Parker was a bit anxious. After everyone finished soaking in the hot springs, he wanted to take Jason to see the estate he had in mind. But Jason felt it wasn't ideal to tour a property at night, so he pushed it to tomorrow.
That evening, Jason, Holly Larson, and the others were hanging out at the hot spring villa—grilling barbecue, cracking open beers, and playing party games.
Derek and Matt, who had been so full of themselves earlier, suddenly became much more down-to-earth. They even volunteered to buy more barbecue supplies and beer, acting extra attentive. The whole group ended up having a blast.
Not only did Derek completely drop any ideas about hitting on Holly Larson, but he even started subtly trying to pair her up with Jason every chance he got.
As Jason finished a skewer of steak, he turned to Holly."Tomorrow morning, come with me to check out the Ridgeview Estate," he said.
Holly blinked. "Why me? I don't think I'm qualified to make such a big call."
"One more person means one more set of eyes," Jason said. "You've got good taste. If you're free tomorrow, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"Sure, why not," Holly said casually.
Aly, Meg, and the others immediately jumped in. "Count us in too! We wanna see it!"
Holly glanced at Jason, feeling a little flutter of emotion. She thought for a second that maybe Jason was inviting just her for some special reason. But then he'd casually invited everyone else too…
Just as she was feeling a bit deflated, Jason leaned close and said in a low voice, "Honestly, I don't really care about anyone else's opinion. I just want to hear yours."
Holly's lips curled into a smile before she could stop herself. "Oh, stop. I'm not some expert. My opinion won't matter much."
But despite her words, her mood said otherwise.
Holly Larson – Favorability +3
She didn't realize it, but her emotions were starting to shift with Jason's every move.
That night, everyone slept soundly at the hot spring villa. The next morning, Jason texted Parker, who replied almost instantly.
Within three minutes, Parker's car was outside the villa.
Holly, Lily, Josh, and the others were already waiting, eager to see Ridgeview Estate. Even Derek, Matt, and the rest—who originally had no business there—decided to tag along just for the fun of it.
The convoy headed toward Ridgeview Estate.
The moment they entered the gated community, the atmosphere changed completely. Lush greenery, manicured lawns, and a quiet, upscale vibe greeted them. It felt like stepping into some high-end suburban dream neighborhood.
When they arrived at the property, the gates swung open to reveal a massive front yard, a sparkling private pool, and a modern two-story luxury home that looked straight out of an architectural magazine.
Everyone stood there, stunned.
"This isn't a house," Meg muttered. "This is a freakin' mansion."
Inside, the interior design was even more jaw-dropping—sleek open spaces, custom furniture, and a sense of elegance that screamed money.
Parker said, "Jason, no one's ever lived here. Everything's brand new. Just the interior alone cost a fortune. I was hoping to flip it for a big profit, but the market slowed down. At this point, I just want out."
Jason listened calmly. He knew sellers often threw in lines like this to create urgency, but he'd checked prices last night—Parker wasn't lying.
After walking through the whole estate, Jason was pretty impressed. The design, the location, the amenities—it all checked out.
Parker finally asked, "So, Jason, what do you think?"
Jason didn't answer immediately. He turned to Holly instead."Holly, what do you think?"
Parker glanced at her nervously. From Jason's tone, it was clear her opinion carried serious weight.
Jason had already made up his mind about the villa but still turned to Holly Larson out of courtesy. After all, it never hurt to build a little more goodwill.
Unexpectedly, Holly's Favorability +2.
Seeing Jason genuinely asking for her opinion, Holly smiled warmly. "Honestly, I think it's perfect. The interior design is elegant, the neighborhood's top-notch, and the amenities nearby are fantastic. It's peaceful inside the gated community, but a short drive gets you anywhere you need. Plus, from the front porch, you can even see the ocean in the distance. Not beachfront, but close enough for the view."
Jason nodded. "I agree. Parker, let's sit down and talk numbers."
Everyone around widened their eyes. Was he really about to buy it? People talk big all the time, but signing papers is another matter.
Parker beamed. "Absolutely, Jason. Let's do it."
Jason and Parker moved into the conference room to negotiate while the rest of the group lingered around the luxurious living room, taking everything in.
Cloie sighed softly as she gazed at the marble floors and grand chandeliers. "This place is insane. Like something out of a movie. If I could live in a house like this just once in my life, I'd die happy."
Her boyfriend, Mike, chuckled helplessly. "Cloie, don't start dreaming. Even if I sold everything I own, I couldn't afford the guest bathroom, let alone the whole house."
Cloie rolled her eyes. "Relax, I didn't expect you to buy it. I just want a picture before we leave. It might be my only time in a place like this."
"Okay, okay," Mike said, pulling out his phone. "You want the ocean view in the background or the garden?"
Meanwhile, Amelia was taking in the villa with wide eyes, her heart racing. A pang of regret hit her. If only she hadn't left with Derek's group earlier. Even if she couldn't become Jason's girlfriend, having any connection to him would have been life-changing.
Derek and Matt, on the other hand, stood stiff as boards near the entrance, terrified to touch anything. One scratch on a wall here probably cost more than their entire bank accounts combined.
Megan, standing a little apart, made a mental note: she needed Holly to help patch things up with Jason later.
After about half an hour, Jason and Parker finally emerged from the conference room, laughter echoing through the hall before they even appeared.
"Jason, my man," Parker said with a huge grin, shaking his hand firmly. "Happy to close this deal with you. With the full amount of 5.5 million wired over today, you're getting a serious steal."
The group froze.
Five point five million.
Did he just drop that casually? No financing? No second thoughts?
"Pleasure doing business," Jason said smoothly. "I really like the landscaping you designed, Parker. But I'd like to add more bonsai trees. Got any recommendations?"
"Actually, I have a friend," Parker said enthusiastically. "Best bonsai artist in the state. His pieces win awards all the time—one of them is valued at over ten grand and he's never put it up for sale."
Jason nodded. "Perfect. I'll probably take about forty of them."
The room went silent.
A multimillion-dollar house, paid in full. And now he wanted to drop another small fortune on custom bonsai trees.
This was what it really meant to spend money like water.
Holly's eyes glimmered as she watched Jason, who carried himself as if he hadn't just spent millions. Favorability +5.
Derek and Matt shuddered quietly in the corner. They'd already apologized for their earlier attitude toward him, but watching this unfold, they realized just how badly they had underestimated him.
There are 40 chapters ahead in my Patreon, with 2 daily chapters. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439