Chapter 3
"Oh? You know Mr. Winters? Guess you've got connections," the manager sneered. "If it were any other time, I'd be polite.
"But do you have any idea who you just messed with? That's Mr. Knight.
"Even if Mr. Winters himself found out, he wouldn't blame me for this."
With that, the suit guy plastered on a fawning grin and turned to Adrian. "Mr. Knight, sorry I'm late. Hope you weren't too bothered."
Adrian smiled, then leaned in close to the suit guy's ear and whispered, "No worries. But this guy's really gotten on my nerves. You know what to do, right?"
Realizing there was no reasoning with them, I shoved past the security guards. Ignoring their shocked and angry faces, I pulled out my phone and dialed Caleb.
"Caleb, you've got three minutes to show up at the front of the venue. If you're late, your job as the boss is history," I snapped.
With that, I hung up in a rage, and the whole place went dead silent.
The next second, Adrian and his crew doubled over with laughter.
"Mr. Knight, did this guy just lose his mind? Did you hear him? He actually said he's gonna kick Caleb out. Man, I can't breathe!"
"Mr. Winters's one of the world's top 50 execs, pulls in eight figures a year, and now he's supposed to be your errand boy? Bro, do you even hear yourself?"
"For real, this wannabe's gone nuts. Mr. Winters's running a global empire—like he'd ever waste time on some nobody. And he expects him to show up in three minutes?"
Listening to all the mocking and jeering around me, I clenched my fists. "You arrogant jerks, let me tell you—when Caleb shows up, he'll have to show me some respect."
Just then, Lila gave me a look like she couldn't stand me. "Finnley, seriously, haven't you made enough of a fool of yourself? If you're not embarrassed, I am.
"I'm begging you, can you drop the act already? Adrian's way out of your league! If you keep this up, it's gonna blow up in your face, and I won't be able to bail you out."
I stared at the girl who was all lovey-dovey in my arms just days ago, and now she was showing her true colors—so shallow and two-faced it made me sick to my stomach.
Man, I must've been blind to ever fall for her.
Adrian stepped up, mocking me with a smirk. "Your girlfriend's got a point. You and I aren't even in the same league.
"If you beg for forgiveness, maybe I'll let you stick around."
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed Adrian by the collar and started brawling with him.
As the scene spiraled out of control, the crowd below whipped out their phones, eager to catch every second.
"Get this lunatic off me!" Adrian shouted.
It took the security guards forever to pull us apart, but once they did, Adrian was absolutely livid—he raised his hand, ready to deck me.
The next second, a booming, commanding voice echoed through the hall. "Enough! Everyone, stand down!"
A middle-aged man in a sharp suit, radiating authority, strode toward us—it was Caleb.
When Caleb actually showed up, the crowd that had been mocking me just seconds ago started whispering in disbelief, their faces full of shock and suspicion.
"Wait, what? Mr. Winters really came? Maybe that kid wasn't just talking big after all?"
"No way, is this for real? Just who is this dude? He actually got Caleb to show up?"
The moment the security guards saw Caleb walk in, they just stood there, dumbstruck.
The guy who'd been all cocky just a second ago shot Adrian a nervous look. "Mr. Knight, Mr. Winters's actually here. Is it possible that kid was for real?"
Adrian shot him a death glare, and he clammed up right away.
Adrian rushed over with a flattering smile, calling out warmly, "Mr. Winters."
But Caleb didn't even spare him a glance and headed straight for me.
With everyone watching in stunned disbelief, Caleb bowed slightly in front of me and said with exaggerated deference, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stone. You shouldn't have had to go through this."