The Acacia Grand Hotel loomed over Sue City's nightlife like a jewel of glass and steel. Its tall, glittering façade reflected the neon lights of passing cars, and the fountain at its entrance sprayed water into the night sky with theatrical elegance. For most students, it was a place they only saw on Instagram, a landmark of luxury reserved for the city's elite. But tonight, it had become the venue for the first major campus party of the semester.
Marvin Otieno had gone all out. The ballroom had been rented, the buffet tables gleamed with silver trays, and the DJ's booth throbbed with bass-heavy music. Outside the entrance, sleek cars lined the curb—Mercedes, Range Rovers, even a Lamborghini someone's father had lent for the night.
Inside, students danced under colored lights, drinks in hand, their laughter loud and carefree.
---
Kelvin adjusted his cheap button-down shirt nervously as he and Jackim approached the grand entrance. "Bro, you sure about this? You know Marvin's crew only invited us to humiliate you, right? They don't throw out a red carpet for free."
Jackim, dressed simply in black jeans and a clean white shirt, smiled faintly. He didn't wear designer clothes or flashy jewelry, but there was a weight to his presence now—a quiet confidence that turned heads even without effort.
"That's exactly why I'm going," Jackim said calmly. "A lion doesn't avoid the hyenas. He walks straight into their den."
The doorman hesitated when he saw them, scanning their outfits with barely disguised disdain. "Invitation?" he asked flatly.
Kelvin fumbled in his pocket for the card Marvin's lackey had shoved into his hand earlier. Jackim didn't bother.
The doorman frowned. "And you?"
Jackim's lips curved in a small smirk. "You already know I belong here."
The man blinked, confused by the confidence in his tone, and stepped aside almost instinctively. Kelvin's eyes widened, whispering as they entered, "Bro… you didn't even show him anything!"
Jackim chuckled. "Confidence opens more doors than keys."
---
The ballroom was a storm of music, laughter, and clinking glasses. A chandelier of crystal bathed the room in golden light, bouncing off polished floors and mirrored walls. Groups of students clustered at the buffet, at the bar, on the dance floor—each clique flaunting their wealth like armor.
Jackim's entrance didn't go unnoticed. Heads turned, whispers spread like sparks.
"Isn't that the guy who paid for the whole cafeteria?"
"Yeah, that's him—Jackim."
"Wait, wasn't he Sandra's ex back in high school?"
At the mention of her name, Jackim's gaze flicked across the room. And there she was.
Sandra.
She looked even more polished than before. Her hair cascaded in glossy curls, her red dress hugged her figure perfectly, and diamonds sparkled at her ears. But what caught Jackim's attention wasn't the dress or the jewels—it was the man at her side.
Tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a tailored suit with a luxury watch that screamed old money. This was Bryan Muturi, son of a real estate magnate, and one of Marvin's strongest allies on campus.
Sandra's laugh rang out across the ballroom as Bryan whispered in her ear. She leaned against him with calculated grace, her eyes scanning the room until—she saw Jackim.
For a brief moment, her smile faltered. Her eyes widened just slightly before she masked it with a new laugh, clinging tighter to Bryan's arm.
Kelvin noticed immediately. "Bro… she still cares. Look at her face. She's trying to pretend, but she wasn't expecting you here."
Jackim's expression didn't change. "She chose her path. Now she gets to watch mine."
---
Marvin emerged from the crowd, his suit a shade too flashy, his grin sharp and mocking. "Well, well. Look who decided to show his face. I was beginning to think you'd crawl back to your garage instead of coming here."
Jackim raised an eyebrow. "What, and miss all this?" He gestured at the glittering ballroom. "Your father's money really knows how to put on a show."
Marvin's grin stiffened, but he recovered quickly. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Tonight, we'll show everyone the difference between pretending and belonging."
The crowd chuckled at the jab, but Jackim only smiled faintly. Inside, the System's voice stirred.
[System Task Activated: Brag with supreme calmness in the face of humiliation.]
[Statement: "I already own a villa worth more than this entire hotel."]
[Reward: Villa Acquisition – Hidden Luxury Villa added to System Inventory.]
Jackim blinked inwardly. A villa? Worth more than this hotel? That wasn't just wealth—that was generational power.
He met Marvin's smug expression, his voice cool, measured, almost bored.
"This hotel is nice," Jackim said, sipping casually from a passing waiter's tray. "But my villa makes it look like a roadside motel."
The ballroom went dead silent. Heads swiveled. Marvin burst out laughing, almost doubling over.
"A villa?" he scoffed. "This guy's delusions are reaching the sky now! You hear that, everyone? He says he owns a villa worth more than the Acacia Grand itself!"
Students roared with laughter. Even Bryan smirked, shaking his head. Sandra's lips curled in a mocking smile, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
But then, phones buzzed across the room. Notifications pinged. A ripple of confusion spread.
On social media, pictures began circulating. High-definition images of a stunning villa—gated, sprawling, with glass walls and infinity pools—sitting on the edge of the city's wealthiest district. The caption: Property records confirm ownership: Jackim Ochieng.
Gasps filled the room.
"No way…"
"He wasn't lying?"
"That villa's been on magazines! It's worth tens of millions!"
Marvin's laughter froze mid-breath. Bryan's smirk vanished. Sandra's wine glass trembled in her hand.
Jackim set his drink down calmly, as though nothing unusual had happened. "Like I said. This place is nice… but I prefer my own space."
The crowd erupted—not with laughter this time, but with awe, shock, and murmurs of disbelief. Suddenly, the tables had turned. The poor boy they mocked now stood taller than all of them, his words backed by proof none could deny.
---
Kelvin leaned closer, eyes wide with disbelief. "Bro, you actually—no, the System—you actually own a villa?!"
Jackim smirked faintly. "Why settle for scraps when the whole table is mine?"
The System purred in his mind.
[Task Complete: Villa Acquired.]
[Reward Claimed: Luxury Villa (Location: Moonlight Heights). Additional Skill: Status Shield Lv.1 – Automatically conceals true net worth unless host chooses to reveal it.]
Jackim exhaled softly. A shield? Perfect. He could control when to stun the world and when to remain invisible.
---
The music resumed awkwardly, but the energy in the room had shifted. Students who once mocked now whispered in awe. Girls who had ignored him now stole glances, curious and intrigued. Even the waiters treated him differently, their service sharper, more respectful.
Bryan muttered something to Sandra, his jaw clenched. She nodded, her eyes still locked on Jackim, a storm of regret swirling within them.
Marvin, humiliated again, seethed silently. His fists clenched at his sides, but for once, he had no words.
Jackim turned to Kelvin. "Let's enjoy the party. I think the food tastes better when it's free."
Kelvin burst out laughing, tension breaking.
As Jackim moved toward the buffet, the whispers followed him like a tide. He didn't need to boast further. The System had already spoken for him.
But deep down, Jackim knew this was only the beginning.
Because wealth attracted more than admiration. It attracted envy. And envy had teeth.