THE UPSTANDING DAVID MALCOLM

Chapter 9

At that moment Alexander’s chest burned with rage, his pride shredded into pieces. The thought of giving away two million dollars to a worthless old man twisted his gut like a knife. But every time his eyes met David’s, the fury in his heart was drowned by a stronger fear the fear of being struck down again.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, but he forced a smile and nodded over and over. “Yes… yes, the old man deserves it,” he stammered. His voice cracked as he added, “Forgive me… I was wrong to offer him less.”

The crowd looked on in shock. Some could hardly believe what they were seeing: Alexander George, the untouchable heir of the George family, nodding like a whipped dog and apologizing to a nobody.

The old man’s face lit with tears of relief. He clutched the heavy briefcase to his chest as though it were his very soul. His knees bent as he bowed low toward David. “Thank you! Thank you, young man! You saved my daughter’s life!” His voice trembled, but his gratitude rang clear. He hurried toward the exit, still glancing back at David with watery eyes, blessing him under his breath.

David gave him a small nod, then turned his gaze back to Alexander. His voice was calm, sharp, and final. “Leave this bank. Now.”

Alexander didn’t hesitate. He spun on his heels and bolted for the doors, his once-proud stride reduced to a frantic run. His bodyguards limped after him, broken and humiliated. Outside, he scrambled into his Rolls Royce, slammed the door, and barked at the driver to move. The car peeled away from the bank, its roar fading into the distance.

The hall remained in stunned silence until the heavy doors swung open once more.

Then a group of uniformed security officers stormed in, their boots striking the marble floor in unison. Behind them marched the bank manager, his face dark with anger. His eyes locked on David at once, his voice booming across the room.

“David, how dare you cause trouble here!”

But David didn't say anything.

“How dare you cause trouble here!!”

The sharp bark came again, but this time it was from a woman’s voice. David turned slightly and saw her Olivia Brown, Elizabeth’s younger sister. Her steps were quick, her chin raised high, her eyes blazing with contempt. She stormed into the hall as if she owned it, her words cutting through the tense silence.

David recognized her instantly but spared her no more than a passing glance. Without a word, he turned away and continued toward the exit.

Olivia’s eyes widened in disbelief. Did he just ignore me? Her pride flared, and her anger grew hotter with each of David’s calm steps. She knew exactly why her sister must have already gone through with the divorce. That explained his arrogance. Still, she couldn’t allow him to leave like this, not after ruining the bank’s image by fighting inside its walls.

“Stop right there, David!” she snapped, her voice echoing. “Take one more step, and I’ll file for the police to arrest you for destroying our property and assaulting our customers!, and I will make sure you go to jail.”

Her words sliced through the crowd, making the onlookers murmur nervously. David stopped mid-step, his back still to her. Olivia’s cheeks lifted into a smug smile, her confidence swelling.

She stepped forward gallantly, her heels striking against the marble like a drumbeat of authority. “Good,” she said, her voice laced with pride. “Now, get on your knees and apologize to me. Do that, or I will drag you into court myself.”

David slowly turned his head toward her, his gaze calm, almost bored. His voice was steady, but it struck like thunder. “Then let’s meet in court.”

The simple words froze Olivia where she stood. Her heart skipped a beat, the confidence draining from her face as the weight of his response sank in. Before she could even gather her thoughts, David had already turned and walked out of the building.

Her expression twisted dark. Rage bubbled up inside her chest, choking her with humiliation. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms. Under her breath, she spat curses at David, seething with venom.

Turning to her assistant, her tone was cold and sharp. “Contact the police,” she ordered. “I’ll make sure that man regrets ever walking out of my sight like that.”

*

The air felt sharp and new around David as he stepped out of the bank. He breathed in deep. It felt like the first breath after a long storm. He was free now. Part of him was surprised by how things turned out. Part of him felt calm. This was better. He would make Elizabeth pay for what she did.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. His thumb moved fast. He dialed a number. The call clicked through and a woman answered right away. Her voice was crisp and respectful.

“Elizabeth has divorced me,” David said, his voice low. “Pull out all our people from Hills National Bank. I want that bank to crumble within seventy-two hours.”

“Yes, sir!” the woman replied, firm and quick. Respect hung in her tone like a shield.

She spoke again, softer this time. “Master, your family were thinking of coming for the wedding. What do I tell them? Your father is desperate for you to get married. You blew your chance with Elizabeth. Now he might want to choose a wife for you. Unless you find somebody to replace Elizabeth before the week runs out, you may be stuck with a stranger.”

David’s brow moved a little. His father would not stop until he married. Sofia was right. He needed someone. But his heart was heavy and raw. He breathed slow and kept his eyes on the street. He waited a moment before he spoke.

“I will deal with that later,” he said at last. “Meanwhile, how much is one red moonstone worth now?”

“Ten thousand dollars, sir,” the woman answered.

David thought fast. His plan cut clean in his mind. “Sell one million of my red moonstone.”

On the line, a small sound of surprise came from Sofia. “One million? Are you sure, sir?” she asked.

David kept his voice even. “Yes. Sell them.”

Sofia paused, then asked, “What are you planning to use ten billion dollars for?”

David’s mouth made a thin line. He did not smile. “What does that have to do with you, Sofia? I’ll tell you one thing. I plan to buy Hills National Bank and all the Brown family assets.”

Just as he ended the call he received a bank alert.

[Ten billion dollars credited to your account.]