Gold Behind the Curtain
Fresh out of college, Clara Stewart asked me to take on a $500,000 mortgage for her.
When I refused, she turned around and bought an $800,000 villa in full, for another guy.
Holding up the property deed, she told me:
"Jayden, the truth is, I'm actually rich. I've been pretending to be poor to test you. Unfortunately, you failed. I'm disappointed in you. Let's break up."
I simply smiled and walked away without a second thought.
The irony? I'm the son of the richest man in the country.
I was pretending to be broke, too.
Fast forward four years, we met again at the National Wealth Summit.
Clara had just barely made it into the top 50 on the list, clinging to the arm of Henry Brown as they entered.
She spotted me in simple clothes with no visible brand, holding a child in one arm and the keys to a Porsche Cayenne in the other.
Thinking I was someone's driver, she sneered:
"Jayden, you really went all out just to see me again? Let's be real, you're just a driver now, and I'm on the wealth list. We live in completely different worlds. Don't waste your time fantasizing."
I did not bother replying.
Honestly, I was only there because my billionaire dad insisted.
I had finally cleared a day to spend with my son and now I had to waste it on that.