2026-03-24 11:39:32
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Chapter Seventeen - The Real Card
Thomas took a deep breath, trying to calm the fury still coursing through him.He turned away from the sales associate and James, forcing himself to focus on what truly mattered.He turned to face Duane.His entire demeanor changed immediately. The rage melted away, replaced by something close to fear. His shoulders hunched slightly. His voice, which had been booming with anger moments ago, became soft and cautious."Sir," Thomas said carefully, almost timidly. "I... I hope you can forgive me for what has happened here today. What you've experienced is completely beyond my expectations. This is not how we treat our valued guests. This is not the standard of service Belmont & Sterling is known for."He paused, swallowing hard."I take full responsibility for the failures of my staff. But before we proceed, I need to confirm your identity properly." His voice shook slightly. "Would you please show me your Black Gold Card?"Duane reached into his pocket without a word.He pulled out the
Chapter Sixteen - The Wrong Card
Thomas Phillips stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing.The phone number had been given to him directly by Catherine Hartwell herself. Catherine Hartwell didn't make mistakes.But still, looking at the scene before him, doubt crept in.He narrowed his eyes and studied both men carefully.Duane stood quietly, his clothes simple and plain. A basic shirt, ordinary pants, worn shoes. Nothing about his appearance suggested wealth or status.Thomas could understand a valued guest dressing in middle-class attire to maintain a low profile. Wealthy people did that sometimes, in order to blend in. But dressed the way Duane was? That wasn't middle-class discretion. That was genuinely poor.Thomas's gaze shifted to James, who stood straighter now despite his injuries. James wore a pressed shirt, decent slacks, a watch that looked relatively expensive. He looked presentable. Respectable, even.The sales associate and Sarah both watched Thomas hopefully, waiting for him to make the right deci
Chapter Fifteen - Reckoning
Duane's eyes locked onto James.His voice came out cold and deadly calm."You treated my mother with cruelty," he said quietly. "You tried to have her thrown out of the hospital while she was dying. You slapped the doctor who tried to save her life."James's smirk faltered slightly."And now," Duane continued, his voice dropping lower, "you're provoking me again. Calling me a fraud. A scammer. Trying to have me beaten."He took a step forward."You're going to pay for what you've done."Before anyone could react, Duane’s fist connected with James's jaw with a sickening crack. James stumbled backward, shock flashing across his face.Duane didn't stop. He grabbed James by the collar and hit him again. And again."Stop!" Sarah screamed. "Somebody stop him!"James tried to fight back. He tried to push Duane away, but Duane was fueled by rage. He drove his fist into James's stomach. James doubled over, gasping."Security!" the sales associate shrieked. "Do something!"The two security gua
Chapter Fourteen - Last Chance
She turned slowly toward Duane, her mouth opening to beg for forgiveness, to plead for him to talk to the manager on her behalf.But before she could say a word, James grabbed her arm roughly."Wait," he said urgently. "Don't fall for it."The sales associate looked at him, confused. "What?""Don't you see?" James's voice rose with desperate conviction. "This is all part of his trick! He's scamming you just like he scammed the hospital!""I don't understand –""Listen to me!" James stepped closer, his face flushed. "Yesterday, this man showed up at the hospital where I worked. His mother needed surgery. He didn't have any money. Not a single cent. I saw him myself –broke, desperate, covered in blood."He pointed at Duane with a shaking finger."Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he produces a Black Gold Card. Claims he can pay for everything. The payment goes through. Who would believe that? How does someone go from having nothing to having a Black Gold Card in a matter of hours?"The sal
Chapter Thirteen - The Phone Call
James stared at Duane's phone screen, his face going pale.The name was right there, clear as day: THOMAS PHILLIPS - BELMONT & STERLING MANAGERHis mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.Duane didn't say anything. He simply tapped the green button and put the call on speakerphone.The manager's voice came through immediately, his tone smooth and apologetic. "Mr. Wordsworth! I'm so terribly sorry I haven't arrived yet. Traffic was worse than I expected, but I'm only a few blocks away now. Please forgive the delay."James felt his knees go weak. Sarah grabbed his arm, her face draining of color."That's alright," Duane said calmly into the phone. "But I need to tell you something about my experience at your store so far.""Of course, please. How has everything been? I hope my staff has been taking excellent care of you."Duane's jaw tightened. "Actually, my experience has been terrible."There was a pause on the other end. "I'm sorry? Terrible?""Yes. From the moment I arrived
Chapter Twelve - Mistaken Identity
The sales associate's phone rang.She pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the screen. Her expression immediately changed from smug superiority to nervous professionalism."Excuse me one moment," she said, stepping away from the group. "Hello, Mr. Phillips?"The voice on the other end was crisp and urgent. "Has the distinguished guest arrived yet?"The sales associate glanced around uncertainly. "I'm not sure, sir. There are several customers here right now.""Listen carefully," the manager said. "This guest is extremely important. He was personally recommended by Catherine Hartwell from Pinnacle Reserve Bank. Do you understand what that means?"The sales associate's eyes went wide. "Yes, sir.""Good. Now, this is critical – his appearance might not match our usual wealthy clientele. Don't judge by clothing or first impressions. Just look for someone who seems out of place or different from the normal customers. Has anyone like that arrived?"The sales associate turned and looked
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