Adrian took a quick shower.Not because he needed to relax, but because his body felt sticky and overheated in a way that didn’t fade on its own. He stood under the water for a minute longer than usual, letting it run over his shoulders, then shut it off and dried himself quickly. Clothes were put on, shoe laces were tied and that was it.He picked up his phone to check the location Hale had sent him again, but that’s when he noticed the notifications.Messages.“…Right,” he muttered.First was Aira and he opened the chat.Aira: That was INSANE. Aira: Like actually insane. Aira: I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone play like that. A few minutes later, another text.Aira: I’m sorry you guys lost. It didn’t feel fair at all, but you were amazing. You did your best and I could tell.Adrian read through them once, then again.“…She really did watch the whole thing,” he thought.He typed back.Adrian: Thanks. Adrian: It was fun, yes.A pause.Adrian: I don’t really mind the loss. I

Sofia waited.Her phone rested in her hands, screen still lit, her thumb hovering just above it like touching it again might change something. Around her, people were getting up from their seats, talking loudly about the match, replaying moments she hadn’t even registered properly. None of it mattered.Her phone buzzed.Her heart jumped.She felt it immediately, that rush of warmth spreading through her chest before she even read anything. He replied. That alone made her happy. Instantly. Almost embarrassingly so.And just as instantly, anxiety followed.“…What if it’s a no?”The thought crept in fast, sharp enough to hurt. She didn’t open the chat right away. Instead, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her hands.“…Just read it,” she told herself.She opened the chat.The words entered her vision.Not right now. I’ve got something I need to take care of.For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.It felt like something heavy slammed straight into her chest, knocking the

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the restaurant.Adrian stepped out and looked up.The Blue Crown.The building was large but minimalist. Dark exterior, wide glass windows, clean lines. No loud sign, no exaggerated design choices. The name was engraved neatly above the entrance in simple lettering. The kind of place that didn’t need decoration to justify its price.The restaurant had been around for decades. Originally owned by a family and then taken over by a chef who’d trained in Europe before returning and rebuilding the place almost from scratch. He’d earned his first Michelin star within a few years, the second not long after, and the third had come more recently. Since then, reservations were nearly impossible unless you had connections.Sofia stepped out beside him, adjusting her grip on her small bag as she glanced at the entrance. Before she could say anything, Adrian tilted his chin slightly toward a group standing just outside.“She’s the one who invited us,” he s

The waiters arrived again with the next dish and set it down with a little more care than before.A long ceramic plate was placed in front of each of them. At the center lay a split bone, roasted just enough that the marrow inside glistened, pale and glossy. Beside it were a few thin slices of toasted bread, crisp at the edges, still warm. A small spoon rested to the side.Sofia stared at it for a second longer than she meant to.“…That’s a bone,” she thought. “Like… an actual bone.”It looked beautiful in a strange way. Clean, minimal and weirdly enough, she didn’t expect the rich folk to be into bones. She picked up the spoon and did what felt natural. She scooped a bit of the marrow out, spread it on the toast, and took a bite.It tasted rich, deep and fatty. Almost overwhelming to her simple taste buds.She nodded to herself and continued the same way, since it worked and it tasted good.That was when Adrian noticed Victor.The look was brief, but unmistakable.Victor’s gaze flick

Letty looked at him, genuinely surprised.It wasn’t the question itself. It was the timing. The way he’d asked it so calmly, like he already knew the answer mattered.“…He wouldn’t ask that if he wasn’t planning something,” she thought, eyes lingering on his face for a moment longer than necessary. “Is he… going to bid too?”The thought unsettled her more than she expected.She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so the others wouldn’t immediately jump in. “There isn’t a market price yet,” she said. “This car hasn’t been released. Panther’s using this auction to create hype.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “Whatever number it sells for tonight… that becomes the reference point. Probably around 50% of the auction price. It’ll help with investors, buyers and also brand name.”She glanced briefly toward the center of the hall before continuing. “It helps them. And it also helps my charity.”Then she hesitated.“You don’t have to bid,” she added quickly, meeting his eyes. “R