Winner Takes All

Chapter 3 Bauhinia Bank Card

Entering the bank, Jack waited in line. When he took his turn, he was completely shocked by the teller behind the counter. Jack narrowed his eyes.

That was Shirley! What a coincidence. He knew Shirley was Tommy’s girlfriend. Although they had never met, Jack heard some stories about her and saw her pictures through Katherine.

He didn’t hate her, but he was a little bit angry about her. Shirley had a pretty face and a nice job. Tommy was lucky that she was even willing to take a look at a loser, a NEET like him.

He didn’t care how much she wanted as the bride price. He was just pissed at the Perry Family for they took the money he tended to use for his mom. He was forced to help Tommy. Jack took a deep breath, trying to swallow his depression.

He smiled and put the bank card on the counter, “Hi, I want to withdraw some money.”

Shirley was about to ask how much he needed, but she frowned when she saw the Bauhinia Card, “Sir, you sure this is a bank card?”

She repeatedly checked it for she had never seen such kind of bank card. Jack was stunned for a second. Was that possible that Mr. Wand gave him a fake card? If he could bring out 200 thousand to pay her mom’s hospital bill, it couldn’t be a fake one.

“I’m sure,” Jack nodded while looking her up and down. He couldn’t tell her height for she was sitting there; however, she looked so curved with her fancy suits that men would be obsessed to protect her. He signed. He just didn’t know how come such a beauty could pick a loser. Shirley lost all her patience with a deeper frown when she found the card couldn’t be read.

Bang! She smacked the card on the counter and said, “Sorry, sir, this card couldn’t be read.”

Fuck! ‘Mr. Wand was a liar?’ ‘He gave me 200 thousand, and then fobbed off a fake card on me? It couldn’t be.’

“Well, can you please try again? I promise you it’s real,” Jack was almost begging. He divorced Katherine, so he wanted to move into a new place with his mom. Katherine took the last 200 thousand, which made him completely stony broke. The money is the only way he expected for his mom.

“Sir, did you do this on purpose?”

Shirley raised her eyebrow and spoke coldly, “I knew you were looking me up and down. If you wanna hit on me, at least come with a real debit card. You are wasting other clients’ time. Please leave, or I’ll call security.”

Jack froze. ‘What the hell?’ She didn’t wait for his explanation.

She held her arms in front of her chest, “Security!”

Suddenly, two securities walked over. It was a busy morning with many clients at the bank, and most of them cast their eyes on Jack.

Panicked, he pointed the card and said, “This is a real card, and I am here for real business. How can you throw me out?”

Shirley, with a stone-cold face, gave him no response. The security asked seriously, “Sir, please leave. You harassed one of our staff during work hour. We’ll call the police.”

“I…” Words were caught in his throat. He didn’t get the money, and now he was considered a pervert. Right at that moment, a potbellied man in suits came over.

“What’s wrong?”

Shirley’s attitude shifted right away. She coquetted affectedly, “Manager, this guy wants to withdraw money with a fake card. And he was giving me prying eyes.”

Jack was confused and furious. Just now she behaved so coldly, but in front of the manager, she turned flirtatious that quickly! Katherine told him Shirley was a pure innocent good girl. She and Tommy had only held hands since they were together. He was neither stupid nor blind. Shirley was not as pure, innocent, restrained as she looked. The middle-aged manager clouded his face and stared at Jack with hostility.

“Sir, here is the bank. Please behave yourself. As the manager, I ask you to leave; otherwise we’ll cast you out.”

The two securities smirked. It was an open secret that Shirley was the manager’s mistress. Trying to flirt with Shirley? This dude must be insane. She twisted her body even more flirtatiously after hearing out the manager. She pouted again, “Manager, don’t waste time on him. Just ask the security to throw him out.” Jack got so provoked but he didn’t lose his temper. He just looked angry. He only wanted to withdraw money from the Bauhinia Card Mr. Wand gave him. He was not going to accept the fact that everybody was taking it on him. He was just a little bit angry at her. But as he saw her reactions now, he got completely pissed.

“Get him out of here!” Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

The manager frowned and yelled for Jack didn’t move at all. If it wasn’t for his position, he could have ordered the securities to cast him out for a very simple reason – he cast greedy eyes on Shirley.

The securities were about to take moves, and the crowd was gathering. Jack wasn’t so easy to pick on, and he wouldn’t swallow insult and humiliation. Being bullied by these people at the bank, he finally exploded. Bang!

He smacked the card on the counter as he yelled, “I’m here to withdraw money, not to get framed a rogue. Do you want me to create a scene?”

The securities stopped immediately. Though the manager was almost killing Jack with his eyes, he couldn’t help noticing the Bauhinia Card. One second later, the manager seemed to be struck by a lightening.

He couldn’t think of anything but blankly stared at Jack, “What …”

Sweat, size of beans, oozed from his forehead.

“It’s fake, manager.”

Shirley said with a careless sardonic grin, but she was frightened to see the sweat on his head. Just the blink of an eye, the manager wiped out his sweat and turned his gloomy face into a flattering smile.

He humbled his back to Jack with a panic smile, “Sir, pardon my rudeness. I didn’t know you were a VIP client. Please, come to my office. I will personally handle your business.”

Jesus. Shirley exclaimed in disbelief, “This … this is real?”

“You know nothing!”

The manager’s forehead covered with sweat. He stared at Shirley angrily, and then turned to Jack with a respectful smile, “Sir, this way.”

Finally, everybody around knew who he was. Jack lifted his eyebrows, squinted at stupefied Shirley disdainfully, and followed the manager to the VIP office. Getting the money was his priority. He decided to let go since the manager had chickened out. But he had a brand-new impression on this Shirley. Meanwhile, he couldn’t wait to see how much money was in there.

The moment they close the door, the silent lobby was fraught with noise. The crowds were all in surprise. No one ever thought there could be such a twist.

Absolutely shocked, Shirley was sobbing and trembling. She just realized something serious—she had made a fatal mistake that no one had the courage to cover it up for her.