Chapter 4 Riley's Hall

" Rex? Where did you get the money from? Did you acquire some inheritance after old Louie died? " Gael has already spoken out the words before he could stop himself. The air suddenly becomes tense and Emilio looks away to breathe out shakily. " I'm... sorry man " He mutters. " I never acquires anything from my father's death except heartbreak " Rex replied smoothly. He gave his roommate their coffee and he set out. The two friends quickly followed him. " It's a miracle you are walking Rex. I think your ribs are broken man " " I can't just sit on the bed, Emilio. I have a competition to attend " Rex replied. He was expecting an answer but he received none. This compelled him to stop when he realized his friends weren't following him anymore. He turns around to see them staring at him in pity. " What is wrong? " He asked confusedly. " The girl's competition feature only Pearl versus Sheila while the guys feature only Khalil in the chart board. You are not elected anymore " Emilio explained. " You have been pulled out from the competition Rex. The face-off, nomination will be tonight but you can't go there " Gael explained further. " I can't go there? Why will I be pulled out of the competition? " " Not pulled out " Emilio stated. " The venue for the face-off has been altered. It won't take place in the school hall anymore " " So where? " Rex asked eagerly. " The face-off will be held in Riley's Hall " Upon hearing this name Rex cocked up an eyebrow in confusion. " Isn't Riley's Hall one of Khalil's grandfather's buildings? " " The same one " Gael replied. " Before you can step into Riley's Hall, You must be dressed in a perfect suit with no less than one million dollars. Your shoes must be of Riley's brand. Your hair styled. Your car should be either Ferrari F60 or Bugatti Veyron Super Sport " All this to Rex's ears sounds like a piece of cake. Hell, he is an Octillionaire now. He is a host which means he can do anything and undo it just in a jiffy. " So how does this disqualify me as a competitor? " He asked his two roommates who were staring at him oddly. " Aren't you listening? " Gael scolded again. " You can't go to Riley's Hall because you do not possess any suit not to mention a million dollars one. You never had a bike, not a car, and not any Ferrari " " You are right Gael. I don't have all these things but I can buy them, right? " Rex set out earnestly and his friends manage to keep pace with him. " Rex this is madness. Where will you get the money from? " Gael was asking when Rex flagged down a taxi. " Any Riley's departmental store " When he settled in the backseat, he informed the taxi driver. Emilio and Gael were stunned but they managed to keep mute all through the journey. Finally, the car stopped before a very large building that had the name boldly written at the top. Riley! Rex paid with his credit card and he headed in with his friends who were still surprised at the turn of events. " Purchase anything you want. We are going together to this Riley's Hall " Rex said to his friends before he left them to pick his suit. He purchased every necessary thing he would be needing. He goes ahead to buy himself two pairs of boots and socks which he needed for the race track competition. At last, he goes to the cashier and paid with his credit card. The voice then came from nowhere and he is the only one who could hear it. The robotic voice told him the amount he had spent and the amount that still remain to be spent that day without fail. " Rex I think we need to talk. Where is the wealth coming from? " Emilio couldn't believe his voice had already started trembling. They have exited the departmental store with their hands full. Rex didn't reply. He only focused on the ticking sound in his head. He look up to the sky and realized the sun isn't far from setting. " We should go for a haircut and get the latest car. Probably Bugatti Centodieci " Emilio and Gael's jaws dropped at this. They have so many questions to ask but Rex has already flagged down another taxi. " Rex we need to talk. I mean... What are the odds? " Gael questioned as they joined their friend. *** Riley's Hall is one of the largest and most prestigious buildings in the city. Built under the Name of Riley, the renowned Quadrillionaire, Khalil's grandpa. Khalil had talked his grandfather into giving out his hall for Rainbow Core College to hold the nomination party in it. " Even if that filthy errand boy is lucky enough to get out of his sorrow and hospital bed, he will never make it to the hall thanks to the clauses " He had thought to himself. That night he arrived with his new girlfriend who of course he snatched away from Rex just to break his heart. Pearl had heard about the demise of old Louie but she wasn't feeling any remorseful. Instead, she is ready to also face off with Sheila who is her opponent. The nomination has already started with the students who could make it all seated. The chair meant for Rex Louie is empty and this brought a smile to Khalil's face. If Rex failed to show up that night then Khalil will automatically be the winner of the competition. The face-off started almost immediately without any delay. Karson, the second son of Riley is present as a parent for his son, Kahlil. For Pearl, her mother Miss Mae is present. " The face-off for the female competition " The commentator called out aloud. " Pearl Mae and Sheila Thelma " The two ladies walk forward and their information was taken. The competition which consists of a race track and juvenile was set for the next week. The girls glared at each other for some time before returning to their seats. Now the time for the males finally arrived. The commentator took no time before calling out the names of the candidates. " Khalil Karson and Rex Louie " A loud uproar occurs when Khalil stood up gingerly and walks with pride to the podium. " Rex Louie? " The call came again but Rex didn't show up which of course has been Khalil's desire all along. " He must still be at the hospital " Sheila mutters to herself in distress. She helped in taking him back to the school medical center when he passed out the previous night. " Rex Louie? " The name rang out again but still no answer. Just when Khalil was feeling Victorious, everyone overheard the sound of a car skidding to a stop. From where he stood, Khalil turn to see Rex alighting from the latest version of Bugatti Centodieci. His brown hair is styled very beautifully. His blue eyes gleamed with the vigor of youth. Around his wrist was the old watch old Louie gave him at his last breath and on his earlobes are the pairs of earrings he got as well. With the grace that was automatically born with him and his clumsy friends behind him, Rex enters Riley's Hall without being stopped. Pearl nearly passed out from astonishment and Khalil almost has a heart attack. " It can't be " He mutters to himself but his sight couldn't lie. Rex Louie stunned every students of Rainbow Core College that were present in Riley's Hall. His net worth was not less than an Octillion dollars, he walk forward with the robotic voice which only he could hear playing in his head. " Rex Louie is the sky, the peak, the lifeline of masses...an Octillionaire "