Rise Of Michael Jordan

Chapter 2

In the elevator, Micheal carefully opened the modest ring box, and the moment the lid lifted, a dazzling pink diamond caught the light, scattering tiny rainbows across the small metal walls, its brilliance filling the space in a way that made even the cramped elevator feel grand, and he could hardly believe that this eight-million-dollar luxury ring, once called the “King of Diamonds” of Vegas, was now in his hands, a gem truly one of a kind and impossible to ignore.

He did not know the exact amount of money on the bank card that Ivy had tossed at him, but he was certain that it was enough to buy Loyd Corporation ten times over, and the thought made him shake his head slightly at how casually Vivian and her mother had dismissed these treasures moments ago, calling them “junk” as though they had no value at all, a cruel contrast to what they actually represented.

When the elevator doors slid open, Micheal stepped out, holding the ring box carefully, only to be greeted by a mocking voice that made his jaw tighten almost instantly. “Well, well, if it isn’t Micheal! You don’t look so good,” the voice called, dripping with amusement and superiority.

Micheal looked up calmly, his expression unreadable, and found himself facing a man in a perfectly tailored suit, his hair slicked back, holding a bouquet of blue roses that seemed almost out of place against the tension in the hallway, and he immediately recognized him as Dammy Voss, one of Vegas’s most infamous trust fund children and, unfortunately for him, one of Vivian’s most persistent admirers.

Trying to avoid trouble, Micheal attempted to sidestep Dammy, but the other man moved deliberately to block his path, his smirk widening as he leaned slightly forward. “Do you need something?” Micheal asked evenly, his voice low but carrying a dangerous edge. “If not, please move.”

Dammy’s grin only grew as he raised his voice and taunted him, making sure anyone who passed by could hear. “Look, everyone! Vivian’s little lapdog is actually barking at me! Let me guess, the Loyd family finally kicked you to the curb, huh?”

As he mocked him, Dammy noticed the ring box in Micheal’s hand and his eyes lit up with greed and curiosity. “That’s probably some cheap trinket,” he said, scoffing. “As if Vivian would ever want that. Let’s all have a look!”

Without warning, he swiped at the box, sending it clattering across the floor, the lid popping open and revealing the stunning pink diamond that rolled onto the tiles, catching the light and glinting as though it were alive, and for the first time, Dammy’s expression changed from arrogance to shock as his eyes widened. “Isn’t that… the famous pink diamond from Phoenix Jewelers? The one they call the King of Diamonds in all of Vegas?”

The sudden commotion drew the attention of employees from Loyd Corporation as well as passersby in the hall, who quickly gathered around, their eyes fixed on the stunning jewel that had long been the fantasy of countless women in Vegas, a dazzling treasure that had been the dream gift from a prince charming that almost no one could ever afford, and now it was in the hands of someone they considered a nobody.

Micheal, however, remained calm, his movements precise as he picked up the box and closed it, the cold glint in his eyes warning everyone around him that with his relationship with Vivian now over, he no longer felt the slightest need to be polite to the parasites who surrounded her, or to the admirers who had always looked down on him.

Dammy barked angrily at his two bodyguards, his voice sharp and commanding, “Grab him! Find out where he got that diamond! A nobody like him has no right to even touch it!”

Before the bodyguards could even move, Micheal spun on his heel with a speed that seemed almost unreal and delivered a resounding slap across Dammy’s face, the force so strong that Dammy grunted, blood and a tooth flying from his mouth as he was sent sprawling several meters backward, landing like a lifeless rag doll on the floor, his bloodshot eyes wide with shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend how someone he had always considered a loser could suddenly possess such terrifying strength.

The two bodyguards froze for a moment, their jaws tightening in surprise at Micheal’s raw power, but they quickly recovered and charged forward, shouting in anger, only to be struck down in an instant as Micheal’s fists moved with deadly precision, sending both men crashing to the ground unconscious before they could even let out a sound, leaving the crowd of employees around them frozen in stunned silence, their usual murmurings of gossip replaced by wide-eyed fear as they watched the gentle, mild-mannered man they knew transform into a force of sheer violence in the blink of an eye.

Casting a single cold glance at the whimpering, disheveled Dammy, Micheal turned and strode away, every step radiating controlled power and unshakable confidence, leaving the crowd to stare after him in disbelief, and it was only moments later that Vivian and Ivy arrived on the scene, having been alerted by the loud commotion, their faces a mixture of shock and outrage.

“Oh, Dammy! Who dared to hurt you? Do they have a death wish?” Ivy rushed forward, her hands flailing as she tried to help the groaning young man to his feet, her voice shrill with anger and concern, while Vivian hung back, her expression unreadable as she watched the aftermath of Micheal’s sudden and terrifying display of strength.

Holding his swollen, bloodied face, Dammy snarled through gritted teeth, his voice trembling with both pain and fury, “It was that loser Micheal! I swear, I’ll make him pay back tenfold for this humiliation and for hitting me like that!”

Ivy’s eyes blazed with rage, her hands clenching into fists as she stepped closer, her voice sharp and full of venom. “What? That bastard dared to lay a hand on you? I can’t believe it! I bet he just couldn’t handle Vivian rejecting him. That useless piece of trash—he won’t get away with this, not while I’m around!”

Dammy’s face brightened with a twisted sort of delight, his earlier pain temporarily forgotten as he turned toward Vivian. “Vivian, is it true? Have you really cut ties with that loser?” he asked eagerly, his tone filled with expectation and glee.

Vivian’s expression remained cool and distant, her icy demeanor making it clear that she had no affection for Dammy at all. “My personal affairs are none of your concern,” she replied firmly, her voice sharp. “Tell me instead, why did Micheal hit you? He’s not the type to start fights without reason.”

Dammy’s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding as he struggled to contain his frustration, and yet he couldn’t help but reveal what he had witnessed, his voice trembling with excitement. “Who knows what that lunatic was thinking,” he muttered, “but Vivian, you won’t believe this—he actually stole the ‘King of Diamonds’ from Phoenix Jewelers, that eight-million-dollar diamond, all to try and impress you!”

Vivian’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her otherwise controlled face, and she leaned back, her voice cold but tinged with disbelief as she asked, “What? Did you just say he stole the ‘King of Diamonds’?”

This particular gem was legendary in the high society of Vegas, and Vivian had secretly dreamed of wearing it on her wedding day, imagining how it would sparkle under the lights and make her the center of admiration at the grandest parties, a symbol of status and beauty she had long coveted.

Dammy, his voice full of excitement and triumph, shouted, “I saw it with my own eyes! Ask any of the employees here if you don’t believe me! That guy has a death wish, pulling a stunt like this in front of everyone!”

Vivian frowned, skepticism flickering across her usually composed face as she shook her head slightly. “As far as I know,” she said cautiously, “Micheal may not be wealthy, but he would never stoop to theft.”

Dammy’s sneer only widened, his tone dripping with mockery. “Exactly because he’s poor, Vivian! That’s why he had to steal it. Think about it—how else could a guy like him ever get his hands on that ring?”

Ivy chimed in, her voice harsh and judgmental, “That’s right! It must be stolen!” and she cast a glance at herself, kicking herself inwardly for having returned the modest black box to Micheal earlier without realizing it contained such an invaluable gem.

Vivian, however, was not convinced by mere accusations. She called over a few employees to ask what had happened, their expressions nervous as they confirmed that Micheal had indeed possessed the King of Diamonds, and the revelation made Vivian’s calm composure crack, her face clouded with anger and disbelief.

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” she snapped, her voice sharp and trembling with fury. “Micheal being poor is not shameful, but trying to impress me by stealing something like this… it only makes me despise him even more!” With that, she pulled out her phone, her fingers moving quickly over the screen as she began dialing, determination and wrath clear in every movement.