From Fat to Untouchable: The System's Billion-Dollar Payback

Do Your Every Worst To Stop Me

Chapter 7

~ Do Your Every Worst To Stop Me ~

"My phone has nothing to do with this instruction, Reed!" the athletic director shouted, holding the folder high as two campus officers stepped onto the ice.

The arena was filled with tense, whispering voices from the crowd that had come to watch the match.

“What the hell is going on?” Mason asked, his voice barely low in a whisper.

“How am I to know?” Vincent replied, “the good thing is that we won't see him again, I hate that fat dude,” He sneered in a disgusting tone.

Before the officers could reach Asher, the athletic director's smartphone buzzed violently.

He reached down with an irritated sigh, pulling out his phone to silence the alert so he could resume reading the suspension order.

The moment his eyes stared at the screen of his phone, his face flushed with surprise.

“What!” He exclaimed in disbelief.

CASE DISMISSED DUE TO FABRICATED WITNESS EVIDENCE.

"This... this cannot be right," the director stammered, his fingers trembling as he tapped the screen repeatedly to refresh the administrative portal.

"Is there a problem, Director?" Coach Jaxon asked, stepping up to the glass barrier with his broad arms crossed firmly over his chest.

"The instructions had been dissolved," the director whispered, looking up at Asher with a mixture of utter confusion and fear before signaling the police officers to back off the ice.

Across the bench, Caelum's triumphant smile shattered into a fury, his hands gripping the rail so tightly his gloves nearly tore.

Asher turned back toward the face-off circle, as he called out his defensive assignment to his team.

Over the final six minutes of the third period, Asher locked down the defensive zone with perfection, shutting out the opposing team and securing a victory for the squad.

While his teammates celebrated on the ice, Asher walked straight to the locker room, packed his worn sports bag, and left the arena without waiting for the post-game praise.

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The hall of the Great Learners university glittered under chandeliers, soft music with classical violin and chatter.

The annual charity part was prestigious, attended by wealthy alumni, city leaders, and senior university staff.

Caelum Thorne stood near the elevated VIP stage in a custom red suit, holding a glass of blue wine between his fingers.

Beside him stood Chloe, her pink gown caught by light as she leaned comfortably against his arm.

"Look at everyone who turned out tonight, Caelum," Chloe purred in a soft baby-like voice, looking across the crowded room of big dignitaries. "Your family practically owns this entire institution," She praised, wrapping her arm around his tightly.

"We don't just own the institution, Chloe," Caelum replied with an arrogant smirk, taking a slow sip of his wine. "We own the entire city. My father is closing the fifty-million-dollar hospital development deal tonight, and after this weekend."

Across the ballroom, standing quietly near the service exit, Asher Reed watched the glittering crowd with a calm, cold unapproachable expression.

He wore a simple brown suit purchased through his system funds, it cost a hell of dollars. But he wanted to look as simple as he has always been. The suit hugged his body perfectly, giving him this perfect gentleman look.

Caelum turned his head toward the back doors, his eyes widening in sudden disgust when he spotted Asher standing by the pillar.

"Hey, look who managed to crawl out of his poor home," Caelum laughed loudly, drawing the attention of several nearby wealthy alumni. "It's the greatest defensive substitute,” Caleum mocked.

Chloe turned around, her lips curled up in a mischievous sinister smile, as her eyes ran through him from his head to his toe.

“That white shoe looks unfitting for that oversized suit you are wearing,” Chloe purred in a sarcastic voice.

"But Asher, how on earth did you get inside this building?" Chloe called out, taking two steps toward him, still looking him up and down. "Did you sneak in through the catering kitchen to steal leftover food, or did you rent that suit with your last dollar?"

Several nearby patrons chuckled softly, casting dismissive glances toward Asher's quiet posture.

Caelum walked over to the pillar, stopping three feet away from Asher with his champagne glass raised in an insulting mock toast.

"Enjoy your little walk around the room, Reed," Caelum whispered harshly, his eyes burning with spite. "Because by tomorrow morning, my father's legal team is going to have you permanently expelled from this university for good."

“And no school will be accepting you, I personally will make sure of that,” Caleum mocked, a hysterical laugh escaping his lips.

"I'm not surprised at your insultive nature, Caelum. Enjoy your speech," Asher said, in a condensing tone, "Make sure to do your every worst to stop me, because I'm about to best in the game, scared little princess,” Asher scoffed, gently taking a glass of wine from the tray carried by waiter who walked by.

Caelum scowled, visibly irritated that his insults failed to provoke any reaction, and turned back toward the VIP stage as the university president stepped up to the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished patrons," the president announced, his voice echoing across the ballroom speakers. "Please join me in welcoming our key benefactor and project leader, Mr. Caelum Thorne!"

Loud, polite applause filled the grand room as Caelum adjusted his silk tie, smoothed down his jacket, and walked confidently up the stage steps toward the podium.

He gripped both sides of the stand, flashing a bright smile to the press photographers standing in the front row.

"Thank you, Mr. President, and welcome everyone," Caelum began, his voice booming proudly across the sound system. "Tonight marks the beginning of an era of unprecedented growth for Thorne Global. My Father's Company, my family legacy. Our financial power in this city is completely untouched….."

Before he could finish his sentence, the presentation screen behind him popped up.

A warning flashed across the screen.

CRITICAL LIQUIDITY ALERT: ALL CORPORATE RESERVES FROZEN.

Caelum froze, totally taken aback, his confident smile drifting into confusion, with a suffocating silence dripping in the ballroom.

A cry suddenly echoed from the front VIP table as Caelum's father, Alexander Throne, dropped his glass, his hands trembling as he stared down at the notification on his personal banking app.

"Caelum! Get off that stage right now!" his father screamed, his face, "Every single bank account we own has just been completely wiped clean!” he yelled, dread sweat rushing down his face, his brow upheaved with fear.