Corruption

Advantage

The Apex family were, and still are, the most influential family on the entirety of the wealthy world. If you google what the word Apex means, the definition would be:

"The top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point" William proudly read the definition to himself. "Describes us perfectly"

"Sir William, your lunch has been prepared. Would you like me to bring it to your room?" his butler politely asked.

"No. I will go and eat in the dining hall" William said before rudely barging past his kind butler and heading towards the dining hall.

Cream coloured walls surrounded him with their prestigious glow. Glistening refractions of light from the chandelier sparkled across the ceiling. The staircase spiralled as William peacefully made his way to the dining hall, his face unchanged by his astonishing home. His attire consisted of a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with a white star at the back and black designer jeans with trainers. When he got to the dining room, paintings of his ancestors, grandparents and parents scattered the walls in an organised manner. The dining table stretched from one end of the room to the other as William took a seat on one end. His lunch was waiting for him, still covered by a massive curved basin. A maid was waiting by the seat. 

When she lifted the basin, she explained what he was eating. "This afternoon, you will be having steak made of the finest and freshest meat, cooked well done as you desire, and a range of fresh vegetables at your disposal. Would you like dessert?" she asked.

"No. Just leave me to my meal, please" he demanded, sending the maid away with that simple instruction. 

He ate his meal with the same disapproving face he woke up that morning with. Skipping his afternoon run, he began to go up to his room to change into gym clothing. The white long-sleeved shirt and loose trousers didn't look very exercise-worthy but he didn't care. Who did?

Walking downstairs to the mansion's gym, he encountered his reflection for a brief moment. Although he was more than financially stable, his appearance didn't exactly scream "rich boy" to anyone. If anything, if it weren't for the mansion and the status, he could pass as someone from the other side. His messy-looking blonde hair contrasted well with the shoulder-length ponytail that followed behind. Green eyes glistened in his reflection and his semi-muscular figure complimented him perfectly.

Suddenly gaining more motivation, he spent the rest of the afternoon in the gym. Training like there was no tomorrow, he didn't even remember to warm up or cool down. Realising that it would cause him pain the next day, he stopped for that day. Still wearing that disapproving expression, he collected a towel from his room and went to take a shower. Ice-cold water dripped down his body, falling into all the crevices of him. 

After changing into his comfortable attire of a dark red turtleneck and jeans, he took a look out of his window. He could see the sun shyly hiding behind the wall between his and, what his parents called, the other side. No matter how "perfect" his life seemingly was, he felt there was something wrong with the world he lived in. But when he mentioned it to his parents, when they were around, they threatened him.

"Sir William, there is a letter addressed here for you" one of the maids handed him a letter with a blood red seal on it. His eyebrow was raised, ripping the seal and opening the letter:

Dear William Apex,

We want to warmly invite you to Combined School. This is an institution set up to intertwine the culture of both sides of the wall. We wish for you to be a students at this school, as it would be an academic, social and environmental benefit to our city. Furthermore, no uniform will be required to attend this school and, if it succeeds, the wall may be taken down completely. After all, your parents invested well into this project. Wouldn't you want to make them proud by expanding your influence and respect to those on the other side?