From Pit to Palace: Charlie Emerged

Chapter 16: Payment successful

Chapter 16

Everyone burst into laughter when they saw the message.

“He doesn't even know the PIN to his card. Are you sure it's even his?” Rachel mocked, laughing.

“He must have picked it from the road or stolen it from someone, thinking he could guess the pin, then claim it to be his afterward. I had thought he had some dignity, but I guess I was wrong. I overestimated him,” Erika chimed in, her face filled with more disdain toward Charlie now.

She had never liked him and had hated it when Megan was dating him. And after what had just happened, she could only see him as nothing but trash.

Charlie ignored their taunts, blinked in surprise as he had a look at the notification.

The waitress had already had enough of it and glared at Charlie. She had held high respect for him, especially when he was ordering extravagant meals and wines with a calm expression. She had believed he was definitely an heir to a billion dollars.

But after this? She lost her respect for him.

She was already furious about that of Franklin, and now Charlie's has come up? But how is it possible that one would forget their card pin if it's truly their own and had an enormous amount in it as they claimed?

Her heart tightened.

Charlie smiled lightly. “I think it's a technical problem from your end. I suggest we try it again,” he said.

“Try what again?” The waitress exploded. “What's there to try again? You stole someone's card without knowing the PIN, and you dare blame the card reader? Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Does this place look like some playground where kids like you think you can come and joke around?”

“Excuse me?”

Charlie tried to interrupt, but the waitress wasn't done. She cut him off. “Let me finish!” Her eyes turned red, as if fire was burning in them.

She jabbed her finger at Charlie, then Franklin, and uttered coldly. “I don't care who both of you are, but I'm giving you twenty minutes to pay for what you've eaten or else….I'll be forced to involve my boss! The chairman of Prime Restaurant. And believe me, you won't like what will be done to both of you.”

Hearing those words, Franklin chuckled, feigning pity as he glanced at Charlie. “I warned you, don't say I didn't. But you chose arrogance over anything else, daring to challenge me. Now, see what is going to happen to you. The boss of Prime Restaurant has heard about him so many times, he won't pity you when he gets here, and I fear what might become your fate. Haha.”

“Aren't you being so stupid now?” Charlie bashed him. “You're yet to settle yours and you think I'm the one to be worried about? Maybe, you won't know your fate when he's done with you instead.”

Franklin's smirk vanished for a moment, but then he burst into laughter, continuing with the taunts.

“You have twelve minutes left,” the waitress interjected, her arms crossed while monitoring their moment.

Charlie hesitantly started stepping away from the crowd, dialing a number.

The waitress, seeing him pull away, couldn't help but wave at five security guards and quickly instructed them not to let anyone escape.

“Charlie, what are we going to do now?” Duke quickly approached Charlie asking, his voice filled with worry and panic.

Duke had been silent all this while, totally speechless about what to say concerning Charlie's actions. He had even tried to stop him, but he was acting so stubborn so he allowed him to have his way.

He even refused to consume the meal that Charlie had ordered for him; however, Charlie had one of the other three classmates have it.

“You know how dangerous the chairman of Prime Restaurant can be. He won't spare you if he comes here. I'm still with the $2,000 I took from my parents. I know it's not quarter to the amount to be paid, but it won't have to be paid the second time. Also,” he quickly pulled out his phone. “I can call my parents again and demand $10k. I know they will definitely send it.”

“And what will you tell them you need those outrageous amounts of money for?” Charlie asked simply.

“Anything. Textbooks. Printing of projects. Buying new stuff for myself. Just anything at all.”

Charlie sighed. “And if they find out that it was all a lie?”

“I don't care, bro. They can punish me, refuse to send me money, or insult me, for all I care. I won't give a fuck. But I can't have the Prime Restaurant chairman humiliate you in front of everyone. I can't!”

Charlie felt a sense of deep emotion at Duke's genuine words. He couldn't help, but look at him strangely. He's indeed a true friend—one to have.

He patted his shoulder gently and smiled faintly at him. “Don't worry, all of that isn't necessary. I'll sort them out by myself,” he replied.

“Y—you're going to sort it out? By yourself? H—how?”

“Don't worry, you'll see.”

Duke's eyes went wide open, still astonished that Charlie was still bent on doing things his own way. He couldn't help but stare at Charlie's retreating figure.

Meanwhile, the call connected.

“Hello young master Charlie, you're still awake?” Donald's voice came out, stunned, but laced with worry. “Are you in any trouble? Do you need any help? I'll do that right away.”

“The black card you gave me is fake! Why did you do that?”

“What? Fake? No, it's not. Why do you say that?” Donald's lips trembled with surprise.

“Bought some minor stuff and tried paying with the card, but it showed an incorrect PIN.” He explained.

“Oh, my bad! I'm really really sorry, young master Charlie, I forgot to tell you the pin. My apologies!” Donald, realizing his mistake, quickly apologized with shaking lips.

“So, what's the pin?” Charlie asked impatiently.

“Your birth date, young master Charlie. That's the pin. The late Mr. George White used it. Try it a—-”

Before Donald could finish his sentence, Charlie ended the call, pocketed his phone, and walked back to the crowd.

Everyone stared at him with more contempt now, whispering between themselves.

Franklin, who hadn't attempted to make any move, was waiting to watch Charlie get humiliated before he could act, but suddenly burst into laughter.

“He's finally back with someone else's card with no amount inside. Let's see what he's up to now,” he ridiculed, clearly enjoying himself.

Charlie ignored him and held the card up to the waitress calmly. “Charge it.”

The waitress hesitated before taking it. “Have you figured out the pin? Because this will be the last time I'll try this and if it doesn't work, the security guards here will deal with you first before you're being handed over to my boss.”

Charlie didn't say a word.

She reluctantly processed the payment all over again. “Kindly put your pin again.”

Knowing his birth date, Charlie didn't hesitate, he pressed the buttons, inputting his card pin.

The payment started processing.

Beep!

The device beeped with a soft notification.

Payment successful.