From Zero To Trillions

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

The moment Austin yanked the door open, his jaw nearly dropped. Standing there, as unexpected as a rainstorm in dry season, was Mr. Patrick. The landlord, a man whose belly strained the buttons of his shirt and whose weight probably rivaled a small car, glared at Austin. A knot of young men stood menacingly behind him.

"Mr. Patrick! Well, hello there," Austin stammered, trying to sound casual, though his mind raced. What on earth was the landlord doing here, with what looked like a small army, at this hour?

Mr. Patrick's face was a thundercloud. "Cut the sweet talk, boy! You know why I'm here. You've been dodging me like the plague. My calls go unanswered for days! Four months, Austin! Four months you've owed me rent! Pay up now, or my boys here will help you pack your bags... permanently!" His voice boomed, shaking Austin to his core.

"Mr. Patrick, please," Austin pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. "The month is almost over. My paycheck is coming soon, I swear. Just give me a little more time, and I'll pay for everything."

"More time?" Mr. Patrick scoffed, his eyes blazing. "More time? I've heard that song and dance before! Last month you promised, and what did I get? Nothing! And now you want more days? No, Austin, no more games. Pay. Now. Or you'll find yourself and your belongings on the street!”

Austin's stomach twisted. Two weeks ago, he had enough money to cover three months' rent. But Sabrina's birthday had come, and he'd wanted to make it special. A fancy dinner, a beautiful gift... it had all seemed worth it then. Now, staring at Mr. Patrick's furious face, regret washed over him in a bitter wave.

"Mr. Patrick, I... I honestly don't have that kind of money right now," Austin confessed, his voice thick with shame. "But I promise you, in just a few days…”

"Promises are like pie crusts, boy – easily made, easily broken!" Mr. Patrick roared, his voice echoing in the small room. "I'm done listening to your stories! Either the rent is in my hand right this minute, or you'll be sleeping under the stars tonight! Make your choice!”

Austin's heart hammered against his ribs. He just stood there, frozen, his mind blank. Zero cash in his pocket. Not a single penny. His big plan for tomorrow was to swallow his pride, walk back into that noisy bar, and beg for his job back. Just the thought of it made his stomach churn.

Suddenly, Mr. Patrick's voice boomed, sharp and cold. "Boys," he commanded, his eyes like chips of ice, "throw him out of the house.”

Two burly men, their faces hard, stepped forward. Austin's eyes widened in panic. "Wait!" he choked out, his voice barely a whisper. "Please, just give me a minute to explain."

Mr. Patrick scoffed, a harsh, unpleasant sound. "Explain what? That you're a broke loser who can't even afford to be in my house?”

The door of the next apartment creaked open, and a young girl stepped outside. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene. "What in the world is going on here, Mr. Patrick?" she asked, her voice clear but laced with disbelief. "I thought you promised me a quiet place to study in your house. No noise, you said!" A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

Mr. Patrick turned, a forced, sugary smile spreading across his face. "Oh, Miss Leenah, my dear! So sorry if this little... The situation is bothering you. You see, this young man here," he gestured dismissively at Austin, "hasn't exactly held up his end of the agreement. Rent's overdue, you understand. Just trying to sort things out quickly, and then I'll be on my way."

Leenah's gaze shifted from Mr. Patrick to Austin, her expression softening slightly as she took in his worried face. "How much does he actually owe you?" she inquired, her tone direct.

Mr. Patrick's smile widened, sensing an opportunity. "Well, it's just a small matter of fifteen hundred US dollars. For four months, you see."

Leenah's eyebrows shot up. "Fifteen hundred dollars?" she repeated, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "And you're making this kind of commotion for that amount?" She shook her head slowly, a sigh of annoyance escaping her. "Honestly. Alright," she declared, her voice firm. "I'll pay for it. If that's what it takes to bring some peace back to this building, and let everyone get some sleep, then so be it. Just send me your account details, and I'll transfer the fifteen hundred dollars right now.”

Mr. Patrick's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh, Miss Leenah, you are a lifesaver! Thank you, thank you so much! Of course, you'll have a peaceful night's sleep. Absolutely!" He then turned to Austin, a triumphant smirk replacing his earlier fawning smile. "Well, well, well, look at you, boy. Looks like you'll be hugging your pillow tonight after all, instead of those noisy crickets. You should be thanking your lucky stars for Miss Leenah here." He shot Austin a sharp, warning look before finally heading towards the door, his steps much lighter than before.

Austin's eyes locked onto the girl standing right in front of him. He'd been living in this apartment building for ages, but he'd never seen her before. Had she just moved in next door?

He couldn't help but stare. She was unbelievably beautiful, like someone out of a dream. Her hair was a fiery red, her eyes were a warm brown, and her lips had a natural, glossy pink shine. "Uh... thank you so much for helping me. I promise I'll..." Austin started to say, but she cut him off, her voice surprisingly sharp.

"No need for thanks," she said, her gaze direct. "Just make sure you pay your rent on time next month. We don't need any drama."

"Of course! And I promise to pay you back the..." Before he could even finish his sentence, she turned and walked into her apartment, the door closing with a definite thump. Austin stood there, feeling a little foolish. Didn't she want the fifteen hundred dollars she'd just given him? Clearly, she wasn't interested in talking. He headed back to his own place, a strange feeling of gratitude and confusion swirling inside him.

Just as he stepped into his apartment, his phone rang. He picked it up, and the familiar voice from earlier filled his ear. "Hello, your royal highness. Did you see the little money I sent your way?"

"You... you sent me money?" Austin was completely taken by surprise. Then, the large amount he'd seen earlier flashed through his mind.

"That's right. I know you might think this is some kind of joke, but it's not. That's why I transferred a bit over – to show you I'm serious. If you still don't believe me... why don't you pop down to the nearest ATM?" The man chuckled on the other end of the line before hanging up.

Without a second thought, Austin grabbed his rarely used bank card and practically flew out the door. He raced to the nearest ATM, his heart pounding in his chest. He slid his card into the machine and held his breath as the balance appeared on the screen. His jaw dropped. His eyes widened in disbelief. The man hadn't been kidding. It wasn't a mistake. There, staring back at him, was the unbelievable sum of seven billion dollars.

Seven. Billion. Dollars.

How? How could this be happening? Austin had absolutely no idea, but one thing was crystal clear: he had to find out.