The Return of the Campus Trillionaire

Chapter 8

Jared spent the rest of the afternoon at the university gym, needing somewhere to burn off the steam boiling inside him. The chaos of the morning—the downfall of Professor Bernard, the shock of Director Hill’s surrender, the roaring crowd—had left a tension in his chest that only physical exertion could dissolve. 

He had once come here every day, not to train but to wipe equipment, scrub mats, and take whatever degrading tasks Angela could cook up just so he could earn enough to eat. But today, he was here for himself. No more scrubbing machines. No more dusting lockers. No more bowing his head.

He was Jared Diamond again. Heir to trillions. Owner of holdings that stretched across states. A man who, with one phone call, could freeze or collapse almost any business in the city. Nobody on this campus knew it yet—but they would.

He had been running on the treadmill for almost thirty-five minutes, drenched in sweat. His breathing was steady and relaxed. But from the moment he walked in earlier, he had felt eyes follow him everywhere. The gym was packed today, and whispers clung to the air like dust.

Everyone knew.

They knew he’d humiliated Professor Bernard.

They knew Director Hill had bowed.

They knew someone powerful had backed him—someone the Joackins themselves feared.

And they knew Sammy Jo’s mother was now trending online for being thrown out of Diamond Manor Hotel like a petty criminal.

Some students looked at him with admiration, some with curiosity, but many still with disbelief. To them, Jared would always be the struggling student who worked menial jobs and lived off scraps. A miracle could break the sky open, and they still wouldn’t believe in it until it landed on their heads.

Jared didn’t care. Let them talk. Let them wonder. Tomorrow, when he stepped into Skyrun Inc.—his company—they would learn.

Just then, a sharp voice broke into his thoughts.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

The treadmill belt slowed, and Jared felt his arm being grabbed and pulled. He turned. Angela Stanley—the gym manager—stood there, anger swirling on her face like a storm cloud.

Jared sighed internally. ‘Of course.’

Angela ran the gym like a tyrant. She gave Jared menial jobs in exchange for stealing 40% of the pay behind his back. And now she was looking at him as though he had stolen something from her.

“I’m working out,” Jared said calmly.

“Working out?” Angela repeated loudly, drawing attention. “Have you lost your mind? You don’t get to work out. You get to work. That’s how we do things here.”

Jared didn’t bother responding immediately. He simply looked at her with a relaxed expression that irritated her even more.

Angela jabbed a finger into his chest. “Get off this treadmill and get back to cleaning the lockers or wiping floors. I didn’t register you for exercise. I registered you for jobs. You think you can just wake up with pride because of some rumor about money?”

Jared chuckled. “I’m not working any jobs today, Angela.”

The entire gym froze a little. Some students turned. Some pretended not to listen but listened anyway.

Angela’s nostrils flared. “Then you’re not getting paid today.”

“That’s fine,” Jared said casually.

Her eyes widened. The audacity of his indifference was like fire on her skin. “Fine? Fine? Without the little jobs I give you, you’re nothing. You don’t get to refuse me.”

Jared wiped his forehead with a towel. “Angela, I no longer need the jobs. As you’ve heard—I’ll be getting $25 million from Sammy Jo’s family soon. So you can relax. I’ll survive.”

Angela blinked. Once. Twice. Then her face twisted.

“So now you insult me? You call me a thief to my face?”

Jared raised an eyebrow. “You took forty percent of my pay.”

“That’s called management f*e, you idiot!” Angela barked. “And let me tell you something—twenty-five million multiplied by nothing is still nothing. You're still a nobody. And I still have influence with the university management. I can make life hell for you. In fact—” She snapped her fingers. “Effective immediately, you’re banned from this gym. Permanently.”

The gym erupted in whispers.

“What??”

“She banned him?”

“She’s crazy…”

Jared smirked. “You can’t ban me, Angela.”

“Oh?” Angela mocked. “Watch me. SECURITY!”

Two security guards began walking over.

But before they reached Jared, the door to the women’s locker room opened—and three breathtaking figures strode out together.

Shelly Adams.

Britney Scales.

Jessica Torres.

The Ladies of Helen.

Conversation in the gym dropped to absolute silence. Even the security paused mid-step.

Everyone knew the three. They were beauty, wealth, and power wrapped into one. Their aura was intoxicating—untouchable. Many called them the goddesses of LAU. Their families ruled political offices, corporations, and legacy businesses. They had zero interest in campus drama. They rarely even interacted with the public. And they commanded more respect than most faculty members.

So why were they walking toward Angela and Jared?

Angela’s face melted into panic. Immediately, she bowed. “Ladies! What an honor. Welcome. How may I help—”

Shelly raised a finger. Angela shut up instantly.

Shelly turned to Jared and scanned him slowly, her lashes lowering as her gaze trailed from his shoulders to his abs then back to his face.

Then she spoke.

“What exactly are you doing, Angela?” she asked. Her voice was calm, but deadly.

Angela swallowed. “He—he insulted me and refused to do his job. So I—”

“Are you seriously harassing the newest millionaire on campus… over a mop?” Shelly asked.

The gym collectively held its breath.

Jared’s expression remained unreadable.

Shelly stepped even closer to Jared, examining him with a small, intrigued smile. “This is the guy,” she murmured to her friends. “The same Jared everyone is talking about.”

Britney nodded. “The one who humbled the director? Mmh. He’s cute.”

Jessica giggled. “Better than the useless rich boys chasing us.”

Angela jolted. “L-Ladies, I swear—he called me a thief!”

Shelly waved her hand dismissively. “He can call you a cartoon character for all I care. You don’t talk back to him.”

Everyone’s jaw dropped.

Shelly then said, loud enough for the whole gym to hear:

“From today onward… Jared is my man. So show him respect.”

Gasps. Murmurs. Shock rippled across the entire gym floor.

Even Jared blinked. Twice.

Angela nearly fainted. “Y-your man?”

Shelly stepped even closer, her eyes locking with Jared’s. “Mm-hmm. I’ve decided.”

To the guys in the gym, this was beyond unbelievable. Many would have donated a kidney just for Shelly to smile at them.

But Jared?

He didn’t even flinch.

He simply sighed softly. “Thanks for stepping in, but I’m not interested.”

Silence.

Total, unbroken silence.

Shelly blinked. “Come again?”

“I said I’m not interested,” Jared repeated calmly.

The gym exploded into whispers.

“HE REJECTED HER?!”

“No freaking way.”

“What’s wrong with him?!”

Shelly raised her chin, her pride kicking in. She circled him like a lioness circling prey. “You don’t seem to understand. I said you’re my boy toy now.”

“And I said no,” Jared replied, taking a sip from his water bottle.

Shelly froze.

Britney’s mouth hung open.

Jessica’s eyes widened in shock.

No man on campus—not one—had ever rejected Shelly.

Shelly took a deep breath and stepped directly in front of Jared’s face, her voice lowering into a dangerous whisper. “Do you know how many guys would kill for my attention?”

“Yes,” Jared said simply, “and I’m not one of them.”

Shelly's jaw dropped.

He didn’t even raise his voice. He didn’t insult her. He just dismissed her existence.

That was worse.

Much worse.

“You… You…” she stuttered. “If you reject me, I’ll make your life a living hell in this university.”

Jared didn’t even blink. “Then start now.”

He grabbed his towel, turned, and walked away, leaving her and her friends staring after him like statues.

Shelly’s mouth hung open for several seconds before she finally snapped back to reality.

“I’m going to get him,” she murmured with an obsessive fire in her eyes. “Whatever it costs me. That man will be mine.”

Britney touched her arm cautiously. “Shelly… I’ve never seen a guy say no to you.”

Jessica folded her arms. “Honestly, I don’t know whether to be offended for you or impressed with him.”

Shelly exhaled shakily. “No man rejects me. Not on this campus. Not anywhere.”

Just then, one of the male gym members—clearly an idiot—walked up with a flirty grin.

“Well, if you’re looking for a boy toy, I volunteer—”

SLAP!

SLAP!

SLAP!

All three ladies hit him across the face before he could finish his sentence.

He stumbled backward, nearly falling, holding his cheeks in shock.

The Ladies of Helen turned around in sync, raised their chins, and walked out without another word.

The entire gym watched them leave… then turned back to Jared, who had already resumed his workout as if none of this had happened.

The whispers grew louder.

“The guy rejected Shelly…”

“He really doesn’t care.”

“Who is Jared, seriously?”

And for the first time in a long while, Jared allowed himself a very small smile.

Things were only just beginning.