RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE.

Cinema in the street

Elijah froze in place.

The city was still buzzing but the cacophonies faded in Elijah's ear.

He blinked. "Mum?” The words barely formed out of his mouth— disbelief and confused.

Maybe the scammers want to use his emotions against him after their first attempt didn't work out. Because he's just an orphan. He has no parents. No family and just one friend, Dave.

Elena who was his girlfriend had just broken up with him.

“Yes, son..it's mum..it's your mother.” The voice of the women trembled. Elijah Heard her sniffing. Probably she's shedding tears too.

Elijah gulped hard. Nothing was making sense. His confusion deepened like an old dried well.

The woman continued with the shaky voice, her emotions spilling with each word she utters. “Can...can you just stay there son.. please, stay there...I'll send people to take you.” He said and the line went dead.

With a racing heart— confusion and curiosity, the phone slipped from his ear. He tried to make sense out of the call he just answered but nothing was adding up.

He stared at the screen only to see the phone was dead. Quickly, he rushed to a nearby store.

“Please sir, can I have your phone..I need to make a call..” He pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.

The man who had a black lips like someone who started smoking from a young age glared at him.

“Who the fuck are you? Get the hell out of here you beggar!!" He barked and people behind him laughed at Elijah mockingly.

But Elijah didn't back down. “I'm not a beggar..I just need your help..”

It was sudden, and Elijah didn't see it coming.

A woman from the second floor of the building poured down dirty water on Elijah. It splashes on his body, drenching his cloth and soaking him to the bone.

Laughter erupted from the men drinking in the store.

"You useless beggar!! Are you still waiting there!!"

Elijah couldn't move. He was covered with the stinking water and shame. Their laughter echoed in his ear as droplets of the dirty water tickled from the hem of his cloth.

Then—

Screeches of tires vibrated the air.

People turned, Men stopped drinking, Hawkers paused, watching with keen interest. A few drivers pulled over at the curb, curious.

Fleets of cars up to five. Cars that steal attention and catch it— sleek, new and sharp, glowing under the street light, pulled over at the curb.

The onlookers gasped. Murmuring buzzed in the air.

“Oh my God!! Isn't that the latest Maybach gls 680?!”

“The owner must be filthy rich! Who could it be and what is the person doing in the street!?"

Devices hung in the air, cameras activated and capturing the scene. It looks like a movie set or a cinema but it was far from it. It's not a Sham. It's reality. A fascinating reality, maybe!

The door of the cars swung open with practiced ease. The air shifted. Time paused. Eyes of onlookers were wide— curious and sharp.

Men dressed in crisp black suits stepped out of the cars at the same time. They look sharp, imposing and intimidating.

Then another man in a well tailored white suit stepped out lastly. The doors closed behind with a dull thud.

The atmosphere quieted. Tension thickened in the air. Everyone watched. Elijah inclusive.

Jaws dropped. Flashes of lights from cameras flicked frantically in the air.

The men didn't walk. The matched with precision and purpose. The murmurs followed them behind but none of them stopped.

Elijah looked up. The men were advancing towards him. His heart skipped as different possibilities reeled in his mind.

Could it be that Clinton Kenneth sent ruffians after him? He knew the man is dangerous. He's not just an ordinary President of Alvin University. He is more. He has connections with powerful men in the city, business magnates, Giant investors and maybe some secretive deadly organizations.

The men halted before Elijah. Everywhere quieted. Everyone was curious. The store owner who berated Elijah earlier watched keenly, wondering what business a beggar like Elijah has with the men in lavish suits.

His wife, who poured Elijah water earlier stood at the top with another bucket of dirty water, watching the scene.

Elijah's heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't what everyone expected but it happened. Gasps of shock rippled in the air like gas.

The men bowed to their waist before Elijah. “Young master! We finally found you!!" They chorused. Their voices hung in the air.

Gasps.

The bucket of water slipped from the woman upstairs as she was wrapped in a cocoon of shock.

The store man who saw sipping beer from a bottle was devastated with shock. The bottle of beer slipped from his grip and smatched to the ground, the shards and liquid splashing all over the floor.

Time seemed to pause.

Elijah Blinked, wondering what was going on.

The men were still in the Bowing posture like men under the obedience of a great commander.

Elijah couldn't talk. Not yet. His voice caught in his throat. It looks like he wasn't drenched in the dirty water again but Confusion.

“Who..who..are you?” He finally found his voice. It was trembling with fear, confusion and curiosity.

“Do you give us the permission to raise our head, young master?" The man in white suit asked from his tilted posture.

Elijah couldn't believe it. Someone seeking permission from him, to straighten up? Was this a dream? Some kind of astonishing hallucination?!

“Yes.. yes.” He retorted With a quivering voice.

The men raised their heads. The man on white suit who looks like their boss took a step forward. Elijah observed him. He looks scared.. maybe cautious. Was this all about him?

“My name is Ben Barnabas, the butler of the Everest family.” The man paused, the smile on his face deepening like a kid who tasted ice cream for the first time.

“I know you have a lot of questions to ask but if you'll please follow us, you'll get the answers you need from Queen Emilia.”

“Queen Emilia?" Elijah raised a brow. “Who is she?"

Ben didn't stop smiling as he answered politely. "You'll get the answers you need when you get to the Queen's Mansion, Young master.”

Elijah gulped hard.

Could this be related to the Call he got earlier?

Is this a kidnap attempt?

Elijah's wasn't settled.