What If?

Chapter 3 - Money Can't Buy Happiness

Bzzz... Bzzz...

​The noisy vibration of a phone shattered the morning silence. Glenn’s hand groaned to life, fumbling around the back of the sofa to reach the flat device resting near his head. As the screen lit up, the harsh glare forced him to blink his eyes open with pure reluctance.

He narrowed his eyes, squinting at the numbers displayed on the screen. It was already eight in the morning.

​"Ah, it's still early. Plenty of time left," Glenn muttered carelessly, tossing the phone back toward the far end of the sofa where he was curled up.

​Glenn fully intended to close his eyes and drift right back to sleep. But before his consciousness could slip away again, he felt a violent tug on the blanket wrapped around his body.

​Glenn snapped awake. He lifted his head, his face a complete mess of bedhead and heavy sleep that had been forcefully dragged out of him.

​"Arrghh! Jerry, c'mon. Just give me five more minutes," Glenn groaned in sheer frustration from the couch.

​"No can do, bro. If you’re still hell-bent on crashing, do you seriously wanna watch your old man strip all your privileges? You know how he rolls when he drops an order," Jerry replied mercilessly.

He yanked the blanket completely off Glenn, then strode across the room to flick on the lights, flooding the sofa area with a blinding glare.

​"You skip today, and your dad’s gonna freeze all your black cards, snatch the keys to this penthouse, and impound every single ride in the garage downstairs.

He’s the sole trustee of your trust fund, man. He can literally turn you into a high-class bum in five minutes flat. Heck, he’d probably wipe your name clean off the Ellsworth Group inheritance list just for the hell of it."

​Jerry was Glenn’s childhood friend. Their bond ran so deep that Glenn’s father had eventually hired Jerry as his personal assistant essentially making him the official handler tasked with keeping Glenn from screwing up.

​"Man, that old guy is a major pain in the ass," Glenn grumbled, throwing a forearm over his eyes to block out the light. "Why the hell couldn't he just dump the chief auditor gig on someone else? You do it then, Jer.

Take my place," Glenn muttered thoughtlessly.

​Jerry let out a sly laugh, flashing a grin. "Man, I'd love to. Might as well transfer all your trust funds and stocks over to my name too while you're at it. I’d take 'em with open arms," Jerry shot back, which only earned him a cynical scoff from Glenn.

​"When it comes to cash, your brain snaps into hyperdrive."

​Jerry walked over and sank into the chair right by the edge of the sofa where Glenn was stretched out. The playful smirk on Jerry’s face slowly faded, replaced by a look of genuine sympathy.

​"Look, man. I know it’s not easy dealing with your mom passing," Jerry said, his voice dropping into a quieter, softer register. "If I were in your shoes... I’d probably be a total wreck, too."

​Hearing those words, Glenn’s arm slowly dropped from his face. He shifted his posture, lacing his fingers together behind his head to cradle it against the sofa cushion, staring blankly up at the living room ceiling as his mind drifted away.

​"I just don't get it. Did my old man actually love my mom or what? It’s so freaking obvious her death was sketchy. But he’s just out here telling me to suck it up and let it go," Glenn said, his voice dropping low, heavy with a deep, lingering ache.

​"But have you ever thought about it this way, Glenn? Maybe... that was your dad’s absolute breaking point, too," Jerry said, his tone softening as he tried to offer a calmer perspective. "I know the guy is hard as nails, but everyone’s got their own way of surviving. Maybe he chose to just force himself to move on so he wouldn't completely lose his mind, too."

​Glenn went quiet. Part of him knew Jerry’s logic made sense, but on the other hand... it just felt too damn heavy. A sudden tightness gripped his chest. His bond with Miranda went way deeper than just mother and son.

His mom was the only person who had always been there, holding his hand tight whenever he hit rock bottom. It was a total contrast to his father, who had spent his entire life obsessing over stock charts, business deals, and corporate status.

​To put it bluntly, Glenn knew damn well that his father would probably choose to lose him over losing his throne.

​Seeing Glenn drown in his blank stare all over again, Jerry let out a long sigh. He gave Glenn’s leg a light tap, trying to break his best friend out of that dark rabbit hole before he drifted too far in.

​"Alright, enough of that. Don't stress over it right now. If you're even a little late, your old man’s gonna blow a fuse and make things way harder for you," Jerry encouraged, intentionally shifting his tone back to something more casual. He flashed a playful grin, trying to melt the icy tension in the room.

"Besides, the office is packed with cute girls right now. Especially those fresh graduate interns. Who knows, maybe you'll actually catch a vibe with someone."

​Glenn scoffed, hurling a sofa pillow straight at Jerry, who caught it with ease. "Tch! I don't give a damn. Your brain is literally always in the gutter."

​Jerry burst out laughing, then stood up and forcefully yanked Glenn’s arm to drag him off the couch. "Oh, cut the act like you're too good for it. Get your ass up, come on. It’ll be a good change of scenery anyway. Keep your brain from frying, and hey, at least you won't have to spend the whole day staring at old, wrinkly faces."

​"Ouhhh, f**k!"

*****

​The freezing night had completely dissolved, replaced by a breathtakingly bright morning. Golden streams of sunlight fell perfectly across Launa’s face, catching the clear, brilliant spark in her almond-shaped brown eyes, making them look absolutely captivating under the natural light.

​Today was a massive day, and Launa had intentionally picked out her absolute best outfit. She wore a pristine white, premium tweed two-piece set that radiated an effortless blend of elegance and professionalism. The short-sleeved top hugged her frame perfectly with an air of modest sophistication, accentuated by a black round collar and a matching satin ribbon tied neatly at her chest.

The golden gleam of the front buttons paired flawlessly with her white A-line mini skirt. Her long, wavy brown hair was left to cascade beautifully over her shoulders, held back by a simple black headband that framed her face sweetly.

​Launa had no idea that her look this morning was pulling eyes from every single direction down the street. A few neighbors watering their lawns and random passersby actually paused in their tracks, completely captivated by the girl’s undeniable, pure beauty. Under the morning sky, she was simply glowing, flawless.

​"Laura, you remember everything I told you, right?" Launa asked gently. She knelt down on the sidewalk, bringing herself to eye level with her little sister, before gently turning the small girl around to face her.

​Her soft fingers reached out to brush away Laura’s slightly messy bangs. "Listen to your teacher, okay? Don't push yourself too much today. Be good, and absolutely no picking fights with your classmates."

​Laura, the seven year old little girl, gave a firm, adorable nod. "Mm-hmm, I remember!" she replied obediently. "No talking to strangers. And the second I get to school or back home, I have to let you know right away."

​"Okay, good girl," Launa praised, her smile widening so warmly that her eyes crinkled with affection.

​"You too," Laura chimed in out of nowhere. Her tiny hands reached up, playfully pinching both of Launa’s cheeks until her older sister let out a soft giggle. "Good luck with work today. Don't forget to take a break, my pretty sister!"

​Hearing those sweet words slip from her little sister's lips, Launa’s heart instantly melted. The exhaustion that had been weighing her down since dawn seemed to evaporate into thin air. She tenderly stroked the top of Laura’s head.

​Pshhh!

​The hiss of hydraulic brakes echoed as the doors of the yellow school bus swung wide open right in front of them.

​"Ready for another hectic adventure, Princess?!" Ellish, the heavy-set and always cheerful bus driver, called out with a warm grin from behind his massive steering wheel.

​"Ahaha, ready or not, here we come, Uncle Ellish," Launa shot back, letting out a crisp laugh that sounded like the chiming of little bells. Since he had been picking up and dropping off Laura for years, they had formed a genuinely close and heartwarming bond.

​Ellish looked at Launa, checking out her outfit with an appreciative grin. "Look at you, Launa! You look absolutely stunning in that suit. Totally killing it."

​"Thanks, Ellish. Back at 'em," Launa replied with a genuine smile, gesturing toward his driving cap. "That hat is looking sharp as always."

​"You know it, girl! Gotta rock the finest uniform on the block!" Ellish joked, making the morning feel even more alive.

​"Bye-bye, Launa!"

​Laura’s cheerful shout echoed from inside the bus. The little girl waved her hand enthusiastically, peeking out from behind the window glass she had rolled halfway down.

​"Bye, sweetie! Remember what we talked about, okay!" Launa called out, waving back with a smile that stayed glued to her face until the yellow bus slowly melted into traffic and disappeared around the bend.

​As the quietness crept back in, Launa let out a long breath. Her hectic world was demanding her full attention once again. She had to be incredibly smart with her time today, the exact second her lunch break hit, she needed to be standing right back at this bus stop to scoop up Laura.

​Launa tightened her grip on her bag strap, looking up at the clear blue sky with hopeful eyes.

​"Oh God, help me. Please let today go well."

*****

Glenn finally pulled up to the Ellsworth Group headquarters. His arrival this morning was strictly business and by business, he meant obeying his old man’s absolute orders. It was a no-brainer, he wasn't about to get stripped of his privileges, trust funds, and assets overnight. There was zero chance he was going to let himself end up homeless in a city this brutal.

​The smooth, powerful purr of his luxury sports car faded to a whisper right in front of the skyscraper's main lobby. The second the scissor door swung open, a security guard rushed over, bowing with deep respect. Without even glancing the guy's way, Glenn carelessly tossed his keys. He was not about to waste a single ounce of energy driving around a parking lot.

​The moment Glenn stepped out, the entire vibe of the lobby shifted. That rich-kid energy and the literal scent of money practically rolled off him with every step. He was rocking a casual yet subtly flex-worthy fit, wearing a crisp white turtleneck sweater layered under a heavy, dark gray wool long coat left casually unbuttoned. He paired it with loose-fitting, dark brown leather pants that stacked perfectly over his clean white sneakers with green accents.

​Glenn could dress however the hell he wanted, completely ignoring the rigid corporate dress code. After all, who in this entire building actually had the balls to tell an Ellsworth what to do?

​Glenn’s appeal was simply undeniable, anchored by his sharp, strikingly handsome features. His jawline looked expertly chiseled, complementing a pair of cold, piercing hawk eyes and a strong, prominent nose. His jet-black hair was styled in a slightly messy curly curtain cut, only adding to his effortlessly masculine, IDGAF vibe.

​Every single eye in the lobby had been glued to him since the moment he slid through the automatic glass doors. And honestly, how could they not? The charm of a young, single heir the literal embodiment of everyone’s wildest dreams was walking right past them.

​I don’t need to chase money. Money chases me.

​Yeah, that was the arrogant line Glenn loved to drop with a careless shrug. And watching how the world literally revolved around him today, that wasn't just a brag; it was his absolute reality. With a confident stride, he cut through the corridor, completely ignoring the awestruck whispers trailing in his wake.