bookpower Chapter 4: The First Step
Chapter 4: The First Step
Chapter 4: The First Step
I turned to see a familiar face staring at me incredulously.
"Hey Matt." I greeted him with a small smirk on my face.
Matthew Hardin. He was my best friend and confidant. We'd attended the same high school and followed tradition, enrolling in the same university.
"Don't you 'hey Matt' me." He stepped towards me, his face snapping from me to the direction Mila's car had gone and back to me again as if he had no idea what to think. "That was Mila Devon, wasn't it?"
Where I was tall, Matt was of average height. While he wasn't bad looking, he also couldn't really be called handsome. But he had the brightest green eyes and a smile that could melt hearts.
He was the optimistic friend between us, always trying to push me to be more social. Matt was aware that I was Logan Voss' son and gladly kept my secret like the loyal friend that he was.
"Yes, that was Mila Devon." I answered him. "And she spilled her coffee all over my shirt."
"And you just... got her card?" Matt stared at me, not knowing whether to be in shock or admiration.
"Yep." I said, pocketing the card. I looked around the street, searching my memories for the nearest boutique. I needed to replace my shirt.
Matt shook his head, still in awe. "I can't believe you just casually ran into one of the most famous influencers around and even got her number."
I chuckled and began walking in the correct direction, Matt walking beside me.
"You know what?" He asked. "I'm impressed. Didn't think you had it in you, boyo."
"Trust me. There's more where that came from."
Matt stumbled before recovering, frowning at me. "Wait a minute. There's something different about you today. Normally, you'd be slinking around like a quiet mouse, dragging the dark clouds around with you."
"True." I nodded. There's no way Matt wouldn't notice the change in attitude, so there was no need to hide it. It wasn't like I wasn't Nico Voss. Besides, I have a very good reason to explain the change.
But don't worry. I had an actual explanation for my actions.
"Do you know the most important part of being rich?" I asked Matt.
"Having money?" He said the answer like it was obvious.
"No." I smiled. "It's knowing the right people."
He frowned but didn't say anything, letting me speak.
"The poor know no one but the rich know the right people to help grow their wealth. Knowing the right people means getting the right information and getting the right opportunities."
"A poor man won't have info on a company's merger and won't be able to take advantage of it to generate wealth but the rich can get access to that information and use it."
"The law calls it insider trading but the rich call it making money."
Matt nodded along in understanding. He knew exactly what I was talking about. The rich get richer by knowing when to enter and when to leave, all by knowing the right people.
"I've lived in the dark all my life, Matt. What I need right now is to know the right people. I can't rely on my family and nobody else knows who I am. There's only one way to enter high society at this moment."
Matt's eyes widened and he whispered. "Mila Devon."
"Exactly." I grinned. "Mila Devon is my ticket to getting in with the right people."
"And now, you have her number." Matt grinned. "Wow. Starting at a disadvantage and you're already two steps ahead. Damn, bro. I should be learning from you. So, when will you contact her?"
"That's the thing." I grinned. "I won't."
"What? Why?" Matt asked, frowning.
"Simple." I answered, my grin widening. "I won't contact her. Instead, I'll make her contact me. And you, my friend, will help me make it happen."