The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 54: The Power of Style

Robert leaned back into the deep edges of the couch. He lowered his voice to a murmur, a tone so private that Anna had to physically lean in just to catch the words.

"Avery… I want you to drive a Pagani tonight."

There was a long, heavy silence on the other end of the line. Robert could almost picture Avery standing in her own room, her brain trying to process the request. Finally, her voice came back, sounding both curious and slightly guarded. 

"A Pagani? I mean, sure… I can handle a car like that. But Robert, why the sudden change? I already prepped the Ferrari."

"Just trust me on this one. Come over to my place first," Robert said, his tone smooth but carrying that quiet command she was starting to trust. 

"I want you and Anna to head to the auction together. I’ll join you a little later. I have a few things I need to finish here."

Avery let out a soft, knowing chuckle. "Alright, Mr. Mysterious. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Don't make me wait."

Anna’s eyes were practically rolling as she watched her brother hang up. 

"Wait, so we get to show up in a Pagani while you stay behind to do whatever secret stuff you’re planning? I absolutely love this plan. We’re going to turn every head in that building before you even step through the door."

A few minutes later, the quiet of the penthouse was interrupted by a specialized delivery team. They moved with coordination, carrying a large, elegant box embossed with a heavy gold seal. Inside were two gowns that looked more like works of art than clothing.

Anna pulled hers out first, and the fabric seemed to catch the dim light of the room and hold it. It was a rich sapphire blue gown, shot through with thin, sleek black stripes that flowed like liquid silk. It was a perfect, deliberate match for the blue Pagani Barchetta waiting in the garage below.

As the assistants helped her into the dress, the heavy silk hugged her figure flawlessly. To finish the look, they fastened a statement necklace around her neck— a rare Richard Mille piece. It wasn't just jewelry, it was a masterpiece encrusted with deep blue sapphires and diamonds that caught the light every time she breathed, looking like a literal constellation against her skin.

Robert stood by the window, watching her. His expression softened— a look of genuine admiration appearing on his face that he usually kept hidden. "You look… incredible, Anna. Truly."

Anna caught her reflection in the full length mirror and grinned, spinning around once to watch the silk flare out around her heels.

 "Not bad, right? I think I can definitely work with this. Jane is going to have a heart attack when she sees the jewelry alone."

Avery arrived shortly after, stepping into the suite just as Robert was finishing some last minute mental notes. He looked casual, sitting there with a calm that didn't match the war he was about to start, but Avery could see his eyes— they were moving quickly, calculating every possible move the Emmetts might make.

Anna clapped her hands together, breaking the heavy silence. "Alright, I’m going to leave you two geniuses to do your 'planning.' I need to grab something from the other room."

She ducked away, making sure to lock the door behind her with a loud, echoed click. A muffled, mischievous laugh came from the other side, making both Robert and Avery look at the door and then back at each other.

"She seems... a little too excited about this," Avery said, her voice a bit nervous as she stepped closer to Robert.

Robert smirked, the first real bit of humor she’d seen from him all day. "That’s one way to put it. She’s been waiting for a night like this for a long time."

The room went quiet for a few seconds. The distance between them closed naturally, the heavy stress of the upcoming auction melted away for a brief moment as they leaned in.

 Their lips met softly— a quiet, shared moment of warmth in the middle of all the chaos. It was a reminder of why they were doing this. When Avery pulled back, her eyes were searching his, sparkling with a mix of nerves and excitement.

"You look so beautiful," Robert whispered, his thumb gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "That dress is perfect on you, makes you look like you just stepped out of a magazine."

Avery laughed softly, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "You’re not so bad yourself, Robert. Though I think your Koenigsegg might actually have some serious competition in the looks department tonight."

By now, Avery had changed into her own gown— a striking yellow and black masterpiece with a cross open back design by Frank Miller Couture. It was bold, elegant, and looked dangerous. Around her neck, she wore a Richard Mille piece that mirrored Anna’s, a heavy, glittering statement of wealth that told the world exactly who she was.

Robert smiled, looking at both their reflections. "Alright. Everything is set. No more delays."

Avery reached into her small purse and pulled out a set of keys, the cold metal clinking as she handed them to him. "Your Ferrari SF90 is parked in the underground garage."

He took them, the weight of the key familiar in his palm. "Perfect. Anna is going to show you which car you're taking. Don't worry, I promised not a big crazy surprise."

Avery chuckled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I’ll believe that when I see it, Robert."

"Alright," Robert called out toward the other room. "You can come out now, Anna. Avery is ready to go."

"Hold on, I'm busy doing... things!" Anna’s voice called back, though Robert knew she was probably just leaning against the door eavesdropping on every word they said.

A moment later, Anna appeared, clearing her throat with a sly wink at Robert that made Avery blush even more. The two girls walked down to the private underground garage together, where the high intensity lights hit the carbon fiber of the cars. 

Avery’s jaw literally dropped when she saw Anna rush over to the Pagani Barchetta glowing under the spotlights, its blue paint looking like deep the ocean.

"Wait... Robert was talking about this Pagani?" Avery asked, her voice sounding breathless and small in the large garage.

"Of course," Anna replied, patting the door handle affectionately. "She’s mine. A gift from the best brother ever."

Avery looked down the row of cars toward a green Pagani Huayra parked further away in the shadows. "I honestly thought he meant the Huayra. I didn't think anyone actually drove a Barchetta on the street. It's practically a museum piece over hundreds of millions."

Anna laughed, sliding into the passenger seat with the grace of someone who had done it a hundred times. "Nah, I like this one better. It’s got a lot more personality. Plus, the wind in your hair is a nice touch."

Avery slid into the driver's seat, her hands gripping the thick leather steering wheel. The interior smelled of expensive leather and new carbon fiber. "Wow... I've driven a lot of fast cars, Robert, but this... this is something else entirely. It feels alive."

Robert leaned against the cold concrete wall of the garage, watching them with a rare, peaceful smile. 

"You’re about to find out exactly what it can do. I’ve made sure it's perfect for you both tonight. It’s ready for you."

Anna tapped the dashboard. "Go on, Avery. I believe in you. Let’s show those people at the auction what real power looks like."

The three of them stood there for a second in the quiet, echoing garage, the air thick with a mix of gasoline and expensive perfume. 

They knew that once those garage doors opened and they hit the street, tonight was going to be the kind of night people talked about for years.