Payback Time 3

Ebilade strolled out of the diner, pulling his collar up slightly as the afternoon sun warmed his face. As he turned his gaze toward the parking lot, a frown creased his brow at the sight before him. His sleek Tesla Roadster, a glistening piece of automotive engineering, was practically swarmed. A cluster of girls and their boyfriends hovered around it, snapping pictures like it was some rare artifact. Grace was right in the middle, striking various poses as Charles dutifully angled his phone, snapping away without a care in the world.

Ebilade inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as he fought to keep his composure. But as the crowd pressed in, oblivious to his presence, something shifted in his demeanor. He took a few measured steps toward them, his eyes narrowing, the earlier lightness in his expression replaced by something icier. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep, cutting through the chatter with an unsettling clarity. "What is going on here?"

The words dropped like stones into a still pond, sending ripples through the crowd as heads turned toward him. Charles, who had been positioning himself to take another picture of Grace, glanced up, his face twisting with irritation. "Who wants to know?" He cocked his head, letting out a low chuckle. "How's that your business, waiter?"

Ebilade's expression didn't waver. He looked Charles up and down, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "How is it not my business when you and some other buffoons are clustering around my car like ants gathering around a sugar cube?" His voice held an edge of disdain, each word chosen with precision and a chilling detachment.

The crowd collectively stiffened at the insult, murmurings of annoyance and offense surfacing as they looked at him with narrowed eyes and raised brows. No one liked being called "buffoons" or being compared to ants. A few exchanged glances, whispering among themselves, already plotting a scathing response. Charles, undeterred, simply scoffed, the laughter on his lips spreading into an amused grin as he turned back to Grace.

Grace, however, didn't join in on the laughter. She stared at Ebilade, her eyes widening as she processed his words. She scanned his face, searching for any trace of a joke, but his expression remained cold, unmoved. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, looking at the car behind her as if questioning whether he was talking about the same one she was standing against. When she turned back, her face scrunched in disbelief. "Ebilade, don't talk nonsense," she said with a wave of her hand, dismissing his claim with a nervous chuckle.

But Charles, apparently amused by the whole situation, nudged Grace gently and let out a loud laugh. "Ah, leave him, Grace. Let him say whatever wild things he wants." He gave Ebilade a mocking once-over, leaning back with a smirk as he raised his voice just enough for the crowd to hear. "What's next, Ebilade? Gonna tell us you're as rich as Davido? Maybe buy Nigeria while you're at it?" He laughed at his own joke, his deep laugh catching on with the crowd. They joined in, snickers and chuckles weaving together in a chorus that filled the parking lot.

Grace crossed her arms and frowned, visibly uncomfortable as the laughter echoed around them. She shifted her weight, feeling a twinge of embarrassment for Ebilade, even as her own doubts lingered. "What is it everyone's laughing about?" she asked, her tone sharp and defensive. "It's just a car, that's all."

A hush settled over the crowd at her words. From within the group, a man wearing a designer jacket and glasses raised a brow, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stepped forward. He looked at Grace as if she'd just uttered something shockingly naïve, his gaze sweeping over her with barely concealed pity.

"Just… a car?" He shook his head slowly, letting out a low sigh as he rubbed his temples, as if speaking to a child. "Lady, do you even know what you're leaning on?" He gestured to the car with a flick of his wrist, his voice laced with irritation. "This isn't some run-of-the-mill sedan. You're looking at a Tesla Roadster—a masterpiece of modern engineering."

The man stepped closer to the car, his hand hovering above it as if to emphasize its features, his voice taking on a tone of awe and reverence. "It's powered by a 200-kWh battery pack, has a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds—making it one of the fastest cars in existence. The top speed? Over 250 miles per hour. And the range?" He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Over 600 miles on a single charge. It's a high-end, cutting-edge marvel of technology that most people can only dream of seeing in person."

Grace's cheeks flushed as she glanced back at the car, clearly surprised. She bit her lip, processing the man's words with a mixture of awe and discomfort. Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her purse as she took a step back, feeling the weight of the crowd's gaze on her. It was clear now that this wasn't just any car.

The man continued, as if he couldn't stop himself. "Do you have any idea what kind of wealth it takes to own something like this? The amount of privilege?" He gave a little scoff, crossing his arms as he looked her over. "It's not 'just a car.' It's a symbol of luxury and innovation."

Grace's face grew redder with each word, and she avoided his gaze, awkwardly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Charles, meanwhile, appeared mildly irritated at the man's lecture, rolling his eyes as he let out a sigh, but the sting of the comparison clearly hit home.

Ebilade, watching the exchange in silence, kept his expression calm, though his eyes glinted with quiet amusement. He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Grace, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "Still think I'm talking nonsense?" he asked, his voice soft but unwavering.

Grace's eyes flicked up to his, the previous disbelief in her gaze replaced by a glimmer of something more uncertain. "I… I mean…" she stammered, clearly at a loss for words.

Charles, however, wasn't ready to give in. He threw Ebilade a glare, straightening up as he crossed his arms defiantly. "So, you're telling me you, a waiter, own this high-end car?" He scoffed, gesturing at the Tesla with a derisive wave of his hand. "Even if this car is what that guy says it is, how on earth would you, of all people, afford something like this?"

Ebilade's smirk grew, but he didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took his time, allowing the silence to stretch as he glanced over the faces watching him, seeing the skepticism in some and intrigue in others. Finally, he reached into his pocket, drawing out a sleek, black key fob with the Tesla logo gleaming on its surface. He held it up, allowing the crowd to take it in, and then pressed a button.

The Tesla beeped softly in response, its headlights flashing in acknowledgment. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, rippling with a mix of astonishment and disbelief. Grace's mouth dropped open, her face a mixture of shock and confusion as she stared between the car and Ebilade.

Ebilade tucked the key back into his pocket, giving Charles a sidelong glance, his expression almost pitying. "The thing about making assumptions, Charles," he said coolly, "is that it's easy to make a fool of yourself." He turned his gaze to the rest of the crowd, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have places to be."

With that, he walked past Grace and Charles, heading toward the driver's side of the Tesla, his every step exuding calm confidence. Grace watched him, still trying to process everything, and opened her mouth as if to say something, but words failed her.

Charles, for once, remained silent, his face flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment as he watched Ebilade slide effortlessly into the driver's seat, the door closing with a smooth click.

The crowd watched in awe as Ebilade turned on the engine, the sleek machine humming to life with a power that was almost palpable. He didn't spare a glance back as he pulled out of the parking lot, leaving behind a silence filled with a mixture of awe, disbelief, and, for some, newfound respect.

As he drove off, Grace and Charles stood rooted to the spot, the earlier laughter and smugness now replaced with silence, each of them realizing just how wrong they had been.