Chapter 11: This Perfume Must Be a Fake!
Everyone in the room gasped. Bernard’s gift was impressive, but Trevor’s left them speechless. He, too, had given a bottle of perfume, but his was a crystal flacon that resembled amethyst. It shimmered, as if containing a myriad of stars. Compared to Trevor's, Bernard's looked like a cheap bottle of cola.
A girl with short hair photographed the perfume, then looked it up online, exclaiming, "It's the most exquisite Hermès perfume! Only two hundred bottles of this limited edition exist worldwide. It was developed by the famed perfumer Robert It's worth three hundred thousand dollars!"
"Three hundred thousand dollars? Impossible!"
Shock rippled through the room. The thought of securing several memorable nights with a girl by gifting such a perfume was alluring. Bernard's face flushed with shame. He felt as though he'd dropped a stone on his own foot.
"No way!" he exclaimed. A malicious smile spread across his face. "It's a fake! Trevor probably dug it out of a dumpster and filled it with cheap perfume. My sister manages a perfumery; she'd know!"
Trevor's reputation fueled the doubt. "You're right! How could he afford such an expensive gift? It must be a fake!"
"I agree! He probably stretched his earnings from us. How dare he be so generous?" someone chimed in.
"Yeah, I bet that cheap perfume cost only a dozen dollars!"
Bessie remained unmoved. The cost of the gifts didn't matter to her. She picked up the perfume, repacked it, and chuckled sweetly. "Even if it's only worth a dozen dollars, I'm still happy. It's a beautiful bottle! Thank you for the thoughtful gift, Trevor. You're so considerate!"
"It's faked! He pretended to be rich, but we saw through him," Bernard insisted.
Corrie, initially regretful about rejecting Trevor, felt more disdain after hearing Bernard. Several basketball team members laughed sarcastically, attempting to mask their shock.
Trevor frowned, resentment directed at his mockers. No matter the cost of his gift, they labeled it a fake.
"Miss Taylor, happy birthday. I have something to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving now," he announced, rising. He was weary of their insults.
Once he left the hotel, Bessie texted an apology. He began typing a message explaining his sudden departure due to an emergency when his phone rang—it was his father.
"Hello, Dad. What's up?"
"Trevor, I've decided to give you Willard Villa as a birthday gift. It's worth three hundred million dollars."
Trevor was stunned. Having lived in Jork for years, he knew Willard Villa was one of the city's most prestigious resorts. Celebrities and businessmen boasted access; it was incredibly expensive! For a poor student like him, it was a surreal dream.
"Don't you think your gift is a little too expensive?" he stammered, struggling to accept his father's shocking generosity. He feared another such surprise might induce a heart attack.