THE INVISIBLE HEIR: $5 TRILLION EMPIRE

Chapter 4: The Emperor Club Slap — Vanessa Can't Get In

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8:00 PM. Hollywood Hills.

The Emperor Club looked like a spaceship that had landed on top of Los Angeles. Floor-to-ceiling glass, black marble, a rooftop infinity pool that glowed neon blue against the night sky. Down below, all of LA glittered like diamonds.

Outside the private gates, a line of luxury cars stretched for half a block.

A white G-Wagon. A yellow Ferrari 488. A blue Bentley Continental.

And then there was Jake Reynolds' car — a silver Porsche 911 Carrera that his father had bought him for his 21st birthday. $130,000. At Westwood Elite, it made him a king.

Tonight, Jake had brought Vanessa Cole.

Vanessa had spent four hours getting ready. Tight silver sparkly dress that barely covered her thighs, showing off her long tanned legs. Heavy makeup, push-up bra, hair curled. She wanted to show Trenton what he had lost. She wanted to walk into the most exclusive club in LA on Jake's arm and make that broke, handsome trash picker feel like nothing.

"Are you sure we can get in, baby? I heard this place is impossible," Vanessa said, clinging to Jake's arm, her voice sweet.

Jake puffed out his chest, his Rolex glinting. "Babe, please. My dad knows the owner. I come here all the time. That loser Trenton? He probably thinks Emperor Club is a burger joint. He said he booked the top floor? Haha. The kid who picks bottles? What a joke."

They walked up to the entrance. Two huge bouncers in black suits, 6'5, arms like tree trunks, blocked the door.

"Name?" one of them said coldly.

"Jake Reynolds. Reynolds Auto Group. Plus one, Vanessa Cole. We have a reservation on the top floor. Friend of Mr. Sterling," Jake said confidently.

The bouncer checked his tablet. Then looked up, expressionless.

"You're not on the list. Top floor is closed tonight. Private event. No entry."

Jake's face froze. "What? That's impossible. Check again. Jake Reynolds. My father is—"

"I said you're not on the list," the bouncer repeated, louder. "Step aside."

Vanessa's face turned red. People in line behind them were staring and whispering.

"Baby, tell them who you are! Tell them your dad knows—" Vanessa hissed.

"I'm telling you, my friend Trenton Alex booked it! He's inside! Let us in, we know him!" Jake tried.

At the mention of Trenton Alex, the two bouncers looked at each other. Then one of them spoke into his earpiece.

"Young Master, there are two people downstairs claiming to know you. A Jake Reynolds and Vanessa Cole."

Up on the rooftop, Trenton Alex heard the voice in his own earpiece.

He was lounging in a black velvet cabana beside the infinity pool, wearing a brand new black Tom Ford suit tailored perfectly to his 6'4 athletic build. No tie, first two buttons open, showing off his ebony chest. His hair was freshly cut, faded on the sides. On his wrist was a Richard Mille RM 52-01 that Michael Sterling had delivered an hour ago — $1.2 million.

He looked like a different person. Not the broke kid in a faded shirt. A young billionaire. So handsome that every waitress and model on the rooftop kept stealing glances at him, whispering to each other.

Next to him sat Sophia Reed.

She was not in her usual tank top and shorts. Trenton had sent a stylist to her apartment with a dress. She was now wearing a simple, elegant black dress that hugged her athletic, brown-skinned figure perfectly. No heavy makeup, just natural curls and soft lip gloss. She was uncomfortable, holding her clutch tightly, her brown eyes wide as she looked at the luxury around her — the $20,000 bottles of champagne, the private DJ, the view.

"Trenton, why did you bring me here? This place... I don't belong here. Everyone is staring," Sophia whispered.

Trenton looked at her — truly looked at her. Compared to Vanessa's fake sparkle, Sophia was real. Pure. Beautiful without trying.

"You belong anywhere you want to belong, Sophia. You were the only person who didn't look down on me when I had nothing. So you get to be here when I have everything," he said softly.

Sophia blushed deeply, her deep brown skin glowing under the pool lights.

Inside his earpiece, the bouncer repeated: "Should I let them up, Young Master?"

Trenton smiled. That cold, revenge smile.

"Let them wait 10 more minutes in line. Then bring them up. I want them to see the entrance clearly."

Downstairs, Jake and Vanessa had been waiting for 10 minutes, humiliated, while people in Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces walked past them and were let in immediately.

"What the hell is going on? This is disrespectful! Do you know who my father is?" Jake was shouting now, his face red.

Finally, the bouncer got a signal. "Okay. You can go up. Top floor. Don't touch anything."

Jake and Vanessa stormed into the elevator, fuming.

The elevator doors opened to the rooftop.

And both of them froze.

The entire rooftop had been transformed.

A live DJ was playing. A private bar with three bartenders. A table full of luxury — Dom Perignon, Ace of Spades, Macallan 25. In the center of the pool, a floating tray with caviar.

And lounging on the main cabana like a king, one long leg crossed over the other, holding a glass of champagne, was Trenton Alex.

6'4. Athletic build. Ebony skin glowing under the lights. Extremely handsome — but now with expensive clothes, expensive watch, expensive everything. His handsome face was no longer tired. It was confident, powerful, dangerous.

Next to him, sitting close, was Sophia Reed — the quiet law student from the ghetto apartments. Looking stunning in a black dress, her hand accidentally brushing Trenton's.

Vanessa's mouth fell open. "T-Trenton?"

Jake's face went from red to white to red again. "What the hell? How did you... how did you get in here? How did you afford a suit? Did you steal it? Security!"

Trenton didn't even stand up. He just swirled his champagne.

"Jake. Vanessa. You made it. I was worried the bouncers wouldn't let you in. After all, your name isn't on the list. Mine is," he said calmly, his deep voice carrying across the rooftop.

He stood up slowly, his 6'4 frame towering over Jake. He walked up to Jake, step by step.

Jake instinctively stepped back.

"Nice Porsche, Jake. $130k, right? Your daddy's gift?" Trenton said, pulling out his Bugatti key. The black carbon fiber key glowed. "I got bored today, so I bought three cars. This Bugatti is $4.2 million. The Lambo downstairs is $800k. The Rolls is $600k. I couldn't decide which one to drive, so I brought all three. Which one do you want to see first?"

Jake's hands were shaking. "You're lying! You're a scammer! You... you rented them!"

Trenton laughed and snapped his fingers.

The manager of The Emperor Club, the man in the tuxedo, rushed over with three folders and bowed.

"Young Master Alex, here are the titles for the Bugatti Chiron, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, and Rolls Royce Phantom, all in your name, as requested. Also, the deed for 1428 Inglewood Apartments you purchased this afternoon."

Vanessa grabbed the folders and opened one. Her hands trembled.

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport — Owner: TRENTON ALEX.

Her silver sparkly dress suddenly felt cheap. Her whole body felt cold.

"Trenton... baby... I... I didn't know... you... you were rich?" Vanessa stammered, her voice changing instantly from disgusted to sweet and soft. She stepped forward, trying to touch his Tom Ford suit, her eyes watery. "Baby, I was just confused! Jake forced me! I always loved you! You know I love you!"

Trenton looked down at her hand on his chest and gently, but firmly, removed it.

"Vanessa," he said, his voice ice cold. "You stepped on my bottle with your red heel yesterday. You told me I was trash. You told me to buy you condoms for you and him. Do you remember?"

Vanessa burst into tears, mascara running. "I was stupid! I was so stupid! Please forgive me! I'll do anything!"

Sophia Reed stood up behind Trenton, uncomfortable. "Trenton, don't... don't be too harsh..."

Trenton looked at Sophia, then back at Vanessa and Jake.

"Jake, you have 30 seconds to leave my club. This club is mine tonight. And from tomorrow, I'm buying your father's dealerships. Let's see what you drive then."

The two bouncers appeared behind Jake and Vanessa, large and silent.

"Get them out," Trenton said, turning his back and walking back to his cabana.

As Jake and Vanessa were escorted out, humiliated, with the entire rooftop staring and laughing, Trenton sat back down.

The DJ turned the music up. The party started again — models dancing by the pool, champagne popping, the city lights below.

Trenton loosened his suit, feeling the luxury around him — the sports cars downstairs, the nightclub, the private wellness spa where he had booked a deep-tissue recovery massage for later to relax his athletic body after all the stress.

This was the life he had dreamed of while picking bottles. Luxury. Showing off. Power. And it was just beginning.

He looked at Sophia, who was still staring at him with shock and something else — admiration.

"Sophia, want to dance?" he asked, holding out his large ebony hand, that girl-falling-at-first-sight smile on his face.