The Hidden King Of Northwood University

4: Fifty-Million- Dollar Hobo

Leo tightened the laces on his ruined sneakers. They were still damp, smelling of the grey, soapy water from the night before. Sebastian had offered him a fleet of SUVs and a fresh suit, but Leo refused. He wanted to feel the grit one last time. He wanted to look exactly like the "scholarship peasant" they all expected to see.

The walk was three miles. By the time the massive iron gates of Northwood University came into view, Leo’s feet were numb. He intentionally "missed" the campus bus, letting the exhaust fumes hit his face as it roared past. He looked exhausted. His old hoodie was damp, and his hair was a mess.

He looked like a man who had lost everything. In reality, he was a man who had just gained the world.

He made his way to the back of the campus library, his usual hiding spot. He sat at a scarred wooden desk in the corner, far away from the light. He needed to prepare for the gala, but first, he had business to attend to.

He pulled out the encrypted phone. His fingers moved across the screen with a speed that didn't match his tired appearance.

Transfer Authorized: $50,000,000.00.

He tapped the screen to confirm. A fifty-million-dollar wire transfer to a holding company in the Caymans. To anyone watching, he was just a broke kid playing a mobile game to forget his hunger.

A soft sound made him pause.

Elena Vance stood a few feet away. She was the only person in this entire school who didn't look at Leo like he was trash, but she didn't look at him with pity, either. She was a scholarship student too, though her family had fallen from grace years ago. She was quiet, brilliant, and always seemed to be watching things the others missed.

She didn't say a word. She didn't ask if he was okay or try to make small talk. She just walked over to his desk and placed a small paper bag and a steaming paper cup next to his elbow.

Inside the bag was a fresh, thick pair of wool socks. The coffee was black and hot.

Elena met his eyes for a split second. Her expression was neutral, but there was a softness in her gaze that caught him off guard. She gave a tiny, almost invisible nod before turning and walking back to her own table across the room.

Leo felt a strange heat in his chest. He reached for the coffee, the warmth of the cup seeping into his cold fingers. He was about to put the socks on when the heavy double doors of the library swung open.

“Oh, look! The hobo survived the night!”

Brad’s voice was loud, intentionally disrupting the quiet of the library. He was wearing a designer tracksuit that cost more than a used car. Sarah was on his arm, her eyes scanning Leo with a look of pure disgust.

“Ugh, he still smells like floor cleaner,” Sarah said, covering her nose with a silk handkerchief. “How are you even allowed in here, Leo? The library is for students, not for people who look like they slept in a sewer.”

Brad leaned over Leo’s desk, his shadow falling over the encrypted phone. Leo had already locked the screen.

“I heard about your apartment, Leo,” Brad sneered, his face twisting into a mocking grin. “Word on the street is Robert finally grew a brain and kicked your pathetic ass to the curb. Where are you staying now? Under the bleachers at the stadium?”

Leo took a slow sip of the coffee Elena had given him. He didn't look up. “Something like that.”

“Good. Because that’s the closest you’ll ever get to the stadium again,” Brad laughed. He pulled out a gold-embossed card and slapped it onto Leo’s desk. “See this? It’s the key to the new private luxury suite my father just bought for me. Top tier. Best view in the city. I’m hosting a party there after the gala tonight. Everyone who matters is invited.”

Sarah giggled, leaning her head on Brad’s shoulder. “It’s a shame, really. You’ll be too busy serving us champagne at the gala to see how the other half lives. Try not to spill anything on my dress, okay? It’s worth more than your life.”

Brad leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m going to make sure the Dean watches you all night. One mistake, one clumsy move, and your scholarship is dead. You’ll be back in the mud where you belong.”

Leo finally looked up. His face was a mask of exhaustion, but his eyes were sharp, tracking every muscle in Brad’s arrogant face.

“A luxury suite at the stadium?” Leo asked, his voice flat. “That sounds expensive.”

“More than you can count, peasant,” Brad barked. He turned to Sarah. “Let’s go. The air in here is getting a bit too thick with poverty.”

They walked away, their laughter echoing through the tall shelves of books. Brad was already on his phone, loudly telling someone that the "Blackwood Suite" was going to be the legendary spot of the season.

Leo watched them go. He waited until the doors closed before he pulled out his phone again. He opened a private messaging app and typed a short sentence.

“Sebastian. That stadium renovation project we discussed. Start it now. Close the entire facility for 'emergency structural repairs' immediately. Especially the private suites.”

A reply came back in seconds. “Understood, Young Master. The gates will be locked within the hour.”

Leo leaned back in his chair, feeling the heat of the coffee in his throat. He looked over at Elena. She was still studying, her head down, acting like she hadn't seen the whole interaction. But he saw the small, satisfied curve of her lips.

He looked back at the gold card Brad had left on his desk.

“That’s funny,” Leo whispered to himself, a dark, dangerous smile finally breaking across his face. “I just closed the stadium for renovations.”