My Quadrillionaire System

#3#

The receptionist looked at Kai like he was something stuck to her shoe. 

"Listen, we don't have any toilets for you to clean here. No vomit to mop up either. This is a hospital, not a homeless shelter."

Kai's head throbbed where Chase had kicked him. His vision blurred at the edges. He needed medical attention.

"I understand," he said softly. "I just need to see a doctor. I can pay."

The woman laughed. Actually laughed. "Sure you can, honey. They all say that. You know what? I'm calling security."

She picked up her phone. Kai didn't argue. He just stood there, waiting quietly while she made the call. A security guard appeared a minute later, already looking annoyed.

"What's the problem?"

"This man is bothering patients. I think he's homeless or on drugs. Can you escort him out?"

The guard looked at Kai's stained janitor uniform and bruised face. His expression said everything.

Before anyone could move, the automatic doors slid open.

Brett Harrison walked in.

Everything changed instantly.

The receptionist's face transformed. Her scowl vanished, replaced by a warm, professional smile. She practically jumped out of her chair.

"Mr. Harrison! Welcome back! How wonderful to see you! How can we help you today?"

Brett was tall, blonde, expensive watch glinting under the fluorescent lights. He wore casual clothes that probably cost more than Kai's monthly rent. The same guy who had recorded him barking at the gala. One of Chase's closest friends.

Brett glanced at the reception area and froze. His eyes landed on Kai. For a second he looked confused. Then recognition hit and his face split into a huge grin.

"Oh my God! Is that... it IS! The dog from the video!"

He walked closer, laughing so hard he had to stop and catch his breath. The receptionist looked confused.

"The what?"

"The dog! The janitor dog! You haven't seen it?" Brett pulled out his phone, fingers flying across the screen. "Here. EVERYONE has seen this."

He turned his phone to show the receptionist. Kai heard his own voice coming from the speaker. Barking. The sound of laughter. Rebecca's voice saying something cruel.

The receptionist's eyes went wide. She looked at the phone, then at Kai, then back at the phone.

"That's him? That's actually him?"

"In the flesh!" Brett was almost bouncing with excitement. "This mutt barked TEN TIMES for my friend Chase. On his knees like a real dog! Best thing I've ever seen!"

Other staff members were gathering now. A nurse. An orderly. They crowded around Brett's phone, watching the video. Kai heard his own humiliation playing on repeat.

Someone gasped. Someone else laughed. The nurse covered her mouth but her eyes were amused.

"Oh wow," the receptionist said. "That's really pathetic."

"Right?" Brett turned to look at Kai, grinning like this was the best day of his life. "So what are you doing here, dog? Did you get hit by a car while chasing one? That would explain the brain damage."

The staff laughed. The security guard was smirking now too.

Brett walked in a circle around Kai like he was examining livestock. "Or wait, did your owner bring you in? Where's Rebecca? Oh right, she dumped you for a real man! For Chase! Because you're not actually a man, are you? You're a trained animal."

More laughter. Someone was recording now. Kai saw at least two phones pointed at him.

He took a slow breath. His head still throbbed. His ribs ached from where Chase had kicked them. But his voice came out soft and steady.

"I'm here for medical attention."

The room erupted in laughter.

Brett doubled over, slapping his knee. "Medical attention! Oh that's rich! They have veterinary clinics for animals, buddy. This place is for actual humans."

The nurse was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. The receptionist had given up all pretense of professionalism. Even the security guard was chuckling.

"Maybe he needs his shots!" someone called out.

"Check him for fleas!" another voice added.

Brett was eating it up, playing to his audience. "Honestly though, what kind of medical attention do dogs need? A cone around his neck? Some dewormers?"

The automatic doors opened again.

A doctor walked through. Middle aged, graying hair, expensive watch that matched Brett's. He had the bearing of someone very important and very aware of it. His name tag read Dr. Raymond Walsh.

He was looking at his tablet, not paying attention, until Brett called out.

"Hey Doc!"

Dr. Walsh looked up. When he saw Brett, his whole demeanor changed. The distracted expression vanished. He smiled, warm and welcoming, and walked over quickly.

"Mr. Harrison! What a pleasant surprise! Is everything alright? Do you need immediate attention?"

"Hey Doc, I'm fine. Just here for my regular checkup." Brett grinned. "But you've got a pest problem."

He pointed at Kai.

Dr. Walsh looked confused. The receptionist hurried over, showing him her phone. The video played again. Kai watched the doctor's face as he absorbed what he was seeing. His expression shifted from confusion to disgust to dark amusement.

"Oh. OH!" The doctor looked at Kai like he'd just noticed a stain on his carpet. "You're the one from that video. The janitor who barked."

"Ten times!" Brett added helpfully. "Like a trained circus animal!"

Dr. Walsh studied Kai with cold, clinical interest. The way someone might look at a particularly unpleasant medical specimen.

"So you're real. I thought it might have been staged. Some kind of social experiment. But you actually did that. You actually got on your knees and barked like a dog for entertainment."

He turned back to Brett, his voice apologetic. "Mr. Harrison, I'm so sorry that you have to share space with... this. If I'd known he was here, I would have had him removed immediately."

"It's fine, Doc. Kind of entertaining actually. Like a zoo."

Dr. Walsh nodded, then turned to Kai. His voice was cold and sharp. "What are you doing here? Did you get confused? The veterinary clinic is on Fifth Street. Across town. That's where animals go."

The staff laughed again. Someone was definitely still recording.

The doctor continued, gaining momentum. "Or maybe you got hurt while licking someone's shoes? That seems more your speed, based on that video. Tell me, does your tongue hurt from all that boot licking?"

Kai's head throbbed harder. His vision blurred. But his voice stayed soft and calm.

"This is a hospital, not a video center. I need medical attention."

Dr. Walsh's expression hardened. "Medical attention? Do you even know how much that costs? This isn't a free clinic. This isn't a charity. We serve paying patients."

"Doc, don't waste your breath." Brett stepped closer, looking down at Kai. "Things like this don't understand money. It probably thinks a dollar bill is something to chew on."

Dr. Walsh nodded. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Harrison. I apologize for this disturbance." He turned to the security guard. "Escort this person out. Immediately."

The guard stepped forward, reaching for Kai's arm.

Kai didn't move. His voice stayed soft.

"I can pay."

Everyone stopped.

There was a beat of silence. Then Brett burst into loud, explosive laughter. He actually had to lean against the reception desk for support.

"It can pay! Did you hear that, Doc? The dog says it can pay!"

Dr. Walsh smirked. "Pay with what? The coins people threw at you in that video? I saw that part too. Very generous of them. What did you make, three dollars in quarters?"

The receptionist joined in. "Maybe he collected tips from the trash cans he empties."

Brett was still laughing, wiping tears from his eyes. "Wait, wait. This is too good. Dog, do you even know how much medical care costs here?"

Kai said nothing. Just waited.

Brett took his silence as an invitation to continue. "A basic checkup is five hundred bucks. FIVE HUNDRED. For a doctor to just look at you for ten minutes. A full examination with tests? Three thousand dollars. THREE. THOUSAND."

He emphasized each word like he was talking to a child or someone who didn't speak English.

Brett's voice got louder. "That's more than you make in half a year mopping floors and licking boots. Hell, that's probably more than your entire life is worth. You're not worth three thousand dollars. You're barely worth three cents."

Dr. Walsh was nodding along, arms crossed. "Mr. Harrison is absolutely right. This is a premium medical facility. We serve a certain clientele. People with actual resources. People with actual value to society."

He looked at Kai with pure contempt. "Not... whatever you are."

Brett was really getting into it now, performing for his audience of staff members. "Come on, admit it. You don't have three thousand. You don't have three hundred. You probably don't even have three dollars. You spent your last money on that Uber here, didn't you? And now you're standing here pretending you can afford medical care like you're a real person."

The staff was watching. Several phones were recording. This would probably be another viral video by tonight. "Dog Tries To Get Medical Care, Gets Destroyed."

Brett's voice rose. "You came here thinking what? That they'd treat you for free? That someone would take pity on the viral dog? That some bleeding heart doctor would feel sorry for you?"

Dr. Walsh uncrossed his arms. "I think we've wasted enough time on this. Mr. Harrison needs his checkup and I'm sure he'd prefer not to have this... situation... contaminating the waiting room." He nodded to the security guard. "Remove him. Now."

The guard reached for Kai's arm again, grip firm this time.

Kai looked at Dr. Walsh. Then at Brett. Then at all the staff members watching and recording. His head still throbbed. His vision still blurred. But his voice came out soft and clear.

"I'll pay double."