From Pit to Palace: Charlie Emerged

Chapter 5

Charlie was frozen at first, his eyes winking. "You did what?"

"Yes, Young Master. I just deposited it into your account. Hope you received it," the man said. "You can check at the bank to confirm it if you don't believe it."

The man's voice was firm and Charlie couldn't help, but admit, stammering. "I-I received it, but thought it's fake. A clickbait."

"Oh no, Young master Charlie, it actually is not. It's real. I transferred it. Just check it out."

Charlie quickly ended the call without saying anything, anticipation in his eyes. "Is this really true? Or am I just imagining things?" He muttered. Then, he swiftly dialed his bank's USSD code. "Maybe, I should check it out using Duke's details."

Duke was his only best friend on campus. One who always stood by him no matter what. They do add up money together to buy food for themselves, so it was no hassle to put down his account details.

Without hesitating, he hit the send button, transferring five hundred dollars to Duke. Since he just wanted to test if it was real, Charlie intentionally made it low. Also, he wanted to make it easy to pay back if it turns out to be real and the man is demanding something silly in return.

A notification dropped immediately right after the transaction.

'$500 successfully transferred. Your new balance is $49,999,500.'

His eyes went wide, shocked. To add to it, his phone started to ring with the caller ID, Duke, flashing on the screen.

"Duke?" He muttered and picked up. "Hello, Duke?"

Duke's voice was filled with curiosity yet concern. "Charlie, I didn't ask for any money, why did you send me money? I know we're friends, but you need this money the most." He explained.

Charlie was hesitant at first, the man's voice telling him that the money was real, playing in his ears. "This is re...real!" He felt a pang of excitement as he murmured.

"Let me assume you made a mistake," Duke continued, snapping Charlie out of his thoughts. "I'm sending it back to you right away."

"No, no, don't," Charlie said quickly, shaking his head even though Duke couldn't see him. "Duke, you don't have to. It wasn't a mistake. Just keep it to yourself."

"What the heck do you mean by I should keep it," Duke scolded in a friendly manner. "Have you forgotten when you told me you're owing three months' rent? Don't you know this $500 might solve part of it?"

A sigh echoed through the speaker from Duke's end. "I'm sending it, man. You need it more than I do."

"I say you shouldn't bother. Just keep it to yourself!"

"Are you sure y-" Duke was about to retort, but before he could finish, Charlie hung up the call.

Charlie held the phone and stared at the debit alert he had received after transferring $500 to Duke. He couldn't help, but wipe his face, as if trying to wake himself from daydreaming.

"This can't be real. I must be dreaming," he doubted, shaking his head.

Just then.....

Ring, ring!

His phone vibrated in his hand and started to ring. It was the same number.

Charlie didn't hesitate to answer it.

"Young master Charlie, have you confirmed it?" The man's voice came through respectfully.

"Y-- yes, it's r....real," Charlie stuttered, then reluctantly asked. "But why did you send such money to me? What do you want from me?" He asked in a suspicious voice.

"Nothing, young master Charlie. I just want you to come take over the inheritance waiting for you."

"What inheritance have you been talking about?" Charlie asked softly.

"I'm sorry, young master Charlie, but this shouldn't be discussed over the phone. You know what? Just come to Pinnacle Group, the thirtieth floor today, where I mentioned to you earlier, but if you can't make it today, then come tomorrow, just anytime you find convenient."

Charlie hesitated before accepting. "All right, I'll be there."

"Good. For the meantime, manage that fifty million dollars I sent to you until you show up here to claim everything."

As the call ended, Charlie blinked, trying to piece everything together. However, he was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone.

It was Duke calling him this time.

He answered, pressing the phone to his ear. "Hello, Duke. What's up?"

"Where are you now?" Duke demanded with urgency.

"At my apartment," Charlie replied softly, but sensing the intensity in Duke's voice, he added. "What's the problem?"

"At your apartment?" Duke scoffed, "You'd better run down to the campus. The mathematics lecturer suddenly announced he wants to give a test and you know what that means if you don't participate. You've failed."

"Ah!" Charlie shouted. "Thanks, man. I'll be there."

As Charlie disconnected the call, he jumped out of bed, preparing to head to school. He had been preparing for this maths test, but he never expected it would come so suddenly.

Rushing everything, Charlie sprinted to the campus. In five minutes Charlie arrived at the campus since his apartment wasn't far.

His breath was faster, but he suddenly paused, taking a deep breath as he arrived at the door entrance, and realized the lecturer wasn't yet in class.

Charlie scanned every face, and he could see Megan, his ex-girlfriend, sitting in the midst of her friends, discussing. Next was Franklin, Megan's new boyfriend with his own friends, also talking.

Immediately, his presence was noticed, and the room fell silent as if a lecturer had stepped into the class. Heads turned toward him, all eyes falling on Charlie with disdain.

Soon, murmurs riffled in the air.

"Here, he comes!"

"The wound is really fresh and it doesn't seem to be healing soon. It's just evident in his expression."

Their murmurs were with disgust and feigned pity; however, Charlie ignored them, walked past, and headed to the back seat, taking a seat close to a chubby figure.

"Oh, thank God, you're right here on time, Charlie," the chubby guy said happily. But then he narrowed his eyes, curiosity in his voice as he asked. "Charlie, is it true what I'm hearing?"