Yo, look at those shoes. Their history. Each laugh brushed against his back like cold fingers.
Marcus finished his water, set the empty glass down with deliberate care. His hoodie sleeve dampened the condensation ring again, the same slow circle. He looked up, finally, and caught Tyler’s gaze across the room.
Tyler, still riding the mic. Still leaning too hard on the spotlight. Alright, alright.
Tyler called, voice buzzing with rehearsed charisma. Time for a shout-out to our sponsor tonight. Because none of this, he gestured at the balloons, the catered spread, the half-dead DJ, would be possible without a generous contribution.
Marcus straightened his shoulders. One breath in, one breath out. Tyler shuffled the cue cards.
So, let’s give it up for Summit Gatherings, who wait. His voice trailed. The last card was blank.
He frowned, then forced a grin. Well, they’ve asked to remain anonymous. But hey, round of applause anyway.
Hands clapped politely. A couple of whistles. Marcus rose from his chair.
The scrape of wood on tile seemed louder than the DJ. Heads turned. He walked steady, unhurried, toward the stage.
The chatter thinned, curiosity prickling in its place. Tyler’s smile wavered as Marcus climbed the steps. He didn’t take the mic yet.
Just stood there, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve, letting the silence stretch until even the clinking glasses stilled. Then, in a calm voice, low but clear, he spoke. I want to thank you all for coming, Marcus said, his eyes swept the hall, not sharp, not angry, just steady, the way a lens captures everything.
And I want to thank Summit Gatherings, which is really just me. Confusion flickered. A half-laugh sputtered, then died.
Someone near the bar muttered, Wait, what? Marcus slid his phone from his pocket, tapped once. The projector behind him blinked, the slideshow vanishing into black. Then articles, headlines, press photos.
Green Technologies Raises $40 Million in Series B Funding. The New Face of AI Infrastructure A Forbes cover shot of Marcus, five years older, sharper in a suit, but undeniably him. Gasps scattered.
One girl whispered too loudly, That’s him. Another stammered, No way, Photoshop. But the articles rolled, undeniable, fact after fact.
Marcus looked out at the sea of faces that once sneered at him in hallways. His voice softened, like he was letting them in on a secret. So when you ask what I do now, something like this.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. The screen behind him held steady on a single line. Estimated net worth, $108 million…
Обсуждение закрыто.