1 A business associate arranged a blind date. Entering the private room, I found Serena and three other men seated at the table. She sipped her matcha, pointing at them with open arrogance. A blind date demands a thorough background check. These are my ex-boyfriends. They know my standards best. Scanning my profile, she curled her lip. Alexander Kensington. Unemployed? A grown man leaching off society in this economy? My first love is a Wall Street banker. My second, a top-tier surgeon. Even my last ex is a tenured city official. You are not fit to compare to a finger on any of them. Who gave you the nerve to sit across from me? The banker sneered. Buddy, you cannot even draw a minimum wage. How will you provide? The doctor looked down his nose. Look at those cheap clothes. Probably rotting on your parents’ couch. The official folded his arms. No job, no ambition. Worthless mud. Listening to their coordinated mockery, I nearly laughed. Serena was right about one thing. I had no job. As the billionaire chairman of Astra Holdings, I did not need to clock in. Surveying this ridiculous quartet, I decided their ego trip was too petty to warrant crushing them with my wealth. I just smiled, stood up, and prepared to leave. "Since you clearly think I'm beneath you, I won't interrupt your lovely reunion any further." I grabbed my coat from the back of the chair and headed for the door. Serena slammed her teacup onto the table. "Hold it right there. Who said you could leave?" She clicked her heels across the floor and blocked my path. "Do you not know the rules of a blind date? The man pays. This Omakase restaurant is three hundred a head. For the four of us plus you, the bill is fifteen hundred dollars." She crossed her arms, tilting her chin up at me. "Don't even think about dining and dashing. Settle the bill." I stopped in my tracks. This was getting ridiculous. "The four of you ordered a table full of premium sashimi. I didn't take a single bite. Why exactly should I pay?" Marcus, the banker, spun his BMW keys around his finger. "Pal, you come out on a date and can't even cough up fifteen hundred bucks? Looking this broke, you still expect to find a girlfriend?" He pulled a gold platinum card from his wallet and slapped it onto the table. "Alright, Serena, stop making things hard for him. A deadbeat like him probably doesn't even have fifty bucks to his name." "I'll cover the bill. Consider it charity for the homeless." Lucas pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone dripping with fake pity. "Very generous of you, Marcus. But people like him are parasites. Even if you help him, he won't be grateful." Derek took a slow sip of his tea, putting on a bureaucratic air. "Young man, being poor isn't a crime. What's terrifying is your complete lack of accountability. If you run away from a simple dinner bill, how will you ever survive in the real world?" Serena looked at me like I was garbage on her shoe. "Did you hear that? That is the difference between you and real men. How can you even compare?" "You don't even have the spine to pay a bill, and you have the audacity to go on blind dates?" As soon as Marcus dropped his gold card, Serena instantly glued herself to his side, linking her arm through his. "Marcus is so successful. When you took me to that yacht party last month, my girlfriends were absolutely dying of jealousy." Marcus smoothly wrapped his arm around her waist. "That was nothing. I'm taking you to the Maldives next week." Lucas refused to be outdone. "Serena, how is your mother's back pain? I already booked her an appointment with our hospital's top orthopedic specialist. She can go straight to the VIP wing tomorrow." Serena's eyes lit up. "Really? Lucas, you are so sweet! The scalpers charge thousands just to get a spot with that specialist." Derek cleared his throat loudly. "Serena, about your younger brother's civil service exam. I checked with my contacts, and his written score is solid. When it's time for the interview, I'll pull some strings with the panel to make sure he gets through." Serena practically jumped for joy. "Derek, you are an absolute lifesaver for my family!" These three men. One had money, one had resources, and one had power. Serena swam between them effortlessly, soaking up the intoxicating thrill of being worshiped by all of them. Then she turned her head, looking at me with pure disgust. "Do you see this, Alexander? This is what high-value networking looks like." "What could you possibly offer me? Aside from a decent face, you are completely useless." "Even sitting at the same table as you is dragging down my net worth." Watching her smug performance, I found the whole situation hilarious. "If your three ex-boyfriends are so exceptional, why exactly are they your exes?" Serena's face froze. Marcus and the others suddenly looked incredibly awkward. I twisted the knife. "Is it because it takes all three of them combined to satisfy your massive ego?" "You are talking absolute garbage!" Serena shrieked, her face flushing with rage. "What would a broke loser like you understand? This is called consolidating resources!" "I am simply evaluating my options to select the most optimal partner." I let out a dry laugh. "Calling two-timing and stringing men along 'consolidating resources' is certainly a creative spin. You're quite the talent." Marcus slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Watch your mouth, kid. Do you want me to make sure you never find a job in this city again?" I looked right at him. "Wall Street hotshot, right? Which firm?" Marcus puffed out his chest. "Apex Capital. Ever heard of it? It's a tier of high finance a bottom-feeder like you could never even dream of." Apex Capital? What a coincidence. That was a wholly-owned subsidiary under my conglomerate. I nodded slowly. "I've heard of it. Nothing special." Marcus laughed, his face twisting with anger. "Big words for a nobody! One phone call from me, and you'll be blacklisted from every corporate building in the state." I shrugged casually. "Be my guest." This Mizumi sushi restaurant actually belonged to a minor hospitality group I acquired last year. I pulled out my phone and scanned the QR code on the table. A soft chime signaled a successful transaction. I held my screen up so Serena could see the payment confirmation. "Fifteen hundred. Paid. Consider this dinner my gift to help you three fund your little shared girlfriend project." Serena blinked, clearly shocked that I actually had the money. But she recovered quickly and sneered. "Oh, you actually paid? Maxed out your credit card, I bet?" "All this just to save face. You'll be eating instant noodles for the next month to pay off the interest. Pathetic." Marcus snatched his gold card back and scoffed. "Trying to act like a big shot. I see guys like him all the time. The poorer they are, the more desperately they cling to their fragile pride." I didn't bother wasting another breath on them. I pushed the door open and walked out. The general manager saw me step into the hallway and immediately rushed over, bowing respectfully. "Mr..." I raised a hand to cut him off. "Don't announce me. Those four guests in that room are permanently blacklisted. Never let them step foot in here again." The manager understood instantly and bowed lower. "Right away, sir." I walked out of the restaurant, grateful for the fresh air. The world really was full of bizarre people. But it was just a minor annoyance, and I wiped it from my mind immediately. Astra Holdings had just acquired a massive plot of commercial land, and the development blueprints required my personal approval. As I was walking to the valet to get my car, my phone rang. It was Henderson, the building materials tycoon who had set up the date. "Alexander! How did the date go? Serena is a great girl with high standards. I hope you didn't mind her being a little particular." I told him the blunt truth. "She brought three of her ex-boyfriends to the date to interrogate me, then demanded I pay their dinner bill. That kind of 'great girl' is a bit too much for me to handle." Henderson went dead silent on the other end of the line. After a long pause, he let out a painfully awkward laugh. "Oh... I had no idea she was like that. Alexander, please don't take it to heart. I will definitely introduce you to someone much better next time." I politely declined his offer and hung up. I was done with these pointless blind dates. The next morning, I headed to the corporate headquarters for a board meeting. The Astra Holdings skyscraper dominated the most expensive block in the financial district. I wore a simple, comfortable gray tracksuit, planning to hit the golf course immediately after the morning briefings. The moment I stepped into the grand marble lobby, a horribly familiar voice echoed behind me. "Alexander? What are you doing here?" I turned my head and saw Serena. She was wearing a sharp, tailored business suit, her makeup applied to absolute perfection, clutching a leather portfolio. Derek stood right beside her. He was dressed in a stiff gray suit, his hair slicked back with an aggressive amount of gel. Serena clicked her heels as she strutted over to me, looking me up and down. "That outfit... don't tell me you're here applying for a janitorial position?" She covered her mouth and laughed loudly. "Makes sense. Physical labor is about the only thing a deadbeat like you is qualified for." I frowned. "Why I'm here is absolutely none of your business." Serena rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Of course it isn't. I just think a rat like you showing up at Astra Holdings severely drags down the prestige of this building." She waved her leather portfolio in my face. "Do you have any idea why I'm here? I am interviewing for the position of Public Relations Director." "Astra Holdings is the top conglomerate in the country. Only the absolute elite are allowed to work here." "Trash like you couldn't even afford to breathe the air in this lobby." Derek stood beside her with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down his nose at me. "Serena, stop wasting your breath on him. It lowers your status." He glared at me, his eyes filled with contempt. "Kid, you don't belong here. Leave immediately before you embarrass yourself further." I looked at the two of them, genuinely amused by their arrogance. "Do you own Astra Holdings? Who gave you the authority to tell me where I belong?" Derek's face darkened. "Do you understand how things work in this city? I am Derek from the City Planning Board. I am here today as an official guest to negotiate a massive government contract." "I personally know the executives in this building. If you don't turn around and walk out that door right now, one word from me will have the security team drag you out by your hair!" Serena immediately chimed in. "Did you hear that? Derek is close personal friends with the billionaires who run this place." "You offend Derek, and you won't be able to find a single toilet to scrub in this entire city." I kept my hands in my pockets, staring blankly at Derek. "Oh? Which executive exactly do you know?" Derek puffed out his chest, radiating smugness. "The Vice President of Astra Holdings. Robert Vance. We go way back." Robert? The guy I just promoted last month to handle external government relations? I nodded slowly. "Alright. Call him down here. Let's see if he has the guts to kick me out." Derek looked at me like I had just escaped from a psychiatric ward. "Who the hell do you think you are? Robert is a multi-millionaire executive. You think he has time to deal with street trash like you?" Serena laughed mockingly. "Alexander, you are seriously delusional. There's a limit to pretending you're a big shot." "Did you swipe a credit card last night and suddenly convince yourself you're a CEO?" "I am telling you, with Derek here, you won't even get a job plunging the toilets at Astra!" Just then, a young receptionist hurried over to them. "Mr. Derek, correct? Vice President Robert is waiting for you in the conference room on the eighteenth floor. Please follow me." Derek adjusted his tie, shooting me a triumphant sneer. "See that? That is what real power looks like." He turned to Serena, his voice softening. "Go crush your interview. Once my meeting is done, I'll take you out for a Michelin-star lunch to celebrate." Serena batted her eyelashes and nodded sweetly. "Thank you, Derek." Derek followed the receptionist toward the VIP elevators. Serena turned back to me, her expression instantly twisting into a vicious glare. "I am warning you, Alexander. Stay far away from me. Don't think for a second that stalking me to my job interview will make me look at you." "A toad like you will never get a taste of swan meat." Her delusion was honestly staggering. "Serena, do you suffer from clinical paranoia?" "I am here because this is my territory." Serena rolled her eyes so hard I thought she might pass out. "Your territory? You really think you're the Chairman of Astra Holdings?" "If you're the Chairman, then I'm the Queen of England!" She intentionally bumped her shoulder hard against mine as she walked past, strutting toward the interview floor. I watched her walk away, pulled out my phone, and dialed the Director of Human Resources. "Check the candidate list for the PR Director interviews today. Look for a woman named Serena." "Fail her immediately. Put her on the permanent blacklist." I hung up the phone and walked toward the Chairman's private elevator. If they insisted on throwing themselves into the fire, I would gladly hand them the matches. That afternoon, the front desk called my private line. They told me an elderly woman holding a basket of vegetables was asking for me. My heart warmed instantly. It had to be my grandmother visiting from the countryside. A few days ago on the phone, I casually mentioned how much I missed the organic greens she grew in her garden. I never expected she would travel all the way to the city just to bring them to me. I dropped my paperwork and hurried down to the lobby to greet her. The moment the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, I heard a shrill, venomous voice echoing across the marble. "You senile old bat! Are you blind? How dare you rub your filthy clothes on my designer suit!" My chest tightened. I sprinted toward the center of the lobby. Serena was standing there, pointing a manicured finger right in my grandmother's face, screaming at the top of her lungs. Scattered across the polished floor at Serena's feet were fresh green vegetables and several crushed farm eggs. My grandmother was crouched on the ground, frantically trying to salvage the broken eggs, her face full of distress. Standing right behind Serena were her three ex-boyfriends. Because I had ordered HR to instantly fail her, Serena had been kicked out before the interview even started. She was completely humiliated and furious. Marcus and Lucas must have heard the news and rushed over to comfort her. Along with Derek, who had just finished his meeting, the ridiculous quartet had somehow reassembled in my lobby. Grandma's eyes were red. She looked up nervously and tried to explain. "Miss, I didn't mean to bump into you. I was just trying to ask for directions... Could you tell me which floor my grandson, Alexander, works on?" Hearing the name "Alexander," Serena's face contorted into pure hatred. The absolute humiliation of her failed interview finally found a target. "Alexander? You're that useless loser's grandmother?!" Serena viciously kicked the fresh vegetables across the floor, her face twisting with disgust. Marcus quickly stepped forward, wrapping a protective arm around Serena. "Babe, don't lower yourself by arguing with country trash. It's not worth raising your blood pressure." "Take your hands off her!" I roared, sprinting forward. I violently shoved Serena out of the way and carefully knelt down to pull my grandmother up from the floor. "Grandma, are you hurt?" Seeing the sticky, shattered egg yolks coating my grandmother's rough, calloused hands, my blood boiled with a murderous rage. Grandma shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh. "I'm fine, Alex. It's just a shame about all these vegetables. I picked them fresh this morning..." Serena, having stumbled backward from my shove, immediately shrieked like a banshee. "Alexander! You dare put your hands on me?!" "You unemployed parasite! Did you drag your filthy grandmother into Astra Holdings just to run a scam and extort us for money?!" Seeing me shove Serena, Marcus, Lucas, and Derek instantly rushed forward as a pack. Marcus grabbed me violently by the collar of my tracksuit. Lucas slammed his hands into my shoulder from the side, and Derek took a cheap shot, kicking me hard in the shin. Outnumbered and desperate to shield my grandmother behind me, I took the blows, stumbling backward until my spine slammed hard against a marble pillar. Seeing me cornered, Serena became utterly unhinged. "Security! Are you all dead? Can't you see this maniac attacking us?" Heavy footsteps echoed across the lobby. Several security guards in tactical uniforms came sprinting over, holding heavy riot control forks. I wiped a thin trace of blood from the corner of my mouth. I pointed a finger dead at the four of them and roared at the guards. "I am Alexander Kensington! Throw these four pieces of trash out of my building immediately!" The lead security guard froze. He was a new hire, completely unfamiliar with my face. He looked at my plain gray tracksuit, then looked at the four people dripping in designer suits, Rolexes, and diamond jewelry. He hesitated, completely unsure of who to obey. Seeing the guard freeze, Serena burst into hysterical, mocking laughter. "Alexander, are you having a psychotic break? You swiped a credit card yesterday to play rich, and now you genuinely believe you're the Chairman of Astra Holdings?" Derek pulled his government badge from his tailored jacket, holding it up with maximum arrogance. "I am an official guest of Vice President Robert! This lunatic and his peasant grandmother are physically assaulting people in your lobby! They are completely destroying Astra's corporate image! Arrest them and throw them onto the street immediately!" Faced with a government official, the rookie guards instantly made their choice. "Sir, you need to leave the premises right now, or we will use force!" Two massive guards lunged forward, grabbing my arms and twisting them violently behind my back, forcing me to bend over in pain. Another guard looked at my grandmother with disgust. He shoved her hard with the metal shaft of his riot fork. "Grab your rotten garbage and get out, old lady!" The shove sent my grandmother crashing to the hard marble floor. But she ignored the pain, scrambling on her hands and knees to pry the guards' fingers off my arms. "Don't hurt my grandson! We'll leave! We'll leave right now, please just let him go..." Just as I was about to be dragged out of my own building like a stray dog, the VIP elevator doors pinged open. Robert, flanked by several senior executives, stepped out into the lobby. Seeing him, Derek instantly plastered on a sickeningly sweet smile and hurried over. "Robert! Perfect timing! This lunatic and his country grandmother are throwing a violent tantrum in your lobby! I told your guards to handle this trash to protect your company's image!" Serena also rushed forward, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "Mr. Robert, look at the disgusting mess they made on your beautiful floors. It's ruining Astra's reputation." Robert's eyes followed their pointing fingers and landed squarely on me. His entire body went rigid. Then, in front of the horrified eyes of everyone in the lobby, Robert violently shoved Derek and Serena out of his way. He practically sprinted across the floor, closing the distance in three massive strides. His face was ashen, and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead. His voice violently shook with absolute, unadulterated terror. "Mr. Kensington! I am so sorry I'm late!"
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