Chapter 17: Closed Gate
Tyler borrowed Yara's car for a few hours, leaving her in charge of GlobeMall. He also needed time to think things through.
While he was leaving prison, Butch Salvatore assured he had no material gifts to give. Then what the hell was the overloaded GIB debit card? It had millions of dollars!
How much was the actual balance on the GIB card? Did Butch consider millions of dollars as immaterial?
Tyler browsed debit messages on his phone to find his account's balance, but the main balance was crossed out in the text. Were the numbers too confidential to be shown through messages?
Tyler cast a glance at the boy reclining on the front seat. Tony Anderson slept like a log. It was expected since he had just been rescued from a fatal drug overdose.
Tyler had purified his blood, but the process took a toll on Tony's frail body. Soon, he came to his senses and opened his eyes.
"What's going on?" Tony mumbled in confusion. "Who are you, and where are you taking me?"
Tyler gestured to him to calm down. "You're safe. I'm the club owner, and I'm taking you home."
The boy furrowed his brows, fighting a headache. "Wh-what happened? I remember going to the washroom, and then everything blacked out. And wait! Carlisle is GlobeMall's owner, not you! Ricardo is the manager! Tell me the truth of what's going on!"
"Don't get agitated. I purchased GlobeMall today. Ricardo overdosed you with LSD, and you were on the verge of death. Luckily, you survived."
Tony was taken aback. He couldn't even imagine he almost died. "I… I don't remember well… Ricardo did offer me a drink out of the blue. But why would he drug me?"
"To get you addicted and blackmail you. Don't worry, I kicked him out."
"Oh, shit!" Tony exclaimed, covering his face. "If Dad or my sister find out, they'll kill me! If the media gets a whiff about drugs, it will ruin Dad's reputation!"
"Don't worry, kid. Your secret's safe with me."
However, Tony was already spiraling into panic.
"Look, mister. I don't need your help. You can drop me off, and I'll call our chauffeur to pick me up. I'm Silas Anderson's son."
Tyler narrowed his eyes. "You are not Silas' biological son, though, are you?"
The boy bit his lower lip and scowled. "Everyone knows that. Why do you ask?"
"Is that why you regularly visit shady pubs? Is your family not treating you well?"
Tony scoffed. "Not that it's any of your business. But Dad and Nat smother me with attention. I just want to get away from the diabetic love and the overwhelming riches."
Tyler raised an eyebrow. So the boy was disillusioned about being a filthy-rich billionaire's son.
"Hmm. Did you know your father doesn't have long to live?"
Tony looked away in shame. "I know. Just don't want to see him die. I'd rather drink away the days until he is dead."
"But he needs you beside him right now."
"I don't care! And what is to you? You're just a club owner! What do you know about billionaire life? Tell me why you are driving me home! Do you want a reward? Or are you planning to extort my family?"
"Nothing of the sort."
Tony began hyperventilating and broke into a feverish sweat. "No, you're lying! You're just like Ricardo! Let me go!"
The boy grasped the door handle and tried to wrench it open while the car was in motion. Tyler grabbed the boy's shoulder, sending a surge of energy into him. Tony relaxed and immediately fell asleep.
"Rest, kid. We're almost there."
In ten minutes, they reached the Marian Hotel. Tyler locked the boy inside the car and walked to the main gate. The place was overcrowded, swarming with guests and paparazzi. It would be problematic for the Andersons if anybody were to discover Tony's LSD misadventure.
"Where do you think you are going?" Ned, the gatekeeper, asked, blocking his path.
"I need to see Silas Anderson."
"Pfft! Don't we all? Mr. Anderson is a very important, super busy man. He doesn't have time for even the Mayor of Sapphire City. There's no way a bum like you can meet him to beg for alms!"
Tyler showed no emotion. "It's an important matter. Tell him it's Tyler Grant."
Ned scoffed. "That name means nothing to me. So, obviously, it would mean nothing to him. What matter would Silas Anderson share with a bum? Get lost!"
Ned's partner, Jerry, muttered aloud. "It seems the Trent family's wedding attracted many homeless people."
He addressed Tyler rudely. "Hey, you! Come back at night. The kitchen will dump leftovers in the garbage bin outside."
Both gatekeepers broke into laughter, patting each other on the shoulders.
Tyler was getting annoyed by the enormous waste of time. He suddenly remembered that Silas had given him an exclusive card. He flipped it out and showed it to the guards.
"Is this enough to let me inside?"
Ned stopped laughing, held the card, and glared at it.
"Free Access to all Anderson Properties?"
Jerry eyed Tyler with suspicion. "Hey, bum! Do you think such counterfeit cards will fool us? It isn't our first rodeo!"
The young man sighed and pointed to the signing-in device mounted on the gate. "Why don't you swipe it and find out whether it's real?"
Jerry and Ned exchanged glances. Did the homeless guy find a lost access card and come to encash it? They must verify its authenticity, confiscate it, and get the fraud arrested.
"You're going to get into a lot of trouble, you hobo!" Ned said, swiping the card on the signing-in device.
Beep! [Diamond Access Card detected! Notifying the Anderson family!]
The gatekeeper turned to Tyler with a severe expression. "This is a goddamned Diamond Card! It's issued only to Mr. Anderson's family and closest friends! Which you obviously aren't!"
Ned and Jerry immediately surrounded Tyler.
"Homeless tramp!" Ned barked. "We'll detain you and hand you over to the cops! You'll go to prison for fraud!"
Just then, the security phone rang.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone