Chapter 24: Redeem the Discount Card
The moment Eric stepped out of Richard’s private office, Emma jumped to her feet to greet him. They said their goodbyes to Katie at the front desk and headed over to wait by the elevators. Eric was feeling a bit stuck; university applications closed in a week, but the whole legal name change process was going to drag on for two to three months before he’d actually have his new ID, social security card, and passport in hand to register.
He glanced down at his driver’s license, which still read Eric Watts. He figured he could sort that part out later, and picking up his Mercedes with it shouldn’t be an issue. But college was a completely different story.
"Hmm... if things play out like this, I won’t even be able to start college until next year. It would be a total nightmare to change my name with the university database later, and there’s no way in hell I can claim my penthouse using this current ID either," Eric thought to himself.
"Hey... what’s wrong with you? Why do you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?" Emma asked, leaning her face in close to inspect his expression.
"It’s nothing, really. I’m just trying to figure out how to handle the whole college situation, that’s all," Eric replied, turning to look at her with a reassuring smile.
"Hmm... come on, talk to me. What exactly is spinning around in that head of yours?" Emma pressed, clearly not buying his excuse for a second.
"There’s really nothing to worry about... hey, come with me for a bit," Eric said, changing the subject.
"Huh... where to?" Emma asked, totally confused.
"Just trust me and come along," Eric answered.
"Hmm... alright," Emma murmured, keeping a close eye on him.
Eric pulled out his smartphone and searched the map for the nearest Mercedes-Benz dealership. The second he locked down the location, he ordered a rideshare to take them there. Emma was completely in the dark about their destination, which naturally sent her imagination running wild.
She started cycling through every possibility, a simple coffee date, a casual stroll, a movie, karaoke, or maybe even heading to a hotel together. Her face instantly flushed bright red, and she slammed both hands against her cheeks.
Eric noticed her looking completely overheated, her face crimson as she fanned her neck despite the car’s blasting AC.
"Are you feeling sick?" Eric asked, leaning in close to press the back of his hand against her forehead.
"Ugh... no... I’m completely fine," Emma stammered, blushing furiously.
"Are you sure? Because if you’re not, we can just head back home," Eric added, looking genuinely worried.
"I’m positive... I’m completely fine... just scoot over a little bit, it’s hot in here, haha," Emma muttered, giving Eric a gentle nudge.
"Ah... sorry about that," Eric said.
The car soon made a turn, and it turned out the Mercedes showroom wasn’t very far from the lawyer’s office at all, still sitting comfortably within the city’s commercial district.
The two of them got out of the rideshare and walked inside the massive dealership, which was packed with various luxury display vehicles. Taking in the sleek interior of the building, Emma turned to look at Eric.
"What exactly are we doing here?" Emma asked.
"Picking up my car," Eric replied, his tone casual and lighthearted.
Emma stopped dead in her tracks. Eric naturally turned back around to find her staring at him, completely dumbfounded. He walked back over to her.
"What? Your family has two Mercedes at home, right?" Eric asked, amused by her reaction.
"Are you telling me you’re about to buy one?" Emma asked.
"Um... not buy. Just picking it up," Eric clarified.
"That’s the part I don’t get. What do you mean by ’picking it up’? You didn’t steal it, did you?" Emma questioned.
"Of course not. Come on, let’s go inside, you’ll see," Eric said, gently pulling Emma along by the hand.
They stepped further into the showroom, and within just a few paces, a female sales representative approached to greet them. Glancing at Eric, who was just wearing a basic t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, the woman looked a bit skeptical, especially as Eric scanned the luxury cars around them with wide, excited eyes. Still, she maintained her professional sales smile and greeted them.
"Are you looking for a specific model, sir?" the sales rep asked.
"Hmm... what’s the most expensive option you have that’s completely ready to hit the road today?" Eric asked.
Hearing his question, the sales rep instantly gasped. Several other salespeople in the room turned their heads to stare at Eric, and Emma’s eyes went completely wide next to him. The sales rep quickly snapped back to reality, pulling up her tablet and scrolling rapidly through her inventory. She then spun the screen around to show Eric.
"Right now, the only model that is fully inspected and ready for immediate delivery today is a Mercedes-Maybach S580. What do you think, sir?" the sales rep asked. "There’s no way this kid has $208,000 in cash, he should stop pretending he needs the most expensive one," she thought to herself.
"Hmm... which car is that exactly?" Eric asked, looking completely clueless since he honestly had no idea what the model looked like.
Upon hearing his clueless question, a sudden hush fell over the entire showroom floor. Several salespeople shook their heads and smirked snidely, while Emma kept her eyes locked onto Eric without blinking, staying completely quiet.
"Right this way, sir, please follow me," the sales rep said, managing to keep her polite demeanor.
She led them over to the right side of the showroom, where a stunningly luxurious black car sat dead center in the display bay. Eric, completely thrilled, rushed right up to the vehicle. He threw open the door and climbed into the driver’s seat. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs and a massive grin split across his face; this was the absolute first time he had ever sat behind the wheel of a machine this high-end.
He took in the gorgeous interior, from the premium dashboard layout to the high-tech infotainment setup featuring an advanced GPS system, and the incredibly plush, supportive leather seats.
"Whoaaah," Eric breathed.
"Um... do you like it?" Emma asked, having slid into the front passenger seat next to him.
"Yep... it’s perfect. This is the one," Eric decided.
Eric climbed out of the car and immediately spoke to the sales rep about finalizing the paperwork. Though completely taken aback, she decided to play along with what she assumed was a young kid playing rich.
She pulled up the standard purchase contract, which Eric filled out eagerly and with meticulous detail, while Emma watched his every move. Then, the sales rep asked the defining question.
"How will you be handling the payment today, sir?" she inquired.
"Oh, can I just use this?" Eric asked, sliding a black card out of his pocket that looked exactly like a premium credit card.
The exact second the sales rep locked eyes on that specific card, her face went entirely pale. She couldn’t believe a kid who still looked wet behind the ears was holding an exclusive card like that. Without a word, she sprinted off to find her general manager, leaving Eric totally confused.
"Wait, where did she just run off to?" Eric asked Emma.
"No clue," Emma replied, looking just as baffled.
A few moments later, the manager came rushing over alongside the sales rep, who was now carrying complimentary drinks for Eric and Emma.
"Excuse me, sir, you’d like to use this card to cover the full balance immediately?" the manager asked with deep respect.
"Yeah... let’s just push it through. I’d like to get heading home soon, she’s not feeling very well," Eric answered, casually tossing his arm around Emma’s shoulders. The sudden physical contact made Emma flush completely red like a ripe tomato.
"Right away, sir... give us just a moment," the manager complied.
The manager immediately hurried off again, taking the black card and the signed purchase contract with him, followed closely by the sales rep. Soon after, a few other salespeople approached Eric, politely handing him their business cards. Eric accepted them even though he didn’t quite get why they were suddenly so eager, he was just happy to make the acquaintance.
Before long, the manager and the sales rep returned, handing him back his card along with a fully stamped and settled receipt. They asked Eric to wait just a minute, and moments later, a pristine black Maybach S580 pulled right up to the main entrance of the showroom.
"Here you go, sir. Your vehicle is fully prepped and ready," the manager announced.
"Awesome, thank you so much," Eric replied, beaming.
They walked out to the driveway. The delivery driver handed over the primary key fob, while the sales rep handed over a gift bag containing the vehicle manuals, a spare key, and a small plush bear as a thank-you gesture. Eric climbed into the driver’s seat with a massive smile plastered across his face. Emma slid into the passenger side, her eyes absolutely glued to his profile.
As they started driving, the manager and the entire sales team stood by the curb, watching until Eric cleared the property gates, some even waving goodbye. While steering the vehicle, Eric slipped a hand into his pants pocket; the black card was completely gone, having dissolved the moment it was processed and exchanged for the luxury machine he was currently piloting.
"Wohoooo... this is absolutely incredible," Eric cheered.
"Um... you don’t have a girlfriend yet, right? I could be your girlfriend," Emma murmured in a tiny, quiet voice.
"Huh... what was that?" Eric asked, not really catching her words over the quiet hum of the engine.
"Nothing... it’s nothing... hahaha," Emma stammered, her face turning bright red again.
