The afternoon sun glittered off as Parker's approach sent ripples of confusion through the gathered group. Butler Lee, who had been maintaining his usual air of professional authority, suddenly froze mid-sentence like someone had pressed a pause button.
Derek, Matt, Meg, Amelia, Aily—every single person around the pool stood transfixed, their conversations dying in their throats.
What the hell was happening?
Did Boss Parker—the Boss Parker, worth over a hundred million dollars—just address Jason with genuine respect?
Jason remained lounging in his pool chair, seemingly unbothered by the sudden attention. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked up at the approaching businessman. "Mr. Parker? Have we actually met before?"
Parker's laugh was warm and genuine as he waved dismissively. "Not face to face, no. But I'm also part of the Auto Club. Remember last week when someone asked for watch recommendations in the group chat? I suggested one of my pre-owned pieces." His expression grew sheepish. "Though I realized afterward that you probably wouldn't be interested in secondhand anything.
Recognition dawned on Jason's features as he snapped his fingers. "Ah, you're Old Parker from the chat! I've heard great things. Been wanting to meet you properly."
He stood smoothly, extending his hand with the casual confidence of someone accustomed to dealing with powerful people.
Parker accepted the handshake eagerly, but immediately deflected. "Compared to you, Jason? I'm small potatoes."
Jason gestured toward the expansive pool area with its multiple levels and infinity edges. "There's plenty of space here. Why don't you and your family join us?"
"Don't mind if I do," Parker grinned, motioning for his wife and teenage son to come closer.
As Parker made brief introductions, the observers noticed something telling: despite his reputation as someone who couldn't help appreciating beautiful women, Parker's eyes never once strayed to Holly Larson, the stunning brunette positioned elegantly beside Jason.
There were plenty of attractive women in the world—but you didn't ogle the ones belonging to people you couldn't afford to cross.
Parker suddenly turned toward Butler Lee with obvious enthusiasm. "Lee, meet Jason Carter. Remember some time ago when I told you about the young man who purchased both a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Lamborghini Revuelto? Paid cash for both?"
Butler Lee's transformation was instantaneous and dramatic. His spine straightened as if pulled by invisible strings, and his usual professional demeanor shifted into something approaching reverence. "Mr. Carter, it's truly an honor. I've heard remarkable things about you."
Parker might have been worth a hundred million on paper, but most of his wealth was tied up in commercial real estate that had been hemorrhaging value for the past two years. His actual liquid assets were a fraction of his net worth, and his cash flow situation was far more precarious than it appeared.
But Jason?
Two supercars in thirty minutes, both purchased outright without financing. That wasn't ordinary wealth—that was the kind of money that made financial advisors weep with joy. And he was barely out of his teens, which meant this level of spending was probably just... pocket change for him.
The whispers had already spread through the city's elite circles: Jason had casually dropped nearly two million on a Richard Mille Black Samurai watch immediately after his car purchases, then spent another half million at The Imperial, the most exclusive dining establishment in the region.
No wonder Butler Lee was suddenly treating him with more deference than he showed Parker himself.
Around the pool's perimeter, the assembled group processed this information with varying degrees of shock and calculation.
Holly's emerald eyes sparkled with newfound interest. She had always been drawn to power in all its forms—financial, social, physical. Jason's casual display of wealth wrapped around her consciousness like silk, and she found herself reassessing everything she thought she knew about him.
[System Notification: Holly Larson's Favorability +10]
Amelia's perfectly manicured fingers unconsciously traced her lower lip as regret coursed through her. She had chosen Derek months ago, convinced that Jason was nothing more than a lovesick puppy chasing after Emma for three futile years. Her decision had seemed so logical then—Derek had status, connections, a promising future.
Now her choice looked catastrophically short-sighted. Her natural beauty couldn't compete with Holly's magnetic presence, and her judgment appeared even more embarrassingly flawed.
Matt and Derek stood like statues carved from disbelief, the chlorinated air suddenly feeling too thick to breathe properly.
The Cullinan and Revuelto—both belonging to Jason?
If Jason himself had bragged about such purchases, they would have laughed until their sides hurt. But coming from Parker, delivered with such obvious respect? There was no possibility of deception.
Matt suddenly realized how pathetically foolish their earlier posturing had been, trying to intimidate Jason to impress Butler Lee. The memory felt like having his dignity ground under someone's heel in front of an audience.
"This can't be real," Matt muttered, his voice barely audible. "Wasn't Jason supposed to be broke? Everyone said he spent three years pathetically chasing Emma and getting nowhere. And now... this? The guy's a monster."
Chloe's elbow found Matt's ribs with surgical precision. "You need to apologize to Jason immediately."
Matt's jaw tightened. "What?"
"Your attitude earlier was absolutely horrible," she hissed. "Apologize before this situation gets worse. Maybe if Holly puts in a good word, he won't hold grudges."
Matt possessed enough social intelligence to recognize when retreat was the only viable option. "You're right. I'll handle it."
He straightened his shoulders, preparing to approach Jason with whatever dignity he could salvage—
But Derek suddenly burst past him like a man possessed, nearly stumbling in his haste to reach the pool's edge.
"Jason," Derek's voice rang out clear and desperate, carrying across the water. "I was completely out of line earlier. I sincerely and deeply apologize for my inexcusable rudeness."
No excuses. No attempts at justification. No face-saving qualifications.
The way Derek kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, not even risking a glance toward Holly despite her proximity, communicated that this wasn't strategic maneuvering—this was genuine fear.
Matt stood frozen in place, his mouth slightly open.
Damn it... you apologized before me?
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