The Rise of David
Copyright© 2025 by RichXpower
Chapter 46: Class Reunion
The taxi came to a stop in front of Meadow Restaurant. After David alighted and paid the fare, it then drove off.
There were quite a number of luxurious cars parked in front of the restaurant. Just then, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class screeched to a stop before David.
“Hey, if it isn’t David! I heard that you were in prison! When did you get out?”
The car window wound down, and a young man with ear studs stuck his head out.
That was David’s classmate during university, Leroy Fletcher. Even during their university days, he had an above-average family background, with his family owning a small factory. It had just been a few years since they graduated, but he was already driving a Mercedes-Benz.
“David, don’t you think it’s a little too shabby to dress in such a manner when you’re attending our class reunion?” the girl sitting in the passenger seat questioned with a scornful expression, poking her head out as well.
That girl, Pamela Ingram, was also David’s classmate during university. She had been dating Leroy since then, and they were likely still an item at present.
That day, David didn’t wear the suit Josephine bought him. Although it was exorbitant, he found it constraining. Instead, his cheap casual clothes were far more comfortable.
“Cut that out! He has just gotten out of prison, so it’s good enough that he has his current ensemble. This is likely the best he has at home!”
After saying that, Leroy parked the car before he climbed out and turned to David. “Who informed you about the class reunion this time? I don’t remember anyone giving you a call.”
“I’m not here for any class reunion!”
Having said that, David strode toward Meadow Restaurant.
“Don’t tell me you’re here for lunch if not to attend the class reunion? But judging from your look, you don’t seem like you can afford to eat here. Just admit it. Did you come for the free meal after learning about the class reunion? That’s nothing embarrassing. We’re all former classmates, so there’s no shame. This meal is going to be Juliette’s treat, and I heard that Sandy is coming as well. Sandy is now the daughter-in-law of the Scott family, so it’s a rare opportunity to dine with her!” Pamela drawled with mockery written all over her face, blocking David’s path.
“Have you really forgotten that Sandy is his ex-girlfriend, Pamela? Now that she has married into the Scott family, he wouldn’t have the nerve to see her,” Leroy remarked derisively, arching an eyebrow.
“Oh, I remember now! It was Mr. Scott who put him in prison. It would be bad if Mr. Scott misunderstood and sent him back to prison if he were to attend the class reunion. No wonder he doesn’t dare do so!”
Subsequently, Pamela moved aside for him to pass.
“Go on in and find a place to hide. We’ll allow you to have the leftovers when we’ve finished eating!”
As Pamela and Leroy kept deriding him, David abruptly gave a bitter chuckle.
“Let’s go! I’ll attend the class reunion with you both!”
He knew that they were provoking him, but since they were doing so, he decided to go and see how materialistic those former classmates of his were.
Upon seeing that he couldn’t withstand the taunts and had fallen into their trap, Pamela and Leroy exchanged a look and smirked.
They were only expending so much effort in inviting him to trample all over him during the class reunion and leave a good impression on Sandy.
Sandy had married into the Scott family then. Coincidentally, Leroy’s company had a collaboration with the Scott family. Therefore, he hoped to get some projects from the Scott family through Sandy.
The two of them brought David to the private room. Opening the door, they were greeted by the sight of seven or eight people there, including Juliette, who was the host that day.
“You’re both late, Leroy! You’ll have to down three glasses later!”
“I heard that you bought a Mercedes-Benz? How incredible that you’re driving a Mercedes-Benz at such a young age!”
“Oh, you’re really dating Pamela! I thought the two of you would break up after graduating!”
When they entered the room, many people greeted Leroy since he was considered a small-time big shot then.
“Why are you here, David?”
Juliette frowned upon spotting David. After Warrick and the others were beaten up by the man back then, she had been practicing much more restraint.
“Oh, we bumped into him outside, so we invited him to join us! We’re all former classmates, and we know him anyway!” Leroy interjected with a smile.
Only then did everyone notice David, who was standing behind Leroy. As they clocked his dressing, disdain showed in their eyes. Only one man shot to his feet and exclaimed excitedly, “When did you get out, David?”
It was clear as day that he also knew about David’s incarceration.
“Virgil? You’re here as well?”
David was likewise a touch surprised at the sight of the man.
That man was Virgil Hancock. He was also David’s former classmate, and they were even from the same dorm. As such, their relationship was pretty close.
Back during university, Virgil often helped David out financially though he wasn’t from an affluent family.
Therefore, David didn’t expect him to attend the class reunion this time.
After all, the current class reunion had already changed in nature. They were hosted by those who were loaded and used to flaunt their wealth.
“It’s been several years since we’ve last seen each other! I missed you so much! Quick, come and have a seat!”
Dragging David over to the seat beside him, Virgil asked animatedly, “Why didn’t you tell me that you’ve been released from prison, David? I could’ve thrown a celebration for you!”
“I’ve only been out for a few days, and that’ll be too troublesome, so I didn’t bother you.”
A faint smile bloomed on David’s face, and his mood improved significantly.
Initially, he only agreed to attend the class reunion with Leroy to see how materialistic his former classmates were before proving their assumption of him wrong. But at the sight of Virgil, he felt that he had indeed made the right decision.
“How inauspicious to dine with an ex-convict at the same table!” someone grumbled in a whisper.
Yet, everyone could heard that.
Of course, David was no exception. He cast that former class of his a frosty look, but he didn’t blow his gasket. The others all looked at him with contempt on their faces.
Contrarily, Virgil wore an embarrassed expression.
He quickly tugged at David and inquired, “Have you found a job since you’ve just been released, David?”
“Nope!” David shook his head.
“How about working with me? I’ve got a few construction teams under my command. I’m the captain.
Although the work is rather grueling, you can still earn three to five hundred a day!”
Virgil only attended the reunion to obtain some construction projects through his connections with his former classmates.
“Virgil, would the high and mighty president of the student council do such laborious work with you? And you even dared term them as construction teams and yourself as the captain? You feel that you’re something else just because you’ve got a few migrant workers under your command, huh?” Leroy questioned disdainfully with a cigarette in his mouth, placing the car key to his Mercedes-Benz in front of him.
A bitter smile tugged at Virgil’s lips, and he hurriedly replied, “Compared to you, Leroy, I’m naturally nothing at all! I’m even hoping that you’ll be so kind to help me out!”
All smiles, he fawningly lit the man’s cigarette for him.
Relishing that obsequious attitude, Leroy nodded and drawled, “Sure! Any random construction project from me will be enough to support you for a year!”
“In that case, I thank you, Leroy! Here’s my business card!”
Virgil handed his business card to Leroy, but the man tossed it onto the table after a cursory glance.
Taking a long pull from the cigarette, Leroy exhaled a cloud of smoke at David.
“David, not only were you the president of the student council back then, but we’re even former classmates, so I’ll give you a job as a security guard in my company. It pays three thousand a month. How about that? Then, I don’t need to use my Tibetan Mastiff to guard the door. It isn’t cheap, so it’s a waste to have it guard the door!”
As soon as his words rang out, everyone burst into raucous laughter.
Juliette cackled the loudest. In the beginning, she was still a smidge irate at David’s presence, but judging from the look of things, it was great that he came. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to see him humiliated.
“David is a lot stronger than your Tibetan Mastiff, Leroy. He learned martial arts in prison and he’s awesome. He even broke Warrick’s legs,” Juliette said with a sarcastic smile.
When the others heard David breaking Warrick’s leg, they turned to look at the former with shock.
“If he can break Warrick’s leg, then he may indeed be stronger than my Tibetan Mastiff. Seems like I’ll have to add a bit more money!” Leroy sneered at David.
“Believe me, I will break your legs too,” David said in a calm tone.
“What did you just say to me? I dare you to say it again.” Leroy grabbed a wine bottle and glared at David with fury.
“There’s no need to be angry, Leroy. David is just joking with you.” Seeing how Leroy was really angry, Virgil quickly stood up to try and resolve the situation peacefully.
“This is Fortune Street, Leroy. The entire street is under Mr. Lewis’ control, including this restaurant. If you cause a mess here, you’ll be incurring Mr. Lewis’ wrath!” Someone else attempted to calm Leroy down.
“There’s nothing I need to be afraid of! My cousin is the manager of this place, so I can do whatever I want!” Leroy said proudly.
The others immediately looked at him with admiration when he said that.
“Leroy is so awesome! I can’t believe he has a cousin like that!”
“This means that his cousin is one of Mr. Lewis’ men! He must be pretty special!”
“There’s no need for us to worry here as long as Leroy is with us!”
Everyone was praising Leroy to the high heavens. As for Leroy himself, he looked pretty flattered.
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