In College Her Friends Mocked His Torn Clothes… 5 Years Later He Became a Millionaire—and Their Boss
Chapter 2
Daniel’s life outside college was nothing like Sophia’s.
His father had died when Daniel was fourteen.
His mother worked nights cleaning offices.
There was never enough money.
Daniel learned early how to repair things instead of replacing them.
Shoes.
Backpacks.
Phones.
Clothes.
Anything that could be fixed was fixed.
College was his escape.
He studied computer science during the day and worked at a grocery store at night.
Sometimes he slept only four hours.
He rarely complained.
His grades were excellent.
His bank account wasn’t.
Sophia knew none of this.
To her, Daniel was simply the quiet scholarship student who dressed badly.
Her friends called him “Professor Poor.”
Daniel heard it.
He pretended not to.
One afternoon, Sophia’s friend Megan found Daniel eating lunch alone.
She sat down without asking.
“You know Sophia’s going to a party tonight.”
Daniel nodded.
“Good for her.”
“You should come.”
He looked surprised.
“Me?”
Megan smiled.
“Why not?”
Daniel knew there was something behind the invitation.
He went anyway.
At the party, Sophia’s friends laughed when Daniel arrived.
Megan whispered something.
Everyone looked at his shoes.
Daniel stayed for twenty minutes.
Then he left.
Sophia followed him outside.
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
“Why did you invite me?”
She hesitated.
“I didn’t.”
He nodded.
“I figured.”
“That wasn’t my decision.”
“It’s okay.”
“You don’t have to be angry.”
“I’m not.”
“You look angry.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I’m tired.”
“Tired of what?”
“People deciding what I’m worth before they know me.”
Sophia had no answer.
He walked away.
She watched him disappear into the darkness.
For the first time, she wondered whether she had been laughing at the wrong thing.
