Trillionaire in Disguise

Chapter 7

Everyone in the store went quiet. Why was the manager letting this man go? He should have taught the thief a lesson.

The manager looked at the black card again. He knew what kind of card this was. Only one top family used cards like this. He looked Leo up and down. The man in front of him did not look rich at all. He looked ordinary.

One of the security guards spoke up. “Sir, he must have stolen that card. That is why it did not work. The real owner probably blocked it. We should call the police.”

The manager did not answer right away. He kept looking at Leo. Rumors said the new Vance heir had returned, but no one had seen him. No one outside the family knew what he looked like. If this man held a real card like this and dared to use it, maybe he was the heir. It was only a possibility, but the manager did not want to take the wrong risk. He had worked too hard for too many years. If he was right, he would make a good first impression. If he was wrong, he was willing to take the chance.

The manager bowed a little and handed the card back.

“You can try the card again if you want, sir. Or you can leave with the clothes. It is your choice.”

Some customers watching the scene started whispering.

“How is this possible? Why is the manager being so polite to someone who tried to steal?”

“Maybe he is just playing a game. When the man drops his guard, the manager will strike.”

Leo thought about what had just happened. He had wanted to buy these clothes for Mia and Lily. But Mia had walked away with another man without a second look. There was no point anymore.

He faced the manager. The man seemed careful and professional. Maybe he would understand.

“I am sorry for the trouble,” Leo said. “I do not need the clothes anymore.”

The manager nodded. “No problem. Before you go, let the staff check that all the clothes are still in good condition.”

“Okay.”

The saleswoman checked every item carefully. “Sir, everything is fine.”

“You may leave,” the manager said.

He knew he had gone easy on Leo, but this was the third time in his career he had seen a card like this. It was not fake. The way he handled it would be remembered.

The security guard looked disappointed. He still did not understand why the manager let a common-looking man walk free. What if the real owner of the card showed up later? Everyone could lose their jobs for not following the rules.

Leo walked out of Skyline Mall and got into a taxi.

“Can I charge my phone in your car?” he asked the driver. “The battery is dead.”

“No problem, sir.”

Leo plugged the phone in. After a few minutes it came back on. A message appeared right away.

[The restriction on your card has been lifted.]

The card had been locked the first time it was used. While Leo was still looking at the screen, his phone rang. It was Mr. Harris.

“Young master, I have been trying to reach you. Are you alright?”

“I am fine,” Leo said. “But why was my card restricted?”

On the other end, Mr. Harris’s eyes widened. How dare they lock the young master’s card? Someone was going to pay for this mistake.

“I am sorry, young master. Give me one minute. I will deal with that useless bank manager.”

“Just make sure the card works,” Leo said and hung up.

A few seconds later another message came.

[The restriction on your card has been lifted permanently.]

Then a second message from Mr. Harris.

[Young master, please manage the money for now. Your new card with one hundred billion dollars will arrive very soon.]

Leo did not know whether to laugh or cry. The memory of Mia walking away with Daniel was still fresh. The more he thought about it, the tighter his fists became. She was going to explain everything when he got home.

The taxi stopped in front of the Parker house. Leo got out with his hands still clenched. He walked into the compound—and stopped.

All of his belongings were packed and sitting outside the door.

Claire was sitting next to them.