The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 17: The Other Kind of Power!

The noise outside the building did not go away. Instead, it got louder and more serious. 

At first, people were just whispering and turning their heads. Everyone inside the Event Center started staring at the huge glass doors at the front of the hall.

Then, the massive front doors swung open.

But no one walked inside right away. Through the clear glass walls, the crowd watched the driveway. 

A car rolled to a slow, smooth stop. It wasn't a normal car. Under the bright lights, it sparkled so much it looked like it was made of diamonds. It was a one of a kind hypercar called the Aetherion One.

Only two of these cars exist in the whole world. One is locked away in a museum like a treasure. The other one was right here, engine humming, looking like a beast ready to run.

Everyone in the room gasped at the same time. Even the reporters, who usually scramble for photos, stood perfectly still. 

This car was so beautiful and expensive that people were afraid to even get close to it.

The engine shut off, and the silence was heavy. Then, the car door opened. Andrew Schmidt stepped out.

He didn't hurry. He didn't act like he was trying to be famous. He didn't even look around to see who was watching him, because he already knew everyone was staring. 

Cameras started flashing everywhere. The reporters didn't ask questions or yell, they were so nervous that their hands shook as they took photos.

Andrew calmly fixed his sleeves. His suit was perfect, and every move he made was controlled. 

He looked like a man who never had to ask for permission for anything. His presence was so strong that it felt like the air in the room became heavy. For a second, the reporters even forgot to breathe.

Andrew started walking toward the entrance. As he entered the building, something amazing happened. 

Without any guards telling them to move, the crowd simply stepped aside. People moved out of his way by instinct, creating a wide path right down the middle of the room.

Low, respectful whispers followed him as he walked. Every single person turned their head to watch him.

Up in the fancy VIP area, Morris Emmett saw him and stood up straight immediately.

"That’s him," Morris whispered to his family.

Edward and Jane looked over, too. As soon as they realized who it was, their smug, cool attitude disappeared. They were replaced by total shock and awe. 

They couldn't even speak, they just watched.

Morris fixed his jacket, smoothed his hair, and walked toward Andrew. He wasn't acting like the big boss anymore. When he got close to Andrew Schmidt, Morris actually bowed his head a little bit.

"Mr. Schmidt," Morris said with great respect. "Welcome. It is a huge honor to have you here tonight."

Andrew stopped walking. He looked at Morris for a second and gave a short nod.

"Thank you," Andrew said.

It was only two words, but Morris looked like he had just won the lottery. The whole hall went completely silent.

 Even the DJ stopped the music in the middle of a song. Morris quickly pointed toward the best seats in the house. "Please, follow me. We have prepared the VVIP section just for you."

Andrew started walking again, and Morris followed half a step behind him, being careful not to get in his way. As Andrew passed by, the guests bowed to him. Some did it a little, and some did it deeply.

Once Andrew sat down in the VVIP area, the DJ finally spoke into the microphone. His voice was shaking a little bit. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are very honored to have a very special guest with us tonight. Please welcome... Andrew Schmidt!"

The room exploded. People started clapping wildly and cheering. They stood up and clapped until their hands hurt. It felt like they were watching a historical event. Andrew Schmidt stayed in his seat, looking calm and relaxed.

When the clapping finally stopped, Morris waved his hand to his staff. "Bring out the best we have," Morris whispered. "The most expensive wine in the building."

The staff ran off and came back with four bottles. Each bottle was worth at least ten million dollars. They carefully poured a glass for Andrew.

"I hope this is good enough for you," Morris said with a nervous smile.

Andrew looked at the wine and smiled just a little bit. He took one small sip. Morris looked relieved, like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"How is your company, Bullion Corporation, doing?" Morris asked carefully.

"It's stable," Andrew replied. "We are growing in the right places."

Morris nodded quickly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Schmidt."

They talked quietly for a moment, and then, the silence returned. It wasn't an accidental silence, it was a deep, purposeful quiet that spread across the room. 

People stopped talking. People stopped drinking. Everyone turned their eyes back toward the front door.

Andrew noticed the change. Morris noticed it, too. Morris turned around with a serious look on his face. 

This kind of silence didn't happen because people were curious, it happened because they were expecting something.

Everyone knows that when a room gets this quiet, someone more powerful is about to walk in. 

Whatever or whoever was coming next was not going to be normal.