RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE.

Prince now, king later.

Elijah froze at the spot in shock.

No, this couldn't be real. That freaking amount. Is it even real! He had never heard anyone call such an amount before in his face before but his mother—

She just called did it...No, she handed it to him in a smart card like it was nothing....like it was just a peasant amount!

$10 million dollars?!

Not even in his wildest and fantasical hallucination had he imagined such a heavy amount.

Hell, that amount is some people's salary for 10 years! Now, it was just an upkeep for him?

The calm way his mother pronounced the amount as though it was just nothing...She didn't even blink..her voice didn't hitch. It was still, calm and smooth like plastic fiber, velvet like silk.

He imagined and even wondered how much more his mother has..his family's net worth, if $10 million dollars can be given out just like a piece of paper for just upkeep!

Seeing the look of awe in his eyes, Queen Emilia smiled at him. But she suddenly frowned slightly, mistaking Elijah's expression for dissatisfaction.

She took a step closer, heel clicking sharply, concern etched on her face.

“Is that amount too small? I can just add to it. I can ask Ben to top it. Six more figures.” She said calmly, voice toned with worry and eagerness to brace her words with quick actions.

More surprises to Elijah's shock.

He saw her mother grabbing her phone again. Maybe to call Ben like she said and top the staggering figures already sitting in his account.

Was he dreaming right now?

But Elijah's silky voice put her to a stop. “No..mum.” His voice cracked under the weight of everything that just unfolded. But it was just starting to.

Queen Emilia lowered her phone from her ear, eyes locked on him.

“No?" She raised a sculpted brow.

Elijah gulped, his palm jelly; Not from tension but out of sheer astonishment. A mix of disbelief and shock registered in his eyes refusing to plunge.

“I mean...the amount..isn't that too much?” His voice cracked under the pressure of the surprise.

Queen Emilia dropped her hand to the side. He lips curled, a small genuine smile playing on her glossy lips.

“It's just a small amount, son. You deserve more and you'll get the prize.” She said.

Elijah smiled faintly. Too faint. He was still in shock.

His heart tightened as memories of his past life flooded...a few hours ago and even, just a day ago, he was a nobody. Someone who feeds on crumbs. He recalled the days he'll crawl to his discomforting bed on an empty stomach and the worm in his stomach would sing till the break of a new dawn.

Going to classes and acting like he was all fine, disregarding the students mocking his withered outfits and outclassed appearance. He remembered a girl calling him wreck, the guy who tagged him filth and his name was mentioned in the school W*****pp group. It wasn't for something useful but just that they wanted to humiliate him in the online space...

He was called the poorest boy on campus and that was true. Past now.

Using all sorts of terrible and horrible emojis and stickers to shame him...

And his girlfriend. No, ex–girlfriend. His heart tightened with a sharp pang of pain. Her betrayal, the words she spat to his face. It tore his heart like a dagger but surprisingly, it didn't hurt anymore...the bleed is gone but the scar remains but now deeper than something more than just hurt... Anger.

But yet—

Elijah wished she was here with him in this new paradise but that wasn't happening anymore. Hell!

She blindsided him, tossed him like a waste and she sold herself cheaply...maybe expensively...Clinton Kenneth is a big dog in the city afteall.

The bling Blings she had always craved, the penthouse she had always dreamed about and the fancy vacation in a yacht she had always cried about. She might have it now but Elijah can buy that life now, sell it, toss it even and then buy it at a bigger price. A middle finger for her.

She's the one who lost. And she doesn't matter to him anymore.

His mother's who had been on call all along broke through his disquieting train of thoughts.

“I'll like to introduce you as my son, the future heir of the Everest dynasty tomorrow.” She said, her voice signalling delight and glee over the intention.

Elijah didn't talk for some moments. Another surprise? God!

$10 million dollars in his account..and now an heir to a dynasty?

He had heard rumours which wasn't his interest then except now, about the Everest consortiums. They're giant and they pulsed the economy of the world. The world doesn't rotate around them, they rotate the world like it was created just for them to control.

Everest is a myth, a powerful nation on its own. They have places at different corners of countries in the world just like they secured spaces in the heart of the people. The media must release bullets about the magnanimous consortium with each day that passes.

How they donate. Giving yet another opportunity and greener spots for the unemployed. The illiterates aren't left out too. Everest has a befitting space for everyone without downgrading.

They touched every aspect of life and business.. Technology, Science and health, banking and finance, fishing firms, Fabrics and attires and much more too much to be counted.

That gigantic group. That heavy nation that the world tilted on for support was what Elijah was asked to control. It has been his mother all this while.

Too surreal. A fucking wild dream..but clean reality.

She's the queen. Queen Emilia who controls the affairs of the world from the shadows. No one knows her face but even at that, her name speaks louder in her absence. Everyone feared and respected the name. She's a phantom.

Musicians always use her name in their songs as though it was another melody that'll make their music fast sell.

That woman is her mother.

Damn! The Queen? It felt surreal.

Elijah's mind spiralled as different thoughts kept tumbling in.

Her mother is still quite young and she has been handling the businesses really well. Why would she decide immediately to hand over everything to him. Elijah felt it...this wasn't about just an introduction. It is duty. Could there be a reason for her quick decision?

The queen sensed the hesitation.

“If you don't want to get introduced outrightly, I understand, son. Just breathe. You're the future of this family. You are always free to feed me on whenever you're ready.” She said, smiling small.

Elijah smiled, his mind reeling. And then it stopped—

“What about keeping things low for now while I get used to the system?” He lifted his chin.

The queen stared at the prince, the future king and nodded her head gently, thrice after processing his last suggestion.

She smiled.

“Good, King. You have it your way.”