I’ll tell the campus police you found it in a dumpster. Otherwise, you’re looking at ten years in prison, a revoked scholarship, and a lifetime of absolute misery.”

Adrian met the arrogant gaze with a terrifying, absolute calmness. “You should have minded your own business, Jason. Now, you’ve made it mine.”

Mira’s breath hitched. She had never heard Adrian speak with that kind of cold, heavy authority.

The younger salesgirl shifted nervously beside him, her knuckles white. “Sir,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I am so sorry for the delay.”

Adrian glanced at her briefly, his expression softening for a fraction of a second. “It is not your fault.”

Her eyes widened in slight shock, completely unaccustomed to receiving kindness from clients in this district.

Especia returned to the floor, carrying a sleek device encased in heavy black metal. The manager snatched it from her hands and turned toward Adrian. “Sir,” he said, his voice laced with strict, defensive professionalism. “May I have the card one more time?”

Adrian reached into his denim jacket and handed over the black plastic without a single trace of hesitation.

Jason laughed sharply, snapping his fingers at the security guard. “This is a total waste of time, Manager. Why aren't we calling the police and reporting this fraud to the university dean?”

The manager ignored the outburst. He slotted the black card into the validator, his fingers flying across a series of high-priority commands. The digital device hummed softly. Seconds stretched across the silent room like a tight wire. Everyone watched the screen. Mira’s manicured nails dug into her palms. Jason crossed his arms tighter, his jaw clenched into a rigid line.

The device beeped a crisp, final note.

The manager’s eyes scanned the live data feed. “What is your full legal name, sir?”

“Adrian Vale,” Adrian said evenly.

The manager’s entire posture broke. His shoulders dropped, his chest collapsing as if the oxygen suddenly left his lungs. He looked up at Adrian with an entirely new, terrifying clarity.

“The card is valid,” the manager whispered, his voice trembling. “Ownership confirmed.” He pulled the black card from the slot and handed it back, using both hands and bowing his head deeply.

Jason’s arrogant laugh came out harsh and frantic. “That proves absolutely nothing! The database is glitching!”

The manager shook his head, a cold sheet of sweat breaking out across his forehead. “It proves everything, Mr. Whitmore. This account is registered to Adrian Vale. Biometric confirmation is fully attached to the terminal. There is zero record of fraud, theft, or delinquency.”

Mira’s face drained of color until she looked like a ghost. “That is not possible. He lives in a state dorm.”

Especia blinked in sheer dismay, her hands slapping against the counter. “Sir, are you completely sure you didn't make an error? This... this person cannot own a black card!”

The manager looked at Jason, then at Especia. The realization of the career-ending catastrophe he almost allowed to happen hit him like a physical blow. The phone still dangled from the executive cord by his desk, the regional director's voice shouting final, terrifying confirmations of Adrian's multi-billion-dollar status directly into the open air.

“Especia,” the manager said, his voice dropping into a low, murderous growl.

“Yes, sir?” She smiled, still blind to the reality around her. “We’re calling the cops on him now, right?”

“Get out of my sight!” the manager roared, his composure shattering completely. “You have never made a single luxury sale in this store, yet you think you possess the right to pursue and insult my most esteemed clients! You’re fired. And you are permanently blacklisted from the luxury retail registry. You will never sell so much as a toothpick in this city again.”

Especia gasped, her knees giving out as the reality slammed into her chest. She fell straight to the floor, crawling toward the manager in absolute desperation. “Sir? Please! Jason said he was a fraud—”

SMACK!

The manager’s open palm connected with Especia’s cheek with the force of a thunderclap. The violent impact snapped her head back, sending her crashing against the cold marble floor. Tears exploded from her eyes as she clutched her burning face, her manicured fingers trembling in deep, sudden horror.

“You blind, arrogant, useless creature!” the manager screamed, his face turning a furious crimson. “You just insulted a sovereign client who could buy this entire shopping avenue and turn it into a private parking lot out of sheer boredom!”

The room went dead silent.

Jason and Mira stood paralyzed, completely unable to piece the puzzle together. Jason shook his head, his ego fiercely rejecting the reality right in front of his eyes.

“You are wrong, Manager,” Jason spat, his voice cracking. “My family owns—”

The manager met his gaze with absolute disgust. “I am not wrong, Mr. Whitmore.” He turned away from the heir, walking straight toward Adrian, and bowed a full ninety degrees. His forehead nearly touched the glass counter.

"Mr. Vale! Please, I beg you to forgive our utter blindness!" the manager cried out, his voice cracking with panic. He snapped his head toward the security guards. "Don't just stand there like statues! Throw these two out of the building immediately! They are banned from every flagship luxury branch in the entire country!"

Mira’s jaw dropped. "What? Banned? Do you even know who Jason is?"

"I don't care if he's the Prince of England!" the manager shouted back. "He just publicly insulted the man who owns the very ground this foundation is built on!"

Jason stepped forward, his fists clenching. “You... you cannot speak to me like that! My father is Robert Whitmore! I am second-generation wealth!”

The manager spun on him, his eyes burning with absolute contempt. “Second-generation? You’re not even first-generation, you spoiled brat! You’re a leech! A parasite living entirely on your father’s crumbs! Mr. Vale just processed a two-point-eight-million-dollar transaction like he was buying a cheap piece of candy. You haven't spent a single cent today, yet you dare humiliate a sovereign client? Get out!”

The manager gestured wildly to the guards. “Mark! Drag this trash into the street! If either of them ever steps foot near our entrance again, use your weapon!”

For the first time in his life, Jason looked completely hollow. The guards closed in on them instantly, their heavy hands clamping onto Jason and Mira's shoulders with zero respect. Mira began to scream, her composure shattering into chaotic, weeping pleas as they were dragged backward across the polished floor.

Adrian picked up the velvet jewelry box from the counter, his expression entirely unbothered. He gave a single, calm nod. “Noted.”

The absolute simplicity of his response carried more weight than an angry outburst ever could. He glanced down at his phone screen. He didn't plan to flaunt his immense wealth like this; he only wished to handle his business and move on. He was tired of the wide-eyed, terrified stares from the remaining sales staff.

He walked out the glass doors and stepped onto the bustling city street. The fresh air hit his face, and his phone vibrated violently inside his pocket. He pulled it out, a genuine smile finally curling the corner of his lips as he swiped the green icon.

“You are late,” Lina said the moment he brought the phone to his ear, her bright voice cutting through his dark thoughts. “Did you get lost on the way to a simple dinner?”