From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven 

The irritation on Lina's features was immediate as she shot Lukas a sharp look, her jaw tightening as his smirk widened, as if he had struck exactly where he intended. “What is the meaning of this, Lukas.” the dorm head finally spoke, his tone warning. “Do you have something against Adrian?” 

Lukas laughed, lifting his glass lazily. He was the kind of bully who found pleasure in the discomfort of others, who thrived on provoking reactions and pretending innocence afterward.

“I’m just having fun,” he said, taking a slow sip of the wine.

Wines were prohibited in high school since they were students that needed to study hard but exceptions were quietly made for events like birthdays for influential families and for people like Lukas rules bent around him easily since he was a bully and a disobedient student at that. 

After the heat dies down, Lina places the glass beside Adrian. And tapped him on the shoulder apologetically, Adrian cleared his throat, staying quiet, it was never his plan to reveal the gift he got for Lina publicly.That was why he had kept silent even as whispers passed through the room with hands covering mouths and eyes flicking toward him with poorly hidden judgment.

One by one, Lina’s friends stood to present their gifts. Each announcement was louder than the last. Not out of arrogance but Familiarity. This was their world. Luxury was not whispered here. It was spoken openly, confidently, without shame.

“Cartier,” Lukas announced casually, handing Lina a slim red box.

Gasps followed.

“Wait,” a girl exclaimed. “Isn’t that the Tutti Frutti bracelet? 

Gasps followed. “Come on Lukas, where did you get an expensive Cartier tutti Frutti bracelet from? The last time I checked this particular bracelet was five figures.” she gasped,

Erica’s eyes lit up as she admired the craftsmanship. “I have always wanted this piece, you're such a generous man.”

“My father is the CEO of Quicknest broker. You can expect that little from me. Don't worry I will get one for you, depends on how things go between us.” he winked at Erica.

His red haired friend Shainaan stepped forward. “Hermes,” he added casually, the orange packaging unmistakable.

His other friend Larry smiled. “Fendi.”

“Prada.”

Each name landed with weight. Each brand carried its own authority. The boys were from a wealthy family even when they were bullies they sure knew how to live up to their reputation.

Lina thanked them all with genuine warmth, though her eyes flicked briefly to Adrian more than once. He sat calmly beside her, hands resting on his lap, posture relaxed. 

Across the room, the girls exchanged looks.

Their eyes lingered longer on the boys now. The expensive watches. The confidence. And especially on Lukas, whose gift of Five figures was the most outstanding gift in the room. The ease with which money followed them into the room and their arrogance along with the gift became an attractive trait now.

One girl leaned toward another and whispered, “Why were we even talking about Adrian earlier.”

The other laughed quietly. “Exactly.”

They watched as the boys settled back into their seats, satisfied, basking lightly in the attention without asking for it.

Then Ericas voice cut through the room.

“Wait,” she said smoothly. “Not everyone has given their gift yet.”

Her gaze shifted straight to Adrian and the room followed.

Adrian felt the shift but did not stiffen. He had expected this. Besides Lukas had set the tone earlier only that he was a bully and now Erica was just wrapping it in elegance.

It dawned on him that the Dorm head did not interject, so hard to resist a beauty like hers, Adrian stifled a smile as he bit his lower lips.

Lina leaned closer to him. “You do not have to if you do not want to,” she said softly. “I’m sorry Adrian, maybe inviting you this time was not the right thing to do.” she muttered slowly so that only Adrian could hear the guilt in her voice.

“I know,” Adrian replied.

Larry laughed. “Come on. Let us see what the genius brought.”

Shainaan followed with a chuckle. “After all these brands, the suspense is killing me.”

Adrian reached down and picked up the simple gift bag at his feet. Inside was the necklace.

His original plan was to give it to Lina later, quietly. But silence was no longer an option.

He handed the bag to Lina.

“For you,” he said. “I thought carefully about your skin tone and decided this necklace will match it perfectly.”

When Adrian used such words and how he genuinely meant it, Lina always brightened up. 

Right from Erica, to her fellow cheerleader girls and Lukas to his friends. They rolled their eyes like words were cheap and fancy gifts mattered.

Lina’s face lit up immediately. “Really.”

She opened it.

The box inside was elegant, understated. When she lifted the lid and saw the necklace, her breath caught.

“It is beautiful,” she said without hesitation. “It's the most beautiful gift I've seen.”

She held it up, admiring the craftsmanship.

For a moment, there was silence. 

Then someone laughed.

“Oh,” one of the girls said, tilting her head. “That looks expensive.”

Another leaned closer, squinting. “Or fake. It is definitely fake.”

Erica stood, curiosity sharp in her eyes. “Let me see.”

Now all eyes were on her waiting for the final verdict.

Lina handed it to her carefully.

Erica examined it under the light, turning it slowly. “The design is familiar, it's a Cartier Sapphire and diamond necklace.” she said slowly thinking about the price she saw in an online advert.

Ding!!! 2.8 million dollars flashed at the back of her head. 

She shook her head and forced the thoughts in her head out as none of the gifts were up to that amount and to think a poor scholarship student could afford it was a funny idea. 

Then she smiled thinly. “But the weight feels off. These replicas are getting better every year. They look convincing until you know what to look for. Of course this is not high jewelry.”

Lukas laughed loudly. “Bold move, Adrian. Going fake instead of cheap.”

Murmurs followed, sneering eyes were directed to Adrian, not only will they lock him tonight they can continue mocking him for all they want after all the truth was hard one to buy.

“Why would you do that?”

“You should have just gotten something small.”

“At least something honest so that we know it's within your lowly range.”

Adrian felt the words land, one by one, but he did not react. His hand brushed lightly against his pocket.

The receipt was there. Folded and untouched. 

Lina frowned. “It is not fake.”

Erica shrugged. “I am just saying. People do this all the time. And tell me where will a scholarship student see money to afford jewellery worth almost 3 million. Spear me the defence, Adrian don’t dream of a place so high, you're a poor scholarship student let that sink into your head.”

Another added, “Trying to impress with something you cannot afford.”

Lukas leaned back, satisfied. “I told you he would embarrass you. You don't have to keep on hanging around with losers, it's only a matter of time until he infests his rotten lifestyle into you.”

That was when Adrian finally spoke.

“It is real,” he said calmly.

The room quieted slightly.

Erica laughed. “Based on what? Show us evidence.”

Adrian met her gaze. “Based on the store it came from.”

Lukas smirked. “Sure.”

Someone else added,“Then prove it.”

Adrian did not reach for his pocket. He stared at Lukas and Erica now that Adrian misfortune had brought them together, 

He thought to himself, Lukas you son of a bitch, you want to have a bite, come get one.

Lina looked at him, concern flickering in her eyes. She did not want this moment to turn into something ugly.

Erica handed the necklace back dismissively. “You should be careful next time,” she said.

“Not everyone here is naive.” Lukas smiled.

Lukas reached out, his fingers hooking the delicate platinum chain with zero respect. He dangled the multi-million dollar sapphire over the edge of the table as if it were a piece of used gum.

"Since it’s a fake, Lina won't be needing it," Lukas sneered. "I'll do the Andrew family a favor and clear the trash."

"Lukas, stop!" Lina started to rise, but the lounge doors suddenly hissed open.

The laughter in the room died instantly. Even the air seemed to bow. Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Martha stepped into the light, their presence radiating the kind of absolute authority that made Lukas’s five-figure confidence look like child's play.

"Mother! Father!" Lina’s voice was small, caught between relief and dread.

Martha’s eyes swept the room, landing on Erica with a rare, genuine smile before flicking toward Lukas. She noticed the sapphire dangling from his hand and her brow arched in immediate disdain.

"Lukas Leonardo," Martha’s voice was cool silk. "I saw your father’s gift on the registry. A Tutti Frutti bracelet. Excellent choice. It’s good to see someone in this room understands the prestige of this event."

Lukas beamed, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, Mrs. Martha. I was just helping Lina... dispose of some fraudulent items."

Martha stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the sapphire Adrian had brought. She didn't even look at Adrian; to her, he was just background noise.

"Erica, dear," Martha turned to her niece. "You have the best eye for gems in the family. What is the verdict on this... piece?"

Erica stood taller, preening under the praise. "It's a high-grade replica, Auntie Martha. A Sovereign Sapphire imitation. Convincing at a glance, but obviously fake jewelry."

Martha let out a sharp, mocking breath. "Of course it is. The real Sovereign Sapphire was sold at a private auction in Hong Kong just this afternoon for 2.8 million dollars. Only a fool would believe a scholarship errand boy could even afford the insurance on the box, let alone the stone."

She shot a look of pure disgust at Adrian. "Lina, I am disappointed. You should learn from Erica. She knows what quality looks like. Instead, you let this boy bring glass garbage into a high-class lounge to embarrass our name! Lukas, do what you were going to do. Throw it away. It’s a disgrace to even have it on the table."

Lukas grinned, his eyes gleaming with victory. He raised his hand, ready to toss the 2.8-million-dollar masterpiece into the corner trash bin.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Auntie Martha."

Adrian’s voice was low, but it cut through Martha’s arrogance like a diamond through glass. The room gasped—no one spoke to the matriarch of the Andrew family like that.

Martha froze, her face turning a deep shade of insulted red. "What did you say to me, you little beggar?"

"Since you trust Erica’s eye so much," Adrian said, his eyes turning cold and sharp as he reached into his pocket. "Why don't you have her read the Store Stamp and the Transaction Total on the receipt? And then we can see who the real fool is."