System Revenge: From Trash Boy to Top Boss

Chapter 18

It was a night that was marked by so much excitement and so much anticipation. The huge hall, used for lecture halls, classrooms and the like, was now lit up, music was played and the atmosphere was eminently more festive than ever. A line of students, alumni and faculty in their finest clothes came out of the lobby screaming to attend the social event of the year.

Xavier and the guys at his clique, so confident in their social status that they didn’t care what Damon had planned, finally arrived early. They were planning to take their place right by the front door, so as to make Damon and Aria feel as unwelcome as possible. They stood close to the door and began to mock them, with their scripted lines.

“Just wait until Damon comes up, ” Mason sneered, adjusting his heavily-strung tie. We’ll just make sure he knows he's out of place here.

'And Aria, ' Sierra continued, her eyes flashing with horror, 'we're going to make sure she doesn't forgive him ever again.

In the meantime Damon and Aria were in high spirits, preparing for the gala in the elegant surroundings of the dress shop there had first met , her radiant beauty, in a sensuous designer gown that matched the beauty of her natural beauty, had suddenly lost her grip.

"Are you sure about this, Damon, " she asked, a paranoid scream coming down her throat. "I don't want to start a fight. I just want to have a good night.

Damon, tall and handsome in a fully-customizable suit of tuxedo, took her hand, his eyes wide with assurance. "Let me tell you, Aria, " he said quietly, his voice soft and soothing. “Everything would be okay. I'm not letting anyone ruin our night. I promise.”

He pulled her tightly to him, his arms wrapped around her waist, and gently kissed her head. 'Just remember, ' he whispered softly, “ you are the most beautiful, intelligent, wonderful woman in the world. No one should take that from you.”

The anxiety eased a little, Aria smiled. "Thank you, Damon, " she said thankful. "You seem to know what to say.“

With their preparations complete, Damon and Aria stepped into the sleek, black Rolls Royce that was waiting to whisk them away to the gala. As they drove through the city streets, Damon couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He knew that tonight was going to be a turning point, a moment that would define his and Aria's place in the university's social hierarchy.

As they approached the grand hall, Damon noticed Xavier and his clique standing near the entrance, their faces etched with anticipation. He smirked, knowing that they were about to get a rude awakening.

The Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb, and Felix, ever the attentive butler, opened the door for Damon and Aria. As they stepped out of the car, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes were on them, drawn by their undeniable presence and their impeccable style.

Xavier and his clique, momentarily stunned by their arrival, quickly recovered their composure and approached the couple, their faces contorted with disdain.

"Well, well, well," Xavier sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who decided to grace us with their presence. I didn't think you two would have the nerve to show your faces here."

"Yeah," Mason added, his eyes narrowing, "I thought you'd be too busy counting your ill-gotten gains."

"And Aria," Sierra chimed in, her voice laced with venom, "I see you're still trying to cling to Damon's coattails. How pathetic."

Damon, unfazed by their insults, simply smiled. "Good evening, Xavier," he said, his voice calm and composed. "It's so nice to see you again. And to your friends, I trust you're all doing well?"

He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the group, before continuing. "I must say, I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you'd be too busy plotting my downfall to attend such a prestigious event."

Xavier's face flushed with anger. "Don't get cocky, Damon," he spat. "You may have won a few battles, but the war is far from over. We're not going to let you waltz in here and take over our lives. And don’t worry My girlfriend Jane is not here so you don’t have to worry about your broken heart" he said sacarstic ally.

"Oh, really?" Damon said, his voice laced with amusement. "And how do you plan to stop me?"

Before Xavier could respond, Sierra stepped forward, blocking Aria's path. "You're not welcome here, Aria," she said, her voice filled with malice. "This is our event, and we don't want you crashing it."

"Yes, " Harper said, the eyes of disdain flashing in her scorn, "you used to be a star on the university and now you're nothing more than a gatecrasher, a wannabe. You don't fit in here.”

Suddenly momentarily her confidence was shaken, and her eyes began to water with fear. With that a hand reached out and in front of her Aria shielded herself from their insults.

"I think we're done, " he said with a strong, determined voice. "You cannot talk to Aria like that again. She is my guest, and she has the same right to be here as any other person.

He looked over to the people on the organizing committee standing nearby looking nervous and uncomfortable. "I think we have VIP invitations, " Damon said pointing at two carefully-designed cards. "Unless there's been some sort of mistake? "

Before the committee could even stumble into an answer, an enormous shout screeched through the hall. "Mr Damon Newton and Ms Aria, what a pleasure to see you both! Please come in!

All eyes was directed at the president of the university, a broad smile spread across his face, and behind him, a small entourage of most prominent alumni and even a couple of celebrities.

"Mr. President, " Damon said, shook his hand in a warm greeting. "It's a pleasure to be here. I apologize for getting here late. We were just wanting to take a pic with the -- excited welcome committee. " He gestured slowly toward Xavier and his increasing disdainful companions.

The president, naturally, laughed nervously, and they could tell he realized exactly what was happening. "Oh, shit! We're so glad you come here. In fact…” he paused as he got the conversation in more formal tones, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our platinum sponsor for putting up money for tonight's gala. Without their generosity there would be no gala tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Please put hands together to honor... Damon Newton!”

The whole crowd gasped at once. Xavier and all his friends rose to their feet immobile in stunned disbelief. Damon Newton, the pauper, the downtrodden, had been the platinum sponsor of the University Gala. The thing that they had been hoping to use as a distraction to humiliate him had been fund-raiserd by him.

Damon only smiled and sat back soaking up the stunned silence as he turned to Aria, took her hand and led her down into the great hall, leaving Xavier and his friends dumbfounded to the point that the battle had begun - and only Damon Newton had just pulled off the fatal blow.