The Black Card System

The Banquet of disgrace

CHAPTER 2 — “THE BANQUET OF DISGRACE”

Noah woke up with his head pounding. His eyes opened slowly, and the first thing he noticed was the ceiling. It wasn’t the hallway ceiling. It wasn’t outside. It was the guestroom.

He frowned and sat up a little.

“How… did I get in here?” he whispered.

He didn’t remember walking inside. He didn’t remember anything after… the card. His gaze moved to the bedside drawer. The metallic card sat there, It was not glowing and not moving , his head sounded quiet too , As if last night never happened.

Noah rubbed his face and sighed. “Maybe I was more tired than I thought.”

It wasn’t new, he had strange nights, memory gaps, waking up somewhere he didn’t expect. His life was a blur half the time anyway.

Before he could gather himself, Tara’s sharp voice came from the hallway, he took a deep breath to prepare himself .

“Noah! Get up! We’re leaving in thirty minutes!”

“Yes,” he replied quietly, he didn’t dare to ask where they were going.

He got dressed quickly, simple shirt, simple trousers nothing that made him stand out. That was the rule. Don’t be noticed. Don’t disturb. Just follow.

Downstairs, Tara’s father didn’t even look up from his phone. “You’ll be attending the banquet as staff,” he said. “Not a guest. Don’t stand anywhere near us.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And for God’s sake, don’t embarrass us today,” Tara hissed.

“I’ll try not to…” he murmured.

“Try?” she scoffed. “Do better.”

“ You must have a death wish …Try ?” Tara’s mother scoffed.

“ I will not !” He corrected and they walked out , he followed them behind but not to close.

“ Wait here …you will be following the truck …you didn’t think you will drive with us ? did you ?” Tara turned to him and he shaked his head as if it wasn’t normal for a son in law to be in the car with his family .

The hotel was massive there glass everywhere, gold trim, huge chandeliers that made Noah avoid eye contact with his own reflection. He stood near the back entrance where the workers passed through. A woman stepped toward him, snatched the access badge from his hand, and sighed loudly.

“You’re supposed to use the service entrance,” she said. “Not the guest doors. People like you ruin the atmosphere and The Lewis family warned me about you .”

“I’m just following instruction and a lady asked me to stand here “ Noah said softly.

“Well, follow mine. Back entrance.” She commanded dragging his collars and when he tried to shrug her off she pulled him tighter .

That was how the day began.

Noah carried box after box through narrow corridors. Heavy ones. Awkward ones. His arms trembled, but he didn’t complain. Every time he slowed down, someone snapped their fingers behind him.

“Hurry up, hurry up, you’re blocking the way!”

“Move! Can’t you walk faster?”

“No, not that crate, this one! You don’t listen.”

“ What is wrong you ! Do you listen at all ?”

He listened. He always listened. But listening didn’t matter when people already decided you were the problem.

Inside the banquet hall, the Lewis family were with their guest .

Tara’s sparkly dress caught his attention , his heart somehow still dropped whenever he saw her and when their eyes caught , she mouthed “ Get out of my sight”

Noah turned to leave and the event planner blocked his way .

“ Where are you going?”

“ I ….uhm…”

“ Serve drinks to that table !”

Noah collected the tray and started walking towards the lewis family , he held his breath as he walked pass thsm

“Ugh, he stinks,” Tara’s mother muttered, covering her nose. “Tell him to stay far away from my table.”

Tara didn’t even glance his way. “He shouldn’t be here at all.”

One of the cousins whispered loudly, “Even the waiters have more dignity than him.”

Noah lowered his head, gripping the tray tighter, He just wanted this day to end in peace .

He began serving drinks, quietly and he was extra careful but trouble followed him like a shadow.

A man bumped into him intentionally.

“Oh—watch it,” the man barked, though Noah hadn’t touched him.

Another guest brushed his elbow just enough to tilt the tray and the Glasses slid forward.

Noah tried to steady them but they fell, shattering glasses everywhere

The whole hall went silent for two seconds and then came the stifled laughter. Someone giggled. Another covered her mouth dramatically but overall, the whole hall had eyes on him, eyes of mockery , eyes of insult and a few ones , pity .

“Noah!” Tara’s voice cut through the silence.

“ It wasn’t my fault ….” He said helplessly trying to clean up the mess

She marched toward him with heels clicking hard on the marble. “What is wrong with you? Do you know how important this event is?!”

“I… it slipped…” he whispered.

“Look at you! You’re embarrassing me!”

“I’m sorry…”

“You’re sorry?” Her eyes widened. “Are you actually stupid?”

Before he could answer, she slapped him a gasp spread through the room.

“ Tara …I “ Noah stuttered, gripping his cheeks.

“ Are you talking back you good for nothing cow !”

She slapped him again. Even harder.

Noah’s cheek burned. His eyes stung but it was not from tears, he didn’t cry anymore but from the humiliation that wrapped around him like a rope , this cage that he couldn’t break free from .

She turned away, adjusting her dress as if she hadn’t just hit a man in front of a hundred people. “Clean that mess. And stay out of sight.”

People stepped around Noah as he knelt, picking broken glass piece by piece, like he was simply part of the floor.

“ I hate my life “ He muttered quietly to himself

Hours later, after the banquet ended, the hall was nearly empty. Noah collected leftover plates, folded napkins, and stacked chairs. He moved silently, lost in thought, he was thinking of the punishment that The Lewis family had installed for him when he returned him , who knows if he would have somewhere to sleep after what happened tonight .

Tara stood by the corner with a man, the same man from last night. Their heads leaned close. Her laugh was genuine , nothing like the voice she used with Noah, He watched them closely untill they locked lips , she had no regard that people knew she was married and was still kissing a man in public , that was how little she regarded him .

He looked away instantly, He didn’t want to see it , It was more than heartbreaking, he was devasted

When everything was done, Noah finally stepped outside. The night air hit his skin, a bit too cold, but refreshing after hours inside.

His pocket buzzed lightly.

Noah paused, He reached into his pocket and pulled out the metallic card.

It was glowing, Again …Just like last night

A faint red pulse shimmered across its surface, slow at first, then it became stronger. Noah stared at it, his heart beating loud in his ears.

“What… are you doing?” he whispered.

The surface flickered like a screen loading data.

Lines of text appeared, it was bright and look somewhat mechanical.

Noah stepped back slowly as the message formed.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: THE LEWIS FAMILY.