Anna leaned forward, her eyes were practically sparkling with excitement.“Alright then,” she said, pointing a finger at everyone. “Who actually got here first?”The room went quiet for a second. Robert looked at each of them, then he slowly shook his head.“No,” he said calmly. “I don't think I want to say it just like that.”Anna blinked, looking confused. “…Wait, what?”“There’s no need to rush,” Robert continued. “Everything doesn't have to be answered right this second.”Anna flopped back into her chair. “You’re doing that 'wise man' thing again, aren’t you?”A tiny smile appeared on Robert’s lips. “Tell me something,” he said, changing the subject. “Do you know why I chose The Crown as the place for us to meet?”Avery shook her head, and Rose stayed quiet, just watching. Anna crossed her arms. “Because it looks cool?”Robert turned around. “Follow me.”They started walking through the long, fancy halls together. The deeper they went into the building, the less it felt like a hou

The super fancy room slowly came back to life after everyone stopped bowing. People sat back down in their big, comfortable chairs and the low murmur of conversation started up again. The piano player went back to playing a soft, relaxing tune.Even though everything looked normal again, the whole vibe of the room had shifted. The air felt heavy with the realization that Robert was basically the king of this place.Anna leaned in super close to Avery, trying to keep her voice down. “…I am not used to that at all. Like, zero percent used to it.”Avery nodded her head slowly, looking a little overwhelmed herself. “Me neither, Anna... me neither.”Rose didn’t say a single word. She just sat back, her eyes locked onto Robert, watching him with a thoughtful expression.A waiter led them away from the main crowd and over to a private section of the club. This wasn't just a regular table in a corner, it was its own separate little world. It had clear glass walls that allowed them to look dow

The helicopter didn’t rush at all. It just glided through the dark sky. It was smooth, quiet, and felt like nothing in the world could touch it. Inside, the soft, warm lights made everything feel super calm, almost like time itself had slowed down for them.Anna was stretched out across her big leather seat, talking non stop like she usually does.“…and that roller coaster? No way— who even BUILDS something like that?!” she said, laughing and waving her hands around. “And the way the ground just moves like water?? I’m telling you, that place has to be illegal.”She sat up suddenly, her eyes going wide. “And the food? Don’t even get me started— bro, I ate something that I don’t even know the name of, but I would literally fight someone for it.”Avery just laughed softly at her friend's energy. Anna kept going, not slowing down for a second.“I swear, every five minutes it was something brand new. Like I couldn't even get used to one cool thing before another crazy thing showed up… but

The convoy came to a slow, controlled stop. The night air in the city felt totally different than the Oasis. It was heavy and loud in a quiet way.The lights of the Bertha Graham Memorial Hotel stood tall above them, glowing like a massive monument to extreme wealth and power. The heavy doors clicked open, and Robert stepped out first. He was calm and composed, looking like the entire night belonged to him. Avery, Anna, and Rose followed right behind him.They hadn’t even taken five steps before a voice shattered the quiet.“STOP RIGHT THERE!”The shout was sharp and immediate. A group of heavily armed guards stepped forward, looking incredibly alert and serious. They lowered their weapons slightly, but not enough for anyone in the group to feel safe.“State your identity and your purpose for visiting,” the head guard said coldly. “We have new security protocols in place as of tonight. No one enters without proper clearance.”Anna froze in her tracks. “…Wait— what on earth?”Rose’s br

The elevator doors slid open in their typical fashion— slow, silent, and perfect.As the group stepped out into the garage, nobody spoke at first. For a long, heavy second, it didn't even feel like they were standing in a real building anymore.The space was massive, wide, incredibly clean, and perfectly lit by soft overhead spotlights. But it wasn't just the room that stole their breath, it was what was parked inside it. This wasn’t just a rich guy's collection of cars. This was a statement of ultimate authority.The room was filled with matte black paint and sharp gold designs. Every single vehicle looked like it belonged to the same world— a world where money didn’t matter anymore and only power did.Anna took a hesitant step forward, shaking her head slowly. “…Nah,” she muttered. “This is just stupid at this point. My brain can't even process this.”To the left, a roadster sat incredibly low to the ground and looked aggressively fast. It had an open roof, and the black body seemed