Chapter 5 The secret

James couldn't help but smirk as he read through the high school reunion chat on his phone. The messages from Luke Hunter, flaunting his "success" and throwing jabs about James's past poverty, were nothing short of juvenile. The insults piled up, old accusations resurfacing, and his former classmates joined in, laughing at his expense.

Same old Luke, James thought, feeling a familiar anger simmer inside him. Memories of high school came flooding back-the day Luke had framed him for theft, the shame he endured, the way everyone had turned on him. But today, he wasn't that powerless teenager anymore. He was ready to respond... in his own way.

James opened his banking app, set up a string of transfers, each accompanied by a custom message, and began sending money into the group chat.

A notification appeared in the chat:

James Smith sent $50

"Luke is a dumbass."

Within seconds, another:

James Smith sent $100

"Luke is a coward."

The chat exploded with curiosity and laughter as each new transaction hit, each one laced with another jab at Luke.

"What's going on?" one former classmate typed, confused but intrigued.

"Free money? I'll take it!" another replied, laughing.

James Smith sent $200

"Luke, bite me if you can!"

People began accepting the transfers eagerly, laughing and repeating the messages as they joined in. The insults spread, echoing through the group chat as more people accepted the money, unaware of who was behind it or why.

Finally, their old high school teacher joined the chat, confused but intrigued by the free cash and copied the message: "Luke is a coward."

Luke's frustration was visible, his replies growing angry and desperate as he tried to stop the chaos. "Whoever is doing this-stop it right now!"

But the chat continued to spiral until James was finally removed from the group. He put his phone away, satisfied. The wealth his father had left him wasn't just a lifeline-it was freedom, power, and, in this case, a bit of poetic justice.

Arriving at the towering Maple Properties building, James paused, taking in the sleek glass exterior. Just a few years ago, he had been thrown out of this very building, humiliated and penniless, while asking for wages he was rightfully owed. Today, he was returning-but this time, as the company's new CEO.

As he approached the entrance, a security captain stepped forward, eyeing him skeptically. "What do you want?" the captain asked, his tone dismissive. "Here to demand money or something?"

James smiled calmly. "Actually, I'm here for business. My business."

The captain raised an eyebrow, sizing him up. "Look, if you're here to ask for a job-"

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind. "Well, if it isn't the pauper," sneered Luke, stepping out of his car. He looked James up and down, still smug but visibly irritated from the group chat fiasco.

James turned to face him, holding his gaze with steady, unflinching eyes. "Luke," he greeted, his tone cool and composed. "Funny seeing you here."

Luke crossed his arms, his expression a mix of arrogance and frustration. "Thought you could humiliate me in that group chat and get away with it, huh? Still pulling those cheap tricks, I see."

James smiled, unfazed. "Cheap? The money seemed to work pretty well, didn't it? You could call it an investment in honesty."

Luke scowled, shifting uncomfortably. "You think you're clever, don't you? But at the end of the day, you're still just a nobody."

"Maybe I was," James replied, stepping closer until he was eye-to-eye with Luke. "But things have changed."

Luke scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh yeah? Enlighten me. What could possibly be different?"

James glanced up at the Maple Properties logo gleaming above them. "I'm here to take over Maple Properties as CEO. So, if you're looking for a 'somebody,' Luke, you might want to take a closer look."

Luke's jaw dropped, the smirk slipping from his face as the weight of James's words sank in.

James offered a final, unwavering smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business to run." He strode toward the entrance, leaving Luke stunned, facing the reality that the man he once humiliated was now in control of an empire.