From Pit to Palace: Charlie Emerged

Chapter 17: Sorry, you can't leave.

Chapter 17

Everyone froze in place, as if struck by thunder.

“That can't be possible!”

“How can there be such an amount of money in that card?”

Murmurs spread across the room with wide eyes, mouths covered with shock.

Franklin, who had been waiting to mock Charlie, stiffened at a spot, looking at Charlie with utter disbelief. No, that can't be real! He can't have such money on him! He muttered, shaking his head.

Megan was entirely dumbfounded, unable to speak. Her eyes bulged, refusing to believe what was happening. The Charlie she knew couldn't afford stuff worth $1k, but now, he just unconcernedly paid for such extravagant meals.

How did he do? Did he win any lottery? She thought to herself.

Duke, on the other hand, was no exception. He wore a shocking and skeptical expression if it was truly Charlie who was standing in front of everyone. He knew him in and out, and knew what he's capable of doing, but this?

He couldn't fathom.

All eyes were now on Charlie, but he pretended not to observe it, his left hand casually put into his pocket. Stretching his right hand forward, “Can I have my card now, please?” He demanded softly.

The waitress, with a stunned expression, quickly tilted her head, her hand trembling as she pulled out the card from the card reader to hand it over to Charlie.

She has a different perception of him now. She had taught he was just some kind of joker. But after this, her respect toward him seemed to increase.

“Here, sir, please, have it,” she said, her voice cracking with respect. Then she quickly added. “ I-I'm so sorry, sir, about the way I spoke to you earlier. I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. Please, forgive me. We'd love to have a potential client like you coming to Prime Restaurant to dine in the future.”

She knew she had gone too extreme and that her single act was enough to make Charlie not come here again, so she quickly said that to mend things.

Charlie didn't even glance at her. He simply took his card and shoved it into his pocket. Turning to Franklin, he ignored his astonished expression and said, his voice calm but cold.

“Bend down and lick my shoes now.”

For that moment, the shocking expression on Franklin disappeared when Charlie said that. He burst into laughter.

“Bend down and lick your shoes?” He scoffed. “When did I tell you that I can't cover my bills, huh, arrogant trash picker?”

The agreement between them was simple; if one of them could cover for what those they were treating had eaten, and the other couldn't, then the one who couldn't would bend down and lick the shoes of the one who could. But if both could, then the deal would be null.

Charlie chuckled. “Then go ahead, I'm waiting.”

Franklin arrogantly gave his card to the waitress to charge it. She took it and processed the payment, then handed it over to Franklin to input his PIN.

He did.

But the same notification popped up on the device's screen.

Insufficient balance.

Before Franklin could blink, a tight slap landed on his cheek, sending him staggering backward. His cheek burned with fire as he stared at the person who had slapped him in disbelief. The senior security guard.

He was a muscular figure, looking totally different from others. He had the most dangerous expression that could scare one away.

Franklin's jaw tightened, but he could only glare at him, helpless, his hand clutched on his cheek in pain.

Everyone was shocked and no one dared to speak.

“Do we look like we are here to entertain jokes, huh?” The senior security guard spoke, his voice filled with rage. “You think you can just waltz in here and waste our time? I'm giving you another ten minutes, just ten minutes, and if that money isn't provided, I'll make sure you don't leave here alive! Got it?”

Franklin's body shook in fear, also completely embarrassed. Charlie couldn't help but chuckle, amused.

With a trembling hand, he quickly switched on his phone, his finger shaking uncontrollably as he searched for his father's number.

If his card was showing insufficient balance, it meant only one thing; his father hadn't sent the money. And he, being foolish, had turned off his phone when his father had called without bothering to pick up.

Just then, his phone vibrated and started to ring before he could even make a call.

It was his father who was calling. He picked, his face tightened.

Before he could blast out, his father exploded from the other end. “You ungrateful brat! I sent you $5k and you couldn't even call to say, thank you. You turned off your phone instead? How dare you?”

“Damn you, Dad!” Franklin yelled, cutting him off. “I requested $12k, just $12k, and you couldn't provide it. You're so irresponsible!”

“What? Do you realize who you're talking to? Y—”

“Just get lost!” Franklin quickly interrupted and disconnected the call before his father could utter a response.

His face was red with anger and frustration, his hand clutched against his phone as if he could shatter it into tiny pieces.

Ignoring all the gazes on him, Franklin turned to the waitress. Since his father had mentioned that he sent $5k, this means the money was in his account.

“I'm paying for my girlfriend, Logan, Elon, and myself. The other two should pay for themselves,” he said coldly, pointing at Rachel and Erika.

Upon hearing that, the two vibrated, as if struck by thunder.

“What?” Rachel shouted, stunned. “You can't do that to us! You can't pay for only your friends and leave us just like this!”

“Yes! Megan, please talk to him! We're your friends!”

Their words fell on deaf ears. Neither Franklin nor Megan responded to them. Megan looked at them helplessly, unable to intercede. She knew better to stay calm than speak to provoke Franklin.

Meanwhile, the waitress hesitated before taking the card. She swallowed hard and processed the card. Franklin entered his PIN and the payment went through.

Ashamed and embarrassed, Franklin grabbed his card to leave, but then Charlie blocked his path. “You seemed to be missing something.”

“What's that? Get out of my way, you pathetic fool before I lose it!”

Charlie didn't flinch, his arms crossed. “A deal is a deal and you can't break it simply because you lost. Bend down and lick my shoes.” He said calmly, his voice commanding.

“Why should I?” Franklin retorted, “I paid for what was eaten.”

“No, you didn't. Two people were left out so you lose. Now, lick my shoes or have me let you do it violently.”

Franklin was adamant. “A dirty trash picker like you? That can't happen! I can't stoop so low to do that. So get out of my way!”

Hearing the conversation, the senior security guard felt a sense of knowledge about the situation. In an attempt to curry a favor from Charlie, he stepped forward. He had already held Charlie in high esteem now.

Bowing his head slightly, he started respectfully, “Sir, is he trying to break the agreed deal? I can make him comply. But y—”

Charlie looked at him. “Don't worry about that. Just call your account details. I'll tip you $200.” He pulled out his phone and quickly transferred the money right after the security guard finished providing his account details.

The security guard confirmed the payment then turned to face Franklin, cracking his knuckles, his expression cold. The latter staggered backward, his expression full of dread.

His forehead suddenly broke with cold sweat.

Charlie watched the scene with amusement.

The security guard barely spoke when Franklin, out of terror, stammered. “S—stay back right there! Don't come close to me, I—I'll comply!”

“Then be fast. Young master Charlie has no time to waste.”

Franklin nodded vigorously, his body shivering heavily as he marched forward. At that moment, he knew he had no option, but to succumb or else he'd be dead.

He slowly began to go down on his knees, his chest clutched. His blood was boiling, as if being cooked over a fire. How is he going to have a face on the campus if everyone gets to know?

Everyone was watching the scene with bewilderment, unable to speak, afraid to attract the security guard's wrath. Their faces were filled with irritation. Some even looked away, not wanting to watch the scene.

However, amongst them was Duke smirking within himself, watching Franklin get humiliated instead of Charlie.

Meanwhile, Charlie couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced down at Franklin. “Make sure to lick them very well. You've to make them clean.”

Franklin couldn't talk, his face contorted with anger. He pulled out his tongue, but just as it was about to touch Charlie's shoe, Charlie pulled back his leg.

Franklin winked, glanced up in surprise.

Charlie smirked at him. “Don't worry, just get up. Someone like you isn't worthy of licking my shoe.” With that, he stepped back, turned toward the entrance, and started heading out.

Duke rushed after him immediately.

Meanwhile, Franklin felt like he wanted to explode as he watched Charlie exit the room. This was the most humiliating thing he had faced tonight.

Imagine a trash picker telling him he wasn't worthy of licking his damn dirty shoes? What an insult!

His muscles tensed beneath and without a word, he stormed out. Everyone joined in, but just when two figures were about to walk past, the security guards blocked their paths.

“Sorry, you can't leave. You've got pending bills to settle,” he coolly reminded Rachel and Erika, his arms crossed.