chapter 20

Chapter 20: Get the Hell Out of Here

"What do you mean?" Ryan furrowed his brow, clearly perplexed.

"The wind stirs, wrinkling the spring pond. What business is it of yours?" A young woman beside Lucas interjected, her tone laced with disdain.

"He's saying it's none of your concern! Hahaha!" Another girl covered her mouth, giggling.

Ryan and Blake's faces flushed crimson with anger, humiliation written all over them.

"If you're going to be this obnoxious, you should read more. Otherwise, you'll be even more repulsive," Lucas sneered. His retort sent the girls around him into fits of laughter.

"Stop spouting that high - brow nonsense! Who do you think you are?" Blake snarled, his voice echoing through the hall.

Accustomed to lording over others with his clique of wealthy and well - connected friends, Blake seethed that Lucas had dared to mock him.

"And you! You're just a nobody from the sticks, crashing this high - class event. How dare you act so brazenly here?" Ryan added, his eyes ablaze with fury.

"Say that one more time?" Lucas's expression darkened, his voice icy cold.

"What's going on here?"

Just as Lucas was on the verge of losing his temper, the venue supervisor, Mr. Thompson, finally arrived.

"Mr. Thompson, this guy doesn't belong here. Kick him out of this high - end party," Blake said, pointing at Lucas with a smug smirk, relishing the impending show.

Mr. Thompson knew the auction was backed by a powerful syndicate—one he couldn't afford to cross. He sized up Lucas, who seemed like an ordinary Joe compared to Ryan and Blake.

"Gentlemen, please calm down. Allow me to handle this. It's our oversight," he said to Ryan and Blake in a conciliatory tone.

Turning to Lucas, he demanded, "Sir, may I see your invitation?"

"Oh? Why should I? Just because they say so?" Lucas replied coldly.

"Sir, it's standard protocol," Mr. Thompson said, frowning. He thought Lucas was being deliberately difficult.

"Do they have invitations?" Lucas shot back.

"Sir, their status is well - known. This is about you. Please show your invitation," Mr. Thompson snapped, his patience wearing thin.

"They don't have to show theirs, but I do? Why?" Lucas challenged.

"Sorry, sir. If you can't present an invitation, you'll have to leave," Mr. Thompson said, his voice firm.

Surprisingly, Lucas stood up without a word and walked towards the exit.

"See? He's all talk. What a phony!" Blake scoffed.

"Yeah! Thought you were tough? If you're so tough, don't leave!" Ryan added, a sneer curling his lips.

To ensure Lucas actually left, Mr. Thompson followed closely behind.

Just as Lucas stepped outside, Charles Sterling and Amelia Sterling were approaching.

"Mr. Lucas, what happened? Why are you leaving?" Charles asked, a puzzled look creasing his forehead.

Mr. Thompson's heart plummeted. He realized he might have made a colossal blunder.

"Oh, I was inside, and this man demanded my invitation. Then I was asked to leave," Lucas said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Asked to leave?" Charles's anger flared, his eyes blazing with indignation.

He had specifically invited Lucas to assist him, even offering a luxury sports car and a stake in his company. Now, his guest had been ejected?

"Are you the supervisor here? Summon your manager immediately!" Charles's voice thundered, echoing through the corridor.

Little did anyone know, the Sterlings were major stakeholders in the auction.

In less than a minute, the auction director, Mr. Morrison, rushed over, his face ashen with fear.

"What's going on?" Mr. Morrison asked, his voice quivering.

Mr. Thompson stammered as he recounted the incident, sweat dripping profusely from his forehead.

Upon hearing the story, Mr. Morrison's knees nearly buckled. He had just driven away a guest personally invited by Mr. Sterling!

"You imbecile!" Mr. Morrison kicked Mr. Thompson in the stomach, sending him sprawling down the stairs.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Sterling. I had no idea my staff would act so foolishly," Mr. Morrison groveled, his voice trembling.

"Teacher, we're truly sorry. It was our oversight," Amelia said, her face cold with anger.

First, there was Don Giovanni's disrespect, and now this!

"Mr. Lucas, please accept our sincere apologies. I'll ensure this doesn't happen again," Mr. Morrison said, sweating buckets.

"You're fired! Don't bother coming in tomorrow," Mr. Morrison added, kicking Mr. Thompson again for good measure.

"Forget it. He didn't know any better," Lucas said magnanimously. He knew Charles would handle the situation.

Afterward, Charles and Lucas bypassed the main hall and ascended the stairs to a private room on the second floor.

Downstairs in the main hall, Ryan and Blake were sipping champagne, still gloating.

"Hmph, trying to mess with me? I'll crush you," Ryan said triumphantly.

"Hahaha, Blake, you were amazing just now!" Ryan boasted, slapping Blake on the back.

"Both of you, quiet down! I heard Mr. Sterling has invited someone important today. Watch your step and don't offend the wrong person," a middle - aged man in a bespoke suit warned.

The man was James Chen, Ryan's father, the former vice - mayor of Manhattan. Even in retirement, he still commanded respect.

James had heard about the important guest and had brought expensive gifts, hoping to establish valuable connections.

"Okay, Dad. We'll stay put. We won't cause any trouble," Ryan said.

"Besides, with your reputation, who would dare to disrespect you?"

Just then, an enraged voice boomed from behind them.

"You two! Get out of here right now!" Mr. Morrison stormed in, his face livid with rage.