Rebirth: I Died as a Nobody, Came Back as a Legend

As Damien and I exited the elevator of the luxurious hotel, the soft lighting of the hallway highlighted the rich carpeting and elegant decor. We walked towards the banquet hall, our polished shoes barely making a sound on the plush carpet. I adjusted my tailored suit, feeling the quality of the fabric against my skin.

Just as we were about to enter the banquet hall, we ran into Debbie and Eli. They were dressed in a matching set—Debbie in a sleek, shimmering silver dress that hugged her figure and Eli in a coordinating silver tie and pocket square. Their outfits, while luxurious, lacked the same level of elegance and refinement that Damien and I exuded.

Debbie's eyes narrowed as she saw us, almost flaring when I grabbed Damien's hand. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. Eli stood beside her, just as shocked to see me next to Damien.

I couldn't help but smirk back at her. "Why can't I be here?"

She glared at me, clearly irritated by my presence and my response. "You can't be here for the party. Today's reception isn't just for anyone to attend. You don't have your invitation to come here to embarrass yourself."

"How could I miss this party though? I am the heir to the Spencer family, after all," I grinned, watching the blood drain from her face.

"What I meant was... Jack, it's so wonderful to see you. I didn't expect you to have such refined taste."

I turned to face her, a polite smile on my lips. "Debbie, always a pleasure. I must say, that dress is quite the bold choice. It's impressive how you can pull off something so daring."

She tilted her head slightly, her smile tight. "Thank you, Jack. I admire your confidence in wearing such a classic suit. It's so timeless, almost like stepping into a different era."

"Why, thank you, Debbie," I replied smoothly. "Timelessness is a sign of true elegance. Speaking of which, I notice Eli's tie complements your dress perfectly. It's lovely to see such coordination."

Eli shifted uncomfortably, but Debbie maintained her composure. "We do try. I see Damien is looking sharp as always. It's good to know he's setting the proper standard for you."

I chuckled lightly. "Indeed. Damien's style is impeccable. Much like your ability to maintain your composure in any situation. It's a rare gift."

Debbie's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, composure is essential. Especially when dealing with unexpected company. It's a skill I've perfected over the years."

I leaned in just a bit, maintaining my smile. "And it shows, Debbie. It's a quality not everyone possesses."

She raised an eyebrow, her smile faltering just a touch. "Thank you, Jack. It's nice to see you've finally found your footing. I was beginning to worry about you."

I nodded, my smile widening. "Your concern is touching, Debbie. Family support is sooooo damn crucial, after all. Debbie opened her mouth to retort, but I continued before she could speak. "But I must say, tonight isn't about old worries. It's about celebrating the present. And I couldn't be more delighted to share this evening with you inside."

She pressed her lips together, clearly searching for a suitable comeback but finding none. I had outmaneuvered her with words, and we both knew it.

As Damien and I turned to walk into the banquet hall, Eli suddenly spoke up, "Jack, I thought you liked me! I didn't expect this kind of behavior from you."

I stopped and turned back to face him, keeping my expression calm. "Eli, you're here with my precious little sister. It's important to remember your place. Loyalty and respect go hand in hand."

Debbie's face twisted hatefully, but Eli didn't notice; his eyes were fixed on me, trying to process my words. I could see Damien suppressing a smirk beside me, enjoying the exchange.

"I just... I thought we were closer than this! How could you just suddenly change?" Eli stammered, looking uncertain. "Are you doing all this just to make me jealous?"

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Eli, you really think way too highly of yourself."

As I spoke, I saw Debbie's face screw up with fury. Her eyes burned with hatred, but Eli was oblivious, still focused on me. His confusion was clear; no one had ever treated him this coldly, especially me, and it only added to the satisfaction I felt.

Eli suddenly started yelling, "This place is invitation only! Only approved plus-ones are allowed to attend with invite holders!" He pointed at us, his voice rising. "They don't have tickets. Security!"

What a bitch.

A security guard ran up to us quickly, and Eli repeated his accusations. "They're crashing the party! They don't belong here."

The security guard looked at Damien sternly. "This event is invitation only. Do you have your invitations?"

Damien smiled calmly and reached into his pocket, pulling out his invite. He presented it proudly. "Right here."

Debbie's eyes narrowed. "That's a fake invite. There's no way someone like you was invited here."

I scoffed. "We can prove it's real once we get to the scanner. There's a QR code, you know."

Eli crossed his arms arrogantly. "Just leave before you embarrass yourselves. You'll never get in without me."

I looked at Eli and thanked him sarcastically. "I'd rather avoid a dead end like you anyway."

Damien chuckled as he handed his invite to the security guard. The guard scanned it with his phone, and both my face and Damien's appeared on the screen as approved.

The security guard nodded and apologized to us. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, gentlemen. You're free to enter." He then turned sternly to Debbie and Eli. "May I see your invitation, please?"

Debbie smugly held out the invitation she'd stolen from my mail. "Looks like you just got lucky we were both invited."

The guard scanned the invitation and sighed in frustration. He spoke into his microphone, calling for backup. "I have a situation here. Description: male, black hair, brown eyes, about 6 foot. Female, red hair, green eyes, about 5'5"."

Eli's face dropped as the situation began to sink in. "Wait, there's been a mistake! She was invited! I'm her plus one!" he pleaded desperately with the guard. "What's going on?!"

Debbie started a crying fit, tears streaming down her face. "Please, we were just trying to attend the event."

Damien and I watched with anticipation and satisfaction as the guards closed in. The once-confident pair now stood helplessly, their faces panicked and defeated. It was a satisfying sight. The security guard, maintaining his professional demeanor, addressed Debbie and Eli. "I'm afraid you'll have to come with us. This invitation does not match our records."

As the guards escorted Debbie and Eli away, I turned to Damien. "Shall we?"

He nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Absolutely."

As we walked into the banquet hall, the air between us felt charged. I had not only won the verbal sparring match with Debbie but also managed to plant seeds of doubt in Eli's mind. No way he'd trust Debbie after what happened tonight. The evening was off to a promising start.

Entering the banquet hall, I was immediately struck by its grandeur. The room was large and extravagant, with high, vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate golden chandeliers that cast a warm, luxurious glow over everything. The walls were covered in rich, deep red drapes, and the polished marble floor reflected the opulence of the space. Long tables draped in fine linens were arranged with exquisite floral centerpieces and crystal glassware, each place setting meticulously arranged.

Guests milled about, dressed in the finest attire. The men wore tailored suits and tuxedos, while the women dazzled in elegant gowns adorned with jewels. Young heirs and established businessmen mingled, their conversations a blend of business and pleasure.

I couldn't believe I had let Eli convince me to miss this in the last life! This was next-level extravagance! I'm really sorry, old me! I'll make it up to you by doing it big with this second chance!

Damien leaned in and whispered, "I have a surprise for you before we start the date."

"I hate surprises."

"You'll like this one."

Curious, I let him lead me through the crowd. We walked up to a distinguished older man who bore a striking resemblance to Aston, but about thirty years older. His presence commanded respect, and he exuded an air of authority.

"Jack, I'd like you to meet someone," Damien said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "This is my Uncle, Aston Jacobs Sr."

The older man looked at me with a warm, approving gaze. Oh my god, it's Aston's dad! "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jack. Damien and his family have told me everything. From now on, you can just call me Uncle Jacobs."

I was taken aback but quickly recovered. "Thank you, Uncle. It's an honor to meet you."

Uncle Jacobs nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "You're in good hands with Damien. He's spoken very highly of you. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you both."

This was my world now. Holy shit!

"Okay, we've shown our faces, and everyone saw us interact with the old man. No one here will forget that," Damien suddenly said.

"Fine, kid, get lost. I'm sure Aston is having a better party I don't know about somewhere. Keep that boy out of trouble." Uncle Jacobs made sure to shake my hand and pat my shoulder before letting us walk away.

"So I've got your attention now, right? It's as sincere as I can get," Damien said, leading me to a side door and ignoring all the curious eyes on us.

"I've got one eye open. Let's see how long that sincerity of yours lasts," I shrugged him off.

"Still playing hard to get, huh? I like it."