The Hidden King Of Northwood University

6: Ferrari & The Gold Lion

“You’re a terrible liar, Leo,” Maya said, her voice sounded through the wind as the Ferrari slammed into gear. The tires screamed, tearing away from the university quad. The engine roared, a deep, angry sound that made the entire car shake.

Leo sat back in the leather seat, his eyes fixed on the speedometer as it climbed. Trees and campus buildings became a blur of green and grey. Maya didn't look at him. Her jaw was tight, her grip on the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white. She took a sharp corner on two wheels, weaving through traffic like she owned the road.

“A lucky night at the casino?” she continued. “Nobody wins exactly a hundred thousand dollars in cash and walks away with a printed receipt like that. You looked like a deer in headlights.”

Leo adjusted his waiter’s vest, feeling the cheap fabric itch against his skin. “I didn't ask for your help, Maya. Why did you tell them you gave me that money? Now the whole school thinks I’m your... whatever you want them to think.”

Maya let out a short, dry laugh. She shifted gears, the car lunging forward. “I don’t care what they think. I hate Sarah. I’ve hated her since freshman year. Seeing her face turn that shade of white was worth a hundred grand, even if I didn't actually spend it.”

She slowed down as they entered the high-end district of the city. Here, the roads were smoother, and the buildings were made of glass and stone. This was where the real players lived.

“But let’s be real,” Maya continued, her eyes shielded by her dark glasses. “A hundred grand is a lot for a scholarship kid, but it’s nothing in the room we’re going to. The Vanguard Auction is where people go to buy and sell lives. If you walk in there looking like a waiter who got lucky, they’ll eat you alive.”

“I’m fine,” Leo said, his voice flat.

“You’re not fine. You’re wearing shoes that look like they were pulled from a dumpster,” Maya snapped. She pulled the car to the curb, stopping in front of a building with no sign. Just a heavy, black door and a small gold lion head knocker.

This was 'The Golden Lion'. It was the kind of place where you didn't look at price tags because if you had to ask, you couldn't afford it. The billionaires of the city got their suits here...hand-stitched, exclusive, and meant to signal power.

“Go in,” Maya ordered, leaning back and pulling out her phone. “I have a call with my father’s lawyers. Tell them you’re with me. Buy something that makes you look like a man who has ten million dollars, not a hundred thousand. I’ll be in here when you’re done. Don't embarrass me.”

Leo looked at the black door. He felt a strange flash of memory. He remembered his grandfather talking about this place years ago. He remembered the smell of expensive wool and the way the old man used to say that a suit was a piece of armor.

He stepped out of the car. His old hoodie was still damp from the morning, and his sneakers left a faint, dirty smudge on the clean sidewalk. He looked completely out of place against the backdrop of the red Ferrari and the stone entrance. He pushed the door open.

Inside, the air was cool and smelled of cedar and expensive cologne. The floors were polished dark wood, and the lighting was soft, hitting the mannequins in a way that made the suits look like art.

A man appeared from behind a velvet curtain. He was tall, thin, and dressed in a suit so sharp it looked like it could cut glass. This was Victor, the head stylist. Behind him, two other junior tailors were organizing silk threads. They stopped and stared at Leo, their expressions twisting into the same look of disgust.

Victor took one look at Leo and stopped dead in his tracks. His nose wrinkled, as if he had just smelled something rotting. “Can I help you?” Victor asked. He stayed behind a large, stone counter, his hands folded.

“I’m here for a suit,” Leo said. He kept his voice steady, his eyes meeting Victor’s.

Victor let out a soft, mocking snort. The two workers in the back whispered to each other, giggling as they looked at Leo’s ruined sneakers.

“I think you’ve made a mistake,” Victor said, his voice loud enough for the others to hear. “The community center is three blocks over. They have a donation bin for the homeless. We don’t handle... charity cases here.”

“I’m with Maya Sterling,” Leo said, his voice dropping an octave. “She’s outside.”

Victor didn't even blink. One of the other workers stepped forward, crossing her arms. “Miss Sterling is a valued client. But even she cannot bring the street into this establishment. This is The Golden Lion. Our clients are kings, CEOs, and world leaders. We don’t allow people in waiters' rags to touch the fabric.”

Leo took a step forward, his hand reaching out toward a bolt of dark blue silk sitting on a table.

“Don’t!” Victor hissed, moving with speed to block Leo’s path. The other workers moved closer too, forming a wall. “The service entrance is in the back, trash. If you want to scrub the floors, talk to the building manager. But do not touch the silk. You’ll stain it with whatever life you’ve been living.”

Leo stopped. He looked at Victor’s angry, flushed face and the mocking eyes of the staff. He thought about  the key Sebastian had mentioned. He felt the trillion-dollar balance in his hidden accounts. In his head, Leo was laughing.

“You’re making a mistake,” Leo said quietly.

“The only mistake was the security guard letting you through that door,” Victor sneered. The staff behind him nodded in agreement. “Get out. Now. Before I call the police and have you dragged out for trespassing. I don’t care who you’re with. You don’t belong in this world, and you certainly don’t belong in my shop.”