The $55,000 Hasselblad camera and the $420,000 Mercedes-Benz G63 were already far beyond Alex spending power. Then came the $298,000 Patek Philippe — on a level so high he couldn't even begin to wrap his head around it.
Alex's mouth stayed shut, his expression twisted with frustration and embarrassment.
Madison could only sigh when she saw her brother like this. She didn't know how to comfort him.
Courtney, on the other hand, blurted out without restraint, "Oh my God, he just dropped a quarter of a million on a Patek Philippe like I'd spend ten bucks at a flea market. Who does that? Why is the gap between people so huge?"
Brielle Quinn was just as stunned. "I know, right? My dad knows some big names, and even they hesitate before buying a watch worth that much. I've never seen someone spend that casually."
Courtney frowned in mock frustration. "Girl, you're gorgeous, and the guy is clearly loaded. What are you doing just standing there? If I had a boyfriend like that, I'd be showing him off everywhere."
Jason's earlier subtle charm offensive toward Courtney seemed to be working its magic again.
Brielle rolled her eyes. "Oh please, quit teasing me. If you think like that, why don't you make a move?"
Courtney lifted her hands in surrender. "Trust me, I would if I could, but with my average looks, I'm not exactly his type. I know my lane. But if you date him, I can bask in the glow. When we go out together, I'd finally have bragging rights."
Brielle shook her head. "We literally just met him. Don't start spreading nonsense — someone might overhear."
Still, she couldn't deny she was intrigued. Jason had the same tall, confident presence she liked, an easygoing demeanor, and — unlike Alex — zero need to brag. He was calm, composed, and carried himself like someone who'd grown up around wealth. To him, spending insane amounts of money seemed like a casual Tuesday.
Brielle's affection meter: +7.
Of course, what she didn't know was that Jason wasn't some old-money heir at all. In reality, he was a newly rich entrepreneur.
The difference was all in his mindset. When Jason spent, he wasn't just throwing cash around — he was strategically converting his "relationship bonus money" into personal assets. In his head, he wasn't burning money; he was making it.
That mentality kept him from having that loud, flashy "new money" vibe. Instead, he radiated a quiet confidence, the kind people associated with the truly wealthy.
Jason went on to buy a few high-end outfits and designer bags, but noticed Brielle's interest wasn't climbing any further.
That was fine. He decided it was time to switch targets.
In dating — just like in poker — knowing when to fold was key. The mood was dipping, and sticking around would only drag it down further.
So Jason excused himself.
To his surprise, Brielle didn't want to stay behind with Alex, who had been an awkward third wheel all afternoon. She quickly followed Jason downstairs.
Only after they were gone did Madison turn to her sulking brother.
"You can't hold your composure for five minutes, can you?" she said, exasperated. "At first, you thought Jason wasn't anything special, so you tried to one-up him. I kept giving you signals to ease off, but you wouldn't listen. From the moment I met him, I knew he wasn't as simple as he looked. And the second you saw his spending power, you should've played it cool. Instead, you let it get to you. How's that supposed to impress Brielle?"
Alex scowled. "It's not that I can't play it cool — the guy just has more money, that's all. I lost in the wealth department. I gave Brielle a gift worth a couple hundred bucks, and he gave her nothing. I can only assume she's a little materialistic. Guess I overestimated her."
Madison shook her head, reached into her designer tote bag, and pulled out a sleek velvet jewelry box. She popped it open to reveal a necklace—simple yet elegant—worth at least several hundred dollars, maybe more. Definitely not cheaper than the bracelet her brother had given.
She sighed."Brielle just gave me this earlier. My guess? She doesn't want to owe you anything, and she also doesn't want to give you something that could make you think she's interested. So, she passed it to me instead—like a polite handoff."
Alex blinked, caught off guard. His mouth opened, but no words came out. This wasn't the reaction—or the result—he'd been hoping for.
Madison went on."When it comes to giving gifts to women, I can sum it up in two categories. First—there's already mutual attraction. The gift just helps warm things up. Second—it's just money and presents, no feelings involved."
"You and Brielle? You're clearly not in the first category. She didn't want to take it, but probably felt awkward saying no."
"If it's the second category… is this little bracelet enough? Sure, if her family was barely scraping by and she'd never met a girl who liked shiny things, maybe. But her family? Even if they're not billionaires, they're not far off. She's not impressed by a couple hundred bucks. Her dad's birthday gifts to her are in the five-figure range."
"So, your gift-giving? It doesn't even compare to Jason's no-gift approach—which only highlights his confidence and strength. Women see that and start imagining what life with him would look like. It's a whole different league."
"If you're thinking Brielle's shallow—let's be real—nobody's completely blind to material stability. But I know her. She's not looking for a sugar daddy. She's looking for someone strong, the type who can carry himself like a prince—handsome, successful, and confident. That's non-negotiable."
"And not just financially strong. Emotionally strong. You showed your hand too early—you made your interest obvious before there was any real connection. That only makes you look desperate. It makes her uncomfortable."
"Meanwhile, Jason? He's calm, self-assured. To her, he's probably someone to look up to, maybe even admire."
Alex knew Madison had a point, but pride kept him from admitting it. The moment Jason's name came up again, irritation flared, and he stopped listening altogether.
—
On the other side of town, Brielle glanced at Jason as they stepped out of the spa, her voice apologetic."Sorry about earlier. I didn't expect to run into Alex—especially with him being so weirdly hostile toward you. And then asking you to cover the bill on top of it."
Jason's brows lifted. "Hostile? Oh… so that's what that was. Here I was thinking maybe he just had a crush on me."
Brielle and Courtney froze for a split second, then burst into laughter.
Jason clearly wasn't taking Alex seriously, and the easy humor in his tone defused the awkwardness instantly.
There was something about his presence—handsome, well-off, completely unbothered—that made people relax around him.
Brielle's inner thoughts: Crush resistance: –2 points.
The elevator reached the lobby with a soft ding. Jason glanced at her."Where to next? I can give you a ride."
Brielle smiled. "Aren't you busy? We can just grab an Uber back to campus. Oh—by the way—there's an auto show in a couple days. Tons of luxury cars, even some limited editions. My dealership's sponsoring a section. Want me to set aside a ticket for you?"
Jason's interest sparked instantly. "Absolutely. Count me in."
"Done." Brielle grinned.
A minute later, their ride pulled up. Brielle and Courtney slid into the back seat, waving goodbye as Jason headed toward the parking garage.
He wasn't going to campus. He had his next target in mind.