THE SECRET BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 5

It was similar to a gas blasting out from a gas containment. Carl gently pushed Cassandra to the sides and a slap, thunderous and deafening slammed in his face.

Everyone gasped.

A deaf man who standing in front of a store turned like he has just regained his hearing sense.

Henry head snapped to the side, he staggered like a drunkard, nearly crushed by a speeding car and he collapsed into his car, damaging it further.

Blood spilled from his mouth and two of his teeth was been driven out of his mouth by the slap.

He panicked, seeing blood dripping to his suit.

Cassandra looked at Carl in surprise, wondering if he had just stuck Henry's face with an iron because even the five finger prints were plump on his face like ethnic mark. It flush red.

She'd thought this man was just an ordinary cleaner but what she'd just witnessed couldn't be done by an extraordinary man.

Her grandfather had always told her only powerful men do powerful things.

And Carl simply brushed invisible dust off his shirt as though he wasn't aware of the damage he just caused to his enemies.

He raised his head, disregarded the look on her face and shoved the cheque into her hand.

“I don't need this. Thanks. You can call me whenever you need me. My number is at the back. You're my responsibility now. ” He simply said and walked out, leaving the street shocked.

Who is this man? That was the only question Cassandra asked herself.

Carl alighted from a taxi in the main city. Everywhere looks different. In just two years, buildings had expanded into towers and the streets had been restructured.

In that same ordinary cloth, he walked into Van cleef and Arpels. A high–end jewelry store. He could only imagine the look on Elira's face when she set her eyes on him after all these years and when he finally gave her the surprise he intended. She'd given him a child too. His wife, the mother of her kid.

Soft lights glowed in the ambient. Workers with smiles on their faces welcome Customers into the space which could pass for a palace of fortunes and gold. Sleek cut-outs caught the light and bounced it faintly. Jewelries, masterpiece of arts and designs nestled inside of a show glass. Some were displayed on the jewel bust. They didn't glow, they glint, Scattering the light like scintillations.

Soft conversations weaved in the air. It wasn't a buzz. It was a hum of wealth. Only those with millions in their bank account dare step into a place like Van Cleef.

Carl moved from one optical display stand to the next, admiring each neckpiece but he wasn't satisfied yet. He'd not see exactly what he wanted. Elira deserves the best. Something to make her scream happy.

He turned to the nearest staff member, a female with the name; Violet, created on her badge. She turned, smiling at him professionally, her expression calm like one who's used to counting billions.

“Welcome to Van cleef, Sir. What would you like to get from us?" Violet greeted with a smile but the man who she was attending to before Carl called her hissed, looked Carl up and down like a piece of rag that was dragged into the place.

Carl didn't look at his side.

He smiled at Violet, genuine but small. “Thanks. I need the best neckpiece here. I don't mind the price. I just need the best but it should be something silvery.” Carl smiled. He still remember clearly Elira's choice of jewelries. She doesn't fancy gold.

Violet nodded, her smile widening. “You're just at the right place, Sir. We sell the best jewelry here,” She moved to a glass where a diamond rimmed Necklace was displayed, glinting like constellations. Only few customers were there which is to say even millions Hardly hover around that section.

“This is the heritage of Bloom. 384. 4 karat diamond,”

Carl nodded his head, admiring the neckpiece. "And how much is it?" He asked casually.

Violet turned to him, smiling. "$200 million dollars.” She stated, watchful for a slight lamentation from Carl or a flicker of hesitations and reluctance but she was surprised. He didn't flinch.

Many millions and even billions would have turn away immediately. But this man dressed in plain trousers and a piece of shirts that was could barely be called clothes didn't bat an eyebrow at the call of $200 million dollars.

Maybe he didn't hear him clearly. Maybe Carl heard $2000 dollars. Her voice came again without Carl asking.

“It's $200 million dollars, Sir.”

Carl nodded gently, studying the neckpiece, imagining how perfect it'll hold on Elira's neck. Elira would have thought he'd forgotten her birthday. She's going to be shocked.

“I'll take it.” He simply said.

Violet smiled, masking an expression of astonishment beneath. Murmurs hovered as people stared at Carl. He look misgiving. Some hissed, murmuring that he'd came for window shopping, some look him from head to toe, tagged him insignificant because his cloth was a far cry from the suits and expensive gowns they wore.

“You can pay over there, Sir.” Violet gestured at the payment stand.

Carl walked over with Violet beside him. “Heritage of Bloom.” She simply told the fat lady cashier like it was a norm.

The cashier's eyes lifted, shock flashing within. She didn't even give Carl a single glance because he looks out of league of people who could afford a million dollar Necklace. He's probably the new janitor the manager said would join them last week.

“We have a big Client? A giant investor?” She whispered, amusement tingling in her voice.

Violet smiled at her. A faint smile. “Something like that. New customer.” She replied.

“Gracious!! Where is he!" She gasped.

“Here. I'm paying with card.” Carl who had been watching with a faint smile slide his card across. It was a rare. Obsidian Black, sleek. It has just a letter ‘C’ scribbled in gold.

Violet held a gasp.

But the fat Cashier gasped out, her eyes flashing with shock. She didn't see that coming. That the man beside her was the big customer. Her mouth opened to speak but no words came. Just air. Like a fish struggling for water at the shore. And the card? She's never seen any of its kind.

“How...how much do you say is the necklace?” She suddenly lost her memory out of the sheer shock, her voice cracked like a damaged diskette.

“$200 million dollars, Alisha.” Violet replied quickly already getting impatient.

She swallowed, held the card carefully like it was a treasure. Of course it is. Inside of that sleek car was trillions of Dollars.

He slipped the card into the payment machine with a shaking hand.

“Your pin, Sir.” She said quietly after few taps on the screen.

Carl input his pin while Alisha quickly process it, her finger shaking.

PING!

She couldn't speak for some moments, her eyes widened like she had seen a horrific movie on the screen.

“It's...$200 million dollars had been transferred.” Her voice trembling like a disturbance. Violet stood straighter. She couldn't mask her surprise now.