The golf club flew into the air, and the ball remained motionless.
Bang!
The club fell to the ground, nearly hitting Darnell himself. Startled, he jumped aside, prompting David and his friends to laugh until their stomachs hurt.
“Sorry, my hand slipped. I haven’t played in years. I’m a bit out of practice.”
Darnell glanced at them, quickly picked up the club, gripped it again, and swung forcefully. This time he hit the ball.
However, he struck the top of the ball, causing it to roll awkwardly instead of flying out, stopping several meters away.
David looked at him with disdain. Even with his left hand, he could easily outplay Darnell.
Jazmine leaned on her club, her smile radiant. The face she had lost earlier was now fully regained.
Despite becoming a laughingstock, Darnell persisted in playing, hitting over thirty balls within five minutes.
Each shot was chaotic. Some balls fell to the east, while others rolled to the west, nearly hitting the caddy.
He became the joke of the venue, drawing an audience of at least fifty people.
“Mr. Halford, five minutes are up. Have you found your touch yet?”
As Darnell missed another shot, David stepped forward and raised his Rolex. “Do you need another fifty minutes?”
“If you like, I don’t mind.”
Darnell stopped swinging and smiled brightly, “Really? Another fifty minutes?”
He spoke apologetically, “I’m almost there. I just need a little more time.”
David almost choked on his words. He had only said it casually. Who wanted to watch this clown act for fifty minutes?
Areli spoke coldly, “Darnell, stop embarrassing yourself. Let’s go.”
“Go?”
Jazmine’s smile was insincere. “It’s not that easy. We had a bet.”
“If he loses, he not only has to leave you but also crawl around the course and lick my shoes clean.”
“Though his saliva is disgusting, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing a pair of shoes to see him lick like a dog.”
Areli’s face turned cold. “Miss Picton, show some mercy.”
“What if I don’t?”
Jazmine’s voice was soft but her words were venomous. “I just want to see him licking shoes with his silver tongue.”
Areli replied coldly, “You’re going to regret it someday.”
“Miss Fanshaw, Miss Picton, there’s no need to argue.”
Darnell cheerfully swung another shot. This one looked decent but ended up in a ditch. “Miss Picton will regret it soon.”
He waved his hand grandly. “Mr. Kemp, I’ve regained quite a bit of my touch. Let’s start.”
“Alright, Mr. Halford just finished five minutes and must be exhausted. Let Miss Picton and me start first.”
David laughed heartily. The moment of reckoning had arrived.
To avoid any delays, David picked up a golf club and walked confidently towards the tee area with several companions.
“I’m the host today. Let me go first.”
David’s white leather shoes trembled slightly on the grass as he effortlessly positioned himself. He glanced at the hole in his view before lifting his club.
With a swing, the club hit the ball precisely. The ball flew in an arc through the air and landed accurately near the hole.
“Good shot.”
As his companions applauded enthusiastically, Darnell also clapped vigorously. “Mr. Kemp is almost as good as me.”
Everyone sneered.
Jazmine’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she picked up her club. “Mr. Halford, take a rest. I’ll go second so you can be the finale.”
She walked to the tee area with focused concentration, feet together and arms close to her body.
Her posture was elegant and arrogant. Under the sunlight, she looked very much like a lady of high society.
Then she swung gracefully.
With a crisp sound, the ball flew out and landed less than an inch from the hole. A remarkable shot.
Before anyone could cheer, Jazmine declared, “The club wasn’t quite right. Otherwise, it would have gone further.”
“Already impressive.”
David’s face lit up with excitement as he gave a thumbs-up to his competent teammate. “Miss Picton, your skills surpass half of those on this course.”
“David, you’re flattering me. I’m just an amateur. How could I compare to you? You haven’t even fully shown your skills yet.”
Jazmine glanced at Darnell before going on, “Besides, Miss Fanshaw’s boyfriend hasn’t taken his turn yet. He might outperform us all.”
Her initial anger had turned into disdain and sarcasm.
Areli wanted to stop Darnell from making a fool of himself but swallowed her words. There was no point in stopping him anymore.
The damage was almost complete. It might as well be total. She pondered how to help Darnell save face later on.
At that moment, David laughed heartily and gestured towards Darnell. “Right! We forgot about Mr. Halford. Now that he’s found his touch…”
“He must be great now! Mr. Halford, show us what you’ve got. I can’t wait to see your skills!”
“If not this round, then next round.”
“We have an hour. Take your time.”
Darnell replied bluntly, “I’ll beat you all easily. How about raising the stakes?”
“Is Mr. Halford trying to scare us with bravado?”
Jazmine sneered, “Others might be fooled by bluster. As it happens, I love gambling, I raise my bet.”
“If you win against me, I’ll sign a two-million-dollar contract with Miss Fanshaw.”
“If I win against you, besides licking my shoes clean like a dog for a day, you have to wear a dog leash and eat dog food!”
Areli’s face changed. “Darnell, don’t raise the stakes.”
David interjected smugly, “Areli, Mr. Halford is confident. Why stop him?”
Staring at Darnell, David added menacingly, “If you win against me, besides my Rolex watch, I’ll give you five hundred thousand dollars more.”
Darnell asked cheerfully, “What if I lose?”
David smiled, his eyes flashing with malice, “You’ll kneel down for me to slap until I’m tired, then crawl away.”
“Deal.”
Darnell laughed heartily, “You’re all going to lose anyway.”
David and Jazmine’s companions laughed mockingly.
Hearing Darnell boasting, they almost rolled on the ground laughing.
“This guy dares compete for Miss Fanshaw’s affection? He’s ridiculous and arrogant beyond measure.”
Even Kendra shook her head slightly. It felt like watching a farce.
David was delighted inside as everything was going as planned. Now he just had to wait for Darnell to make a fool of himself.
Dreaming of taking his ten-thousand-dollar Rolex or five hundred thousand dollars? Fat chance!
Even Bella and her group nearby smirked. They found David bullying such an unworthy opponent boring.
Hahaha!
Their laughter was loud and piercing, drawing many onlookers.
People who understood what was happening also mocked after seeing Darnell’s actions,
Not knowing how to play wasn’t shamefu, but pretending while gambling big stakes? Foolishness!
Darnell ignored their ridicule. He swaggered onto the field, carrying his club and gazing at the distant hole, and swung three more times around the tee area,
His posture was still clumsy. No one expected much from him.
Bella shouted impatiently from afar, “Are you playing or not? If not, get down here!”
A chorus echoed her sentiment.
Smiling, Darnell walked up to the ball, closed his eyes, took a deep breath before murmuring softly,
“Miss Fanshaw, do you feel it?”
At that moment, he seemed serious and incomprehensible.
Areli blinked confusedly. “Feel what?”
“My moment of glory!”
Darnell declared loudly, then opened his eyes, and swung forcefully.
Thud!
The golf ball soared high into the air. With a crisp sound, it dropped straight into the hole.
Clean and neat!
The noisy crowd fell silent instantly.
Jazmine and David stood dumbfounded, and Bella straightened up abruptly.