Cursed family

After a while of racking his brain for a plan, Eli realized that he had no choice but to play along. He quickly scanned the room for the clothes and shoes that Reginald had mentioned earlier. His eyes landed on a tailored tuxedo, complete with a crisp white shirt, a bow tie, and a pair of shiny black shoes.

Eli's eyes widened as he picked up the clothes and examined them. They felt expensive, and he couldn't help but wonder what the owner would say if he found out that some stranger was wearing his designer suit.

Despite his reservations, Eli quickly changed into the clothes, trying to make himself look as presentable as possible. When he was done, he took a deep breath, smoothed out his tie, and opened the door.

To his surprise, not only was Reginald waiting outside, but the bodyguard who had opened the door for him earlier was also standing there, looking imposing in his black suit.

Eli's heart skipped a beat as he wondered if they had discovered his true identity. Had they figured out that he was just a sneaky imposter?

But before he could say anything, the bodyguard spoke up, his voice firm and respectful. "Mr. Vanderbilt, you're here. We've been waiting for you. The celebration has started. This way, please."

Eli's eyes darted back and forth between Reginald and the bodyguard, wondering what kind of celebration they were talking about. But before he could ask any questions, the bodyguard gestured for him to follow, and Eli found himself being swept up in a tide of luxury and extravagance.

As Eli followed the bodyguard and Reginald, he couldn't help but feel like he was living in a dream. The opulent decorations, the champagne toasts, and the who's who of high society all seemed to blur together as he tried to keep up appearances.

They led him to a grand ballroom, where a live orchestra was playing a lively tune. The room was filled with people laughing, chatting, and dancing. Eli's eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the designer gowns and tailored suits.

Reginald leaned in close and whispered, "Mr. Vanderbilt, it's time for your introduction. Please, follow me."

Eli's heart skipped a beat as he realized he was about to be introduced as the guest of honor. He followed Reginald and the bodyguard through the crowd, trying to keep up with the pace.

As they approached a raised dais at the far end of the ballroom, the orchestra stopped playing, and the room fell silent. Reginald stepped up to the microphone and cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the guest of honor, the esteemed Mr. Eli Vanderbilt!"

Eli's eyes widened in shock as he stepped up to the microphone. He had no idea what to say, and his mind went completely blank. He opened his mouth, and a stream of nonsensical words tumbled out.

"Thank you, thank you, esteemed guests... uh... I'd like to... uh... talk about... cheese!" Eli declared, his voice shaking slightly.

The guests looked at each other in confusion, wondering what on earth Eli was talking about. Some of them chuckled politely, while others looked puzzled.

Eli continued to ramble on, saying something about the importance of cheese in modern society. The guests were starting to get restless, and some of them were whispering to each other.

Just as Eli was about to continue his bizarre speech, a voice echoed into the ballroom, cutting through the chatter and music.

"That is not the guest of honor!" the voice declared. "He is a thief!"

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Eli. He stood frozen at the microphone, his face turning bright red with embarrassment and fear.