Marcel Audrey the Greatest Equalizer

Chapter 9: The Beginning

Marcel went back to his hotel alone after convincing his grandfather to let him come back alone so as to enable him to maintain a low profile. He was welcomed by the hostile looks of his roommates who ignored him.

They were literally surprised and unhappy seeing him. They were really not fond of him and have always treated him with contempt and disgust, labeling him a second class occupant. He was the one left to do every chores but still they never appreciated his efforts. 

Marcel cared less of what they were thinking nor was he perturbed by their gossips and malice for it was just a matter of time before leaving them to wallow in the long hostile room.

All he needed was some time to lay low. He dropped his bag on his bed side and right away he headed to a boutique shop to get himself some casual wear. All he had was some old outfits that were barely up to a dollar and suits that were yet to arrive.

He matched confidently to the famous Dove set boutique since his selected car was yet to undergo customisation. Dove set boutique is a place where these rich kids make their day to day cloth shopping hence it is an expensive meant for the rich students. Marcel knew this but right now he duly fits in this portfolio.

He walked in after a proper check from the security officials. They really had second thoughts about letting him in largely because of his poor looking outfit but they allowed him in since he was free of any harmful item.

He went straight to the very fair looking receptionist who on her left side just a few inches above her breast was a name tag which had "Miss Ana Hilly" written on it.

"Good day miss, please where can I get some men's outfits?" Marcel asked gently but instead she ignored him. Marcel wasn't sure if she was deliberately ignoring him or if she didn't hear him so he asked her again and this time she replied harshly saying "Oh please let me be, don't you have eyes? Look for it by yourself besides as you can see I'm quite busy"

She obviously looked down on him because of his poor outfit.

To her, Marcel was just some miscreant who was either getting some stuff for his or her boss or maybe he was there to see the beautiful scene in the boutique store. Who knows he might even be there to steal from the store.

Marcel for no reason refrained from putting her in her place. Right there he saw her white set of teeth as she smiled while welcoming a customer who cladded in an expensive outfit. Seeing this he waved his head in disappointment as he sighed and left for a section that he believed to be the men's section.

Within the store they were sales girls who were tasked with the duty of making it easy for customers to get their clothes. These salesgirls are being rewarded with commissions hence they rush to customers on sighting them. Marcel was ignored by these girls, they looked down on him while they went ahead seeking for apparently rich and famous individuals.

As he struggled to get acquainted with the new clothing section(since it was his first time being in such a luxurious and organized store) a young meek looking sales girl approached him and helped him with his shopping. Marcel was quite pleased by her humble demeanor, she was definitely different from what he has witnessed since entering the boutique.

They were done in a jiffy and right away they were on their way to the counter so as to make payment but mistakenly she bumped on someone and alas the victims selected clothes fell to the floor. 

"Oh my God! Are you out of your senses?!" She yells while landing a face dissembling slap on the young girl's face.

Marcel couldn't believe his eyes as he watched the sales girl in tears just because of some mistake. Marcel looked at the face of the lady who was already ranting and behold it was no other person but Grace Churchill and her boyfriend. 

Grace Churchill, who doesn't know Grace? Choley's right hand girl. She was definitely Choley's sister from another mother.

She was oblivious of Marcel's presence since she was busy ranting and threatening the salesgirl who was already in tears. Her boyfriend followed suit in demoralizing the young girl.

"That's enough!" Marcel screams out furiously as all gaze was directed to the handsome stunning man. 

Grace was shocked as her eyes opened wide to witness who was before her.

"Marcel Audrey, what are you doing here? Who allowed this loafer in here?" She asked while creating murmur among the customers whose attentions were now on the scene.

Marcel smiled and once again subdued his anger and said "She has heard enough, can't you say that it is a mistake?"

"Oh my God, who is talking? I can't see who is talking. How dare you talk back to me?" Grace's face turned pale as her once light tanned skin darkens. For an egoist she won't tolerate such aura from a nobody like Marcel.

Grace has for long had a bitter heart for Marcel. She made sure that anything that Choley could have for Marcel was extinguished.

"Is alright girl, let get going" He said as he helps the girl to her knees

"Where do you think you're going? you're not leaving anywhere. Who do you think will be paying for these already stained and damaged items?" She blurted while obstructing their path.

The clothes were barely stained but trust Grace, she would do anything to make Marcel feel bad of himself hence she devised a plan to humiliate him and maybe have himself in police custody. She thought that it was old poor Marcel, the Maintenance guy who has failed to maintain his life.

The sales girl knelt down pleading on hearing this for she knew that all this was because of her.

Marcel felt pity for her and promised himself to show them a taste of what he has become.

"Ok, let's get over to the counter " he said coldly that sent a masculinity and ruthless feeling to everyone.

The innocent sales girl was taken aback as she couldn't believe what she just heard. She may not have undermined his financial capacity but to her Marcel wouldn't be able to pay a bill that is probably worth thousands of dollars.

"To the counter huh? You are kidding me right?" Grace scoffs as he sneer

"To the counter unless you have changed your mind " Marcel blurted nonchalantly. His aura was different this time but wasn't enough for Grace to back down.

On the counter back to the receptionist where everything began. 

"900 thousand dollars, by the way, who is paying for this?" The rude receptionist asked despite seeing Marcel before her. She has already written him off, for her Marcel won't be able to make such an enormous payment.

"Who else if not our Mr let go to the counter" Grace replied mocking Marcel. This sent everyone into a laughing spell as they awaited for the main show.

"Why is he being unreasonable even when he is financially incapable to pay for the bill"

"A noisy poor rat, let see how he will be able to maneuver through this"

"I bet he is here probably on an errand for his boss but here he is trying to show himself "

The customers turned audience mumbles as they fed their eyes.

Marcel understood the situation that he was in, he either triumph or pay dearly and surely the latter is clearly not on his card. 

He brought out his card, the Golden Card gifted to him by his grandfather. Marcel hands the card to the receptionist who inserted it into the machine slot. He was then told to insert his code which he did.

In this dire moment, anxiety and feeling of uncertainty stepped in. 

'What if this card was never what it was told to be? What if this is the wrong card? What if the machine does not recognize the card?'

All this was racing in Marcel's mind as everyone waited for his fate while the machine kept internalizing the transaction.