THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW

~ 6 ~

A while later, Zach stood before the Five Star Bank, his clothes a patchwork of soot and grim of sorts thanks to the fire from the burnt house, his face smeared with exhaustion and faint hope. The murmurs of people passing by stung like needles, their eyes scanning him with disdain. 

Even the guards exchanged glances but made no move. This was a prestigious bank, often housing low-profile billionaires. The guards wouldn’t risk making a mistake by ejecting someone who might secretly own half the city.

Zach walked to an ATM machine, clutching the black card tightly. He inserted it, his fingers trembling slightly. His real birthday—27-09-1998—replayed in his mind. He took a deep breath and entered the pin, hitting the button to check the balance.

The screen blinked once, twice, and then froze entirely. The green interface flickered and vanished, replaced by a cryptic message. A loud beep echoed through the hall, turning every head towards him.

“What’s going on?” murmured a customer.

“Must be a system error,” said another.

Zach’s brow furrowed. Before he could step away, two bank staff appeared, their eyes narrowing as they approached him.

“Excuse me, sir,” one said, his tone sharp. “This isn’t a public facility. Where did you get that card?”

“I’m the holder,” Zach replied evenly, though his embarrassment seeped into his voice.

The second staff member, a woman with sharp features, sneered. “The holder? Dressed like that? Please. You probably found it on the street.”

Their voices drew the attention of more staff and customers.

“You think someone like him could be a top-tier client?” a cocky female staff member chimed in, loud enough for everyone to hear. “He probably stole it. Guards, get him out of here before he embarrasses himself further.”

Zach’s cheeks flushed red. The humiliation burned hotter than the fire that had consumed his home. “I’ll leave,” he muttered, his voice low, “no need to throw me out.”

He turned to go when a commanding voice stopped him. “Wait.”

Heads turned as a tall, poised woman strode into the hall. She was stunning, her sharp suit tailored perfectly, her dark hair pulled into an elegant bun. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, and every staff member bowed in deference. She was the bank's Manager.

“Ms. Barbara,” someone whispered.

“Who caused the system freeze?” Barbara asked, her voice calm but firm, her sharp eyes scanning the room.

The cocky staff member stepped forward. “Ma’am, we were just handling a vagrant who—”

Barbara cut her off with a raised hand. “I’m not asking for your opinions. I’m asking who accessed the account that froze our system.”

Fingers pointed at Zach. “Him,” they said, their voices tinged with disdain.

Barbara’s gaze landed on Zach, and her sharp expression softened with surprise. “You?”

The staff around her began to whisper among themselves.

“Yes, Ms. Barbara,” the cocky staff member sneered. “We were just about to remove him.”

Barbara’s face darkened. “Remove him?” she echoed. Her voice rose, each word laced with icy authority. “This man holds the position of most exclusive VIP in this bank! And you dared to insult him?”

The hall fell silent, the cocky staff member’s smirk fading into sheer terror. “M-Ma’am, I didn’t know—”

“Enough!” Barbara snapped. “Your behavior is disgraceful. Apologize. Now.”

The cocky staff member turned to Zach, her face pale. “I-I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean—”

Barbara interrupted. “Your apology means nothing. You’re suspended. Effective immediately.”

One by one, Barbara pointed at each staff member who had mocked Zach. “You’re suspended. You too. And you.”

Their protests were drowned out by her unwavering tone. “Five Star Bank’s reputation depends on respect and professionalism. You’ve failed at both.”

Zach stood rooted to the spot, stunned. Him, the most exclusive VIP of the greatest bank in the city? It felt surreal, a dream he never dared to have.

It wasn’t until the rudest staff member clasped her hands and begged him for forgiveness that reality began to sink in.

But his mind raced with one burning question: How much could be in the account to freeze an entire bank?

Barbara straightened her suit, her tone now measured with professionalism but softened with an air of regret. 

“Mr. Zach,” she began, her eyes meeting his with a sincerity that disarmed him. “I deeply apologize for the earlier misunderstanding. I’m Barbara Davis, the Manager here. Allow me to personally assist you.”

Zach nodded stiffly, still processing the whirlwind of events.

She led him through a polished hallway to a private room, its decor minimalist yet intimidatingly luxurious. At the center stood a reinforced ATM machine encased in a sleek security frame. With a swipe of her keycard, Barbara unlocked the system, gesturing for Zach to step forward.

“This is a secured terminal,” she explained. “Please proceed with the same pin.”

Zach hesitated, glancing at her, then at the machine. He slowly entered the pin, his fingers trembling as he pressed the buttons.

The screen blinked, processing for a moment before displaying the balance.

$100,812,947,450.63

His breath hitched, and he instinctively took a step back. “This… this has to be a mistake.”

Barbara’s calm smile didn’t waver. “No mistake, Mr. Zach. This account was set up for you specifically. With it comes elite privileges, including my personal assistance in managing your finances.”

“Personal assistance?” Zach echoed, his voice low, almost disbelieving.

“Yes,” she replied, her voice firm. “You are our only elite client. We are at your service—whether you need financial advice, asset management, or access to exclusive opportunities. Whatever you require, consider it done.”

He rubbed his temples, trying to grasp it all. The words of Laura from earlier flooded back to him: “You are the leader of Dominion’s Shadow—the most powerful and secretive organization in the country…”

He blinked, his mind racing. Earlier today, he was confirmed dead. Then he had risen, fought five men single-handedly, and now stood here, a cardholder of unimaginable wealth.

Barbara interrupted his spiraling thoughts gently. “Mr. Zach, is there anything you need immediately?”

“A house,” he admitted after a pause. “I need a place to stay.”

Barbara’s expression lit up. “Of course.”

She excused herself briefly, made a quick phone call, then returned with a confident smile. “It’s done. We have a top-tier villa ready for you. You can move in today.”

Zach’s jaw dropped. “Today?”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “It’s our only best available property. Fully furnished and secure.”

He stared at her, stunned and utterly speechless.