Max Luckey: The Undisputed Student Billionaire

Chapter 9

Trisha’s heels tapped nervously against the marble floor. The party was in full swing, glittering lights reflecting off champagne flutes, laughter bouncing across the tastefully decorated event hall—but her mind was elsewhere.

She stared down at her phone for the fifteenth time in ten minutes.

No reply.

No call.

No Max.

She frowned and dropped the phone on the table beside her. The anxiety clawed at her chest. Max wasn’t just a friend. He was different—sincere, pure, and honest in a way most people weren’t. She had expected him to be there early, maybe even waiting for her at the door with one of those shy smiles and a gift wrapped in paper too modest for the grand venue.

Instead, she was met with silence.

“Sarah,” she called. “Have you seen Max?”

Sarah, dressed in a midnight blue gown, shook her head. “Not since class this morning.”

“Roland?”

Roland looked up from his seat, a glass of orange juice in hand. “Nope. Nothing.”

Trisha sighed and adjusted the sash of her peach-colored gown. She had invited someone special tonight—Evelyn Prime, daughter of Governor Verex Prime. Trisha had always thought Max and Evelyn might hit it off. They were nothing alike, but opposites sometimes sparked in magical ways. Evelyn was used to the finer things. Max was unbothered by glitz. She hoped the contrast would intrigue Evelyn.

The door creaked open.

Trisha’s heart skipped.

But it wasn’t Max.

It was Ethan and his clique, laughing obnoxiously as they strolled in like they owned the building. She frowned but forced a polite smile. “Hey, Ethan.”

Ethan kissed her hand. “Happy birthday, gorgeous.”

Max, meanwhile, was pedaling through the city like his life depended on it. Rain soaked his hoodie and jeans, his tires slicing through puddles. After finally retrieving the long-awaited package, he realized time had slipped away. There was no way he could afford fancy wrapping now. He dashed into a roadside convenience store, grabbed a clean polythene bag, and shoved the Fashion Class 3X bag inside.

Now, soaked and shivering, he pushed against the wind, praying he wasn’t too late.

Back at the venue, Gina was making her way toward Trisha, her steps deliberate and calculated. The glimmering gold bag on her arm swung like a trophy.

“I heard you couldn’t get the Fashion Class 3X,” Gina said with mock sympathy, her voice loud enough for surrounding guests to hear. “I’m really sorry, Trisha. But you know, not everyone’s destined to carry the same accessories as the queen of campus.”

She struck a pose, letting the cameras nearby catch her profile and the bag's glittering texture. Whispers rippled through the room.

Before Trisha could respond, the door opened again.

A hush fell.

In walked Jacob Prime.

“Jacob?” Trisha’s brows lifted. “You said you couldn’t come!”

Jacob grinned. “I changed my mind.”

Evelyn let out a squeal and rushed to hug her brother. “How did you even find the venue?”

“Easy. Ethan helped.”

Trisha’s gaze shifted between Jacob and Ethan. “Wait, you two know each other?”

Ethan chuckled. “High school buddies. Jacob and I go way back.”

Trisha offered a small smile, but Jacob’s eyes never left her. He had always found her beautiful—ever since her older sister introduced them at a gallery opening months ago. Since then, he'd silently followed her posts, her stories, her selfies. She was perfection. And tonight, he had decided he would make his intentions clear.

He walked straight up to her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Trisha blinked in surprise.

Jacob took a seat beside her, his eyes flickering with mischief and affection. Trisha picked up her glass and took a sip, cheeks pink. To the rest of the guests, it was a casual moment. But Jacob was watching her every move, savoring the closeness.

The door opened once more.

Max stepped in, rain-drenched and breathless.

Trisha stood immediately and rushed toward him, relief flooding her face. “Max! Where have you been?!”

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice hoarse. “I got caught in the rain. I... I had to get something.”

His hoodie clung to him, soaked through, and the polythene bag in his hand looked wildly out of place in the glamorous hall. But Trisha didn’t care. He was there. That was enough.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

Jacob leaned back with a smirk. “Wait a minute... is this the Max?” He turned to Ethan. “The one Jerry told me about last week? The guy whose girlfriend left him because he couldn’t afford a decent date?”

The hall fell silent.

Then came the laughter—sharp, mocking, merciless.

Jacob’s grin widened. “I was the one who told Jerry to send him to Clorox Bar with the delivery. I even called his boss and with my connection forced him to fire the bastard. Didn’t know he’d actually show up. And now, here he is... showing up soaked, with a plastic bag.”

Trisha clenched her jaw. “That’s enough, Jacob. Shut up.”

The room quieted again. Max just stood there, trying to stay calm.

“Come,” Trisha said, taking his hand. “Sit beside me.”

As Max took the seat next to her, toasts began again. Glasses clinked. The mood lightened—momentarily.

Evelyn leaned closer to Jacob. “Is that a new Rolex?”

Jacob smiled, deliberately angling his wrist. “Yeah. The latest. Just got it.”

“Looks expensive,” Evelyn said.

Jacob shrugged with a fake modesty. “Not really. Only cost me about a hundred and fifty thousand. Could’ve been worse. In China or Russia, this goes for over four hundred thousand.”

Trisha’s gaze lingered on the watch. She had always admired it, even saved pictures of it on her wishlist. Jacob caught her looking.

“I’ll get you one for your next birthday,” he said smoothly. “Engraved with your name. Stylish.”

Trisha looked away, unsure how to respond.

“Anyway,” she said after a pause, “Max, meet Evelyn. She’s a dear friend.”

Max extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Evelyn barely acknowledged him. She glanced at his wet hoodie and the polythene bag beside him. 

She turned away before Max could reply, leaving his hand hanging in the air.

Ethan’s sharp eyes caught the polythene bag near Max’s chair. He leaned over to Jacob, whispering something.

Jacob turned, smiling. “So, Max, what did you bring our dear Trisha for her birthday? I’m sure it must be... thoughtful.”

Laughter snickered beneath the surface.

Max stood slowly, pulled the bag from under the chair, and opened it.

Out came the Fashion Class 3X.

Gasps echoed around the room.

The real one. The same one Gina had flaunted, claiming it was unavailable. The same bag Trisha had tried—and failed—to get her hands on.

Silence.

Then murmurs.

Then disbelief.

“Wait, that’s the real Class 3X,” someone whispered.

“Those were sold out weeks ago…”

“Where did he get that?”

Trisha’s eyes widened. “Max… how did you…”

“I got lucky,” he said softly, offering it to her.

Trisha reached out with trembling hands, brushing the sleek leather surface. The very bag she had cried over not getting.

Gina stared, frozen, her smug smile erased.

Jacob’s mouth opened, then closed again.

Ethan sat back, seething.

Max said nothing more.

He had made his

statement without a single insult, without a single boast.

But then Jacob spoke.