The Sterling Rose was the kind of restaurant where a single appetizer cost more than Alex Chen's weekly rent. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Soft piano music drifted through the air. Well-dressed couples murmured over wine that probably cost three hundred dollars a bottle. Alex sat across from Melissa, his girlfriend of three years, watching her check her phone for the fifth time in ten minutes. "Melissa," he said quietly. "Is everything okay?" She didn't look up. Her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the screen. Alex glanced down at his own hands. Oil stains still clung to his fingernails despite twenty minutes of scrubbing. The delivery scooter was old and leaked oil everywhere, but that was all he had. He'd saved for two months to afford this dinner. Melissa had been distant lately. Cold. He thought maybe one nice evening could fix things between them. "Melissa—" "We need to talk." She finally set her phone down. Alex's chest tightened. Those fo

Alex woke to his phone vibrating on the nightstand. 7:23 AM. He reached for it, eyes still heavy. It was message from an unknown number. He opened it and saw digital invitation loaded on the screen. Gold borders. Elegant script. A photo of Melissa and Derek, both smiling like they'd won the lottery. "You're Invited to Celebrate the Engagement of Melissa Hart & Derek Morrison." Saturday, December 14th, 2025. 7:00 PM. The Grand Meridian Hotel - Imperial Ballroom. Black Tie Required. Below the invitation, a message: "Thought you'd want to see what you missed out on. No hard feelings, right? - Brittany." Brittany was one of Melissa's friends. One of those crazy girls who'd been filming at the restaurant. Alex stared at the screen. The Grand Meridian. The most exclusive hotel in the city. Five-star. The kind of place that required a background check just to book a room. His phone buzzed again. Another message from Brittany. "Derek's paying for everything btw

Alex took the phone from the manager's hand.The crowd watched, phones recording, waiting."Is there somewhere private?" Alex asked quietly.The manager nodded. "This way, sir."Derek stepped forward. "Hold on. You can take the call right here. We're all dying to know who's so desperate to reach you."Alex ignored him. Followed the manager toward a side door."Probably his mother," Brittany said loudly. "Asking why he hasn't called."More laughter.The manager led Alex down a hallway lined with oil paintings. The music and laughter faded behind them.They reached a small office. Mahogany desk. Leather chairs. A window overlooking the city."Take your time, sir," the manager said. Then he stepped out and closed the door.Alex stood alone. He looked at the phone in his hand. The screen showed an active call. No caller ID.He raised it to his ear. "Hello."A voice responded. Deep. Weathered. Familiar in a way that made Alex's chest tighten.He listened. His expression didn't change."I u

Derek woke to his phone buzzing on the nightstand. Six AM. Twenty-three missed calls. Forty-seven text messages. He grabbed the phone. His assistant's name filled the screen. He answered. "What's wrong?" "Sir, we have serious problems." His assistant's voice was shaking. "Multiple problems." Derek sat up. "What problems?" "Three of our major clients terminated their contracts overnight. Wilson Industries, Paramount Ventures, and Sterling Capital. All of them." Derek's stomach dropped. "What? Why?" "No explanation. Just termination notices sent via email at four AM. Legal is reviewing them now." "That's fifteen million in contracts." "I know, sir. And that's not all. Two of our investors pulled out of the Morrison Tower project. They're demanding their deposits back." Derek stood. Walked to the window. What the heck was happening? "Get everyone in the office. Emergency meeting. One hour." "Yes, sir. But there's more." "More?" "The city revoked our buildi

The boardroom was cold. Not temperature. Atmosphere. Ten executives sat around a mahogany table. Each one hand-picked by Marcus and Raymond over the years. Each one hostile. Alex stood at the head of the table. No suit jacket. Just a simple shirt. Still wearing the clothes from the engagement party. Raymond sat at the opposite end. Smirking. Marcus stood by the window. Arms crossed. "The Skyline City division," Marcus said without turning around. "You're familiar with it?" "No," Alex replied honestly. Raymond laughed. "Of course not. You were too busy delivering egg rolls." A few executives chuckled. Marcus finally turned. "Skyline City was supposed to be our flagship development. Luxury apartments, shopping centers, hotels. A complete urban ecosystem." "Was?" Alex asked. "Is a disaster," Raymond cut in. He pulled up a projection on the screen. Red numbers filled the display. "Losing fifty million annually. For three years straight. Total loss: one hundred and fifty mill