The murmurs in the grand hall suddenly shifted, rippling like a wave of anticipation. Heads began to turn toward the entrace as the Sawyer family’s highest ranking figures made their entrance.The Sawyer family matriarch, regal as ever in her old age, silver hair swept into a perfect chignon, her prescence radiating authority, glided into the room in a deep emerald gown. Flanking her was Victor Sawyer, tall and broad shouldered in a perfectly tailored midnight blue suit, his expression was calm yet intimidating. At his side walked his adoptive son, Vikram, a sharply dressed young man with slicked back hair and a smile that manged to look charming and calcualting all at once.The energy in the room shifted instantly. The crowd of elites, dressed in shimmering fabrics and dripping with jewelry, instinctively dirfted toward the newcomers like moths to a flame, eager to offer their greetings.Standing off to the side, Maximus and Valerie watched the scene unfold, their fingers intertwined

A wave of recognition moved through the Sawyer family section. Victor Sawyer leaned back in his seat, studying Maximus with mild surprise. The Sawyer matriarch's together with an unreadable glint in her eyes. The bidding climbed, two million, two point one, two point two and so on. Voices from all corners of the room stepping in and bowing out like a slow, elegant duel. Two point three, two point four. By the time it hit three point one million, the initial bloom of paddles has withered down to just a handful: Maximus, the Sawyer matriarch herself, a heavyset man in a commanders uniform whom Maximus didn't recognize, and a hawk faced collector from the East seated near the back. Valerie was watching him now with a mix of fascination and thrill. He wasn't sweating or fidgeting, he was still, with a cold presence in a room full of restless money. Three point two. Three point three. With every bid, Maximus cut down the competition. The heavy set man bowed out. But, the collector he

Each time the price neared the systems revealed worth, he adjusted his bid with expert precision, never letting the tension show on his face. His eyes, however, were sharp, watching every flicker of frustration pass over Joe Hart’s face.Valerie's bid was tactical, distracting the others from realizing just how coordinated this silent dance was. Finally, the moment came. The price edged dangerously close to the true worth, the competition bristling with last-minute aggression. Joe Hart’s jaw tightened in frustration and more relevant irritation.Maximus raised his paddle one last time with a x calm and hurried demeanor, yet his gaze locked with Joe’s in a way that made it clear there would be no victory for anyone else tonight.“Sold!”The gavels crack was final, slicing throught the air. A few murmurs rippled throught the crowd, speculation already forming about the young man whod bested some of the city’s sharpest bidders twice in a single night.Maximus's expression didn’t change,

As Maximus and Zack stepped further into the resort grounds, two maids approached, bowing slightly before gesturing them to follow.They moved with practiced efficiency, leading them through the grand lobby, past towering glass windows that reflected the sunlight in shimmering patterns across the marble floor.The resort had to be pperfect.Not just good, not just luxurious, but perfect. Every inch of it needed to be refined, every detail aligned with Maximus’s vision of high end exclusivity.This wasn’t just another resort, it was THE resort.The first stop was the main lounge, which was an expansive area lined with plush seating, a fully stocked bar, and an open concept design that flowed seamlessly into an outdoor terrace.Floor to ceiling windows showcased a panoramic view of the caostling, where the ocean stretched endlessly into the horizon.A cool breeze drifted through, carrying the scent of salt and sun warmed sand.Maximus’s sharp gaze scnned every detail. “The furniture pla

“Exactly,” Zack said with a grin. “She's got an image to protect. If she's backing us. It is because she knows it is going to be big.”Maximus nodded slightly, satisfied. The resort was already in its final stages, and now, with a powerhouse influencer like Anita on board, their launch woould be bigger than anything they had initially anticipated.Zack tapped on a post featuring anita in a luxury suite, sipping a cocktail by an infinity pool. “Shes probably gooing to do something like this for us. Private shots, behind the scenes footage, teasers to get people excited.”Maximus glanced at the picture, then back at the road. “As long as it brings in the clientele we’re aiming for, I really don’t care what she does…”Zack stretched out in his seat, clearly pleased with how things were falling into place. “Man, I can already see it, the reservations maxed out, exclusive events, vip guests… were about to make a killing.”“Dont start celebrating too soon,” he said. “We still have to make s