Silence fell across the room when Charles stood up. He had a wide smile on his face and confidence radiated all over him. Tyson’s jaw dropped and Jefferson was glaring at him with disdain. None of them could obviously bid more than him and they didn’t expect him to even have 32 million dollars in the first place. The auctioneer was too shocked for a while and had to quickly regain his composure. “32 million dollars going once! Twice! And sold to Mr. Charles!!” A loud applause broke out and many businessmen in the hall rose to their feet. They were clapping and looking at Charles with respect and admiration. Tyson plopped down in his seat and lowered his head in anger. “How can I lose a bid to Charles? Of all people, Charles?” He questioned himself bitterly. “Congratulations Mr. Charles, you have really done what no other person has done in years.” The man sitting next to Charles shook his hand with excitement. “Mr. Charles, please can you give me your card? I will really like to know more about you and hopefully work towards a partnership.” The CEO of Starrise Hotel said, handing Charles his card. “Mr. Charles, would you be interested in an interview? My team and I will be interested in covering your story and sharing it with the city?” A news reporter queried him. “From today, you have a special invitation to my club. You will be given a VIP card and there’s no need to pay a dime.” Mr. Lawrence, the CEO of blights club offered. Charles didn’t even know who to reply because everyone was swarming him like bees. In fact, everyone wanted to get a chance to speak with Mr. Charles, the man who bought all three high-tech machines. In the previous years, during other auctions, no one had been able to buy more than one of the top three items on sale. Charles was the first to do it and to the entire city, he was automatically a legend. “I must find the source of his wealth.” Tyson grit his teeth in a corner as he watched everyone fighting to talk to Charles. His face was reddened with anger and he wanted to explode. “I should be the one receiving all the praise.” Tyson spat. His stomach churned as he watched Charles with jealousy. He was used to be in the limelight always and Charles beneath him but things had suddenly changed. He couldn’t stand that Charles was suddenly doing better than him. His phone rang and it was his father calling. He sighed, knowing his father was calling to scold him for allowing Charles win the auction. Their company needed the headset and his father entrusted him to win the bid. “You good for nothing son!” His father barked. “You have embarrassed me once again! How could you lose the bid?” “Father, it’s not my fault. Charles had more money than I expected.” Tyson was trembling with fear because his father could cut him off from the company due to his numerous failures. “Our budget was clearly not up to his.” “And so what? Do you know the shame you’ve brought upon this family? How would we tell our investors that we lost the headset to Charles? A lowly man in this city. You know what, I’m beginning to think I should have kicked you out instead of him.” “Father, please let me fix it. I can take Charles down.” His father chuckled over the phone. “You’ve disappointed me numerous times. I don’t need your help. Be a man!” And he ended the call on Tyson. His father’s words pierced his heart like an arrow, his hatred for Charles rising beyond incredible depths. “You’ve taken my glory and now you want to take my father. I’ll make sure you don’t succeed in this city.” Tyson swore to himself, his eyes glimmering with rage. He stormed toward Charles even in the midst of the commotion. Charles spotted him coming and cleared the way for him. “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” He pointed at Charles, veins appearing in his neck as he spoke. “I promise that this will be the last time you’ll get what you want. I’ll destroy you and make sure you go back to being a delivery man.” Charles was a bit shocked that he knew about his former job but he didn’t let Tyson see it. “I guess you must have been digging about me.” Charles smiled. “Threats don’t scare me. I won the bid because I have the money. If you want to challenge me, then you must be ready to have billions in your account. I’ve endured years of suffering and now it’s my time to triumph. But you won’t know anything about that because everything has always been handed to you on a gold plate. Don’t try to come in my way Tyson or you’ll regret it.” “You think you can impress Father with your wealth? You think he’ll choose you over me? That’s impossible. You’ll remain the illegitimate son forever.” Tyson quipped. Charles chuckled. “Do you think I’m interested in impressing him? He’s not my father for all I care. He hurt my mother and I’m going to do the same to him.” “Father will make you disappear from this city with a snap of his finger. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tyson threatened.Charles turned his back to him. “We will see about that.” With that, he walked away from the hall. Vera and other businessmen followed him swiftly like flies while Tyson remained in the hall, fuming with rage. Outside, Charles bumped into Jefferson who was looking distressed. “Out of my way, you—” he froze when he realized it was Charles. “Are you surprised to see me?” Charles asked, a grin on his face. “You inconsiderate thief! Do you know that some of us needed that headset for our companies? What good will it do to you? You don’t even need it!” Jefferson raged, droplets of saliva escaping his mouth. “Hmmm. Were you considerate when you threw me out of the hotel and asked the guards to beat me up? Were you considerate when you slept with my wife even though you knew she was married? Were you considerate when you encouraged her family to throw me out to the streets? I don’t think so!” Jefferson rubbed his head in frustration. “Is this about Angela? She chose me over you because you were incompetent. You were poor, dirty and a liability to her. Get over it and stop sulking.” “Now, the tables have turned. No deed goes unpunished, Jefferson, and you’ll learn that soon enough.” Charles added. “I hope that when your life comes down to the worst, Angela will stick with you.” “Listen, sell the headset to me and no one will know about it. You don’t have any use of it.” Jefferson made a desperate attempt to buy the headset from Charles. “I will buy it for a handsome price. Just name the amount you want.” Charles exhaled. “In case you don’t know, I am the CEO of Golden State Hotel.” Jefferson’s eyes widened with shock. “I need the high-tech machines as much as you do. If there’s anyone who doesn’t need it, it’s you because your company is on the verge of bankruptcy. In fact, you can come to me when you’re ready to sell its ownership rights. I’ll buy it with ease.” Before Jefferson could muster enough words, Charles walked away with Vera and his bodyguards. He stared after him, wondering if he was the same delivery man he threw out of the hotel that night. Just as he was contemplating on what to do, his phone rang and it was one of his top investors. The man had stocks worth $10 million invested in his company. “Hello, Mr. Gregory, it’s nice to hear from you.” “Mr. Jefferson, I’m not calling to exchange pleasantries. I’m just calling to inform you that I’m transferring my stocks in your company to another company.” “What?” Jefferson felt like his entire world was crumbling. Without Mr. Gregory’s stocks, his company’s shares will plummet to the bottom. He would lose his rank and become bankrupt soon. “Please Mr. Gregory, my company needs your investment. Is there any particular reason you want to transfer? I’m ready to resolve any issue.” “Haven’t you seen the news? Golden State Hotel’s stock is rising above the roof now. Everyone is trying to get a spot as their top investor. Why should I waste my money on your company that’s almost bankrupt? You lost the auction bid and couldn’t buy the headset you promised the board of investors. I’m no longer interested in doing business with you.” “Mr. Gregory, wait, we—” The phone line died, leaving Jefferson tongue tied. His biggest investor had just pulled out of his company and that only meant that more would follow him. To make it worse, they were abandoning his company for Charles’s hotel. “Charles, you’ll pay for this.” He swore under his breath.