Chapter 2

$280,000 was just chump change for me. I spent more than that on a single day's whims.

What got under my skin wasn't the cash; it was Chad's ingratitude.

"I'll pay," I said.

Beryl's face lit up with a victorious smirk, and Chad let out a visible sigh of relief.

"But," I added, my voice sharpening, "you need to break this down for me—every charge, every detail, crystal clear."

Beryl quickly pulled out the prepped invoice and recited it with a cocky vibe. "Alright. Let's start with the premium diagnostic scan. We're talking imported analyzers, run by experts with international certifications. It took a full three hours, charged at global rates. Then, your exhaust pipe was messing with the sound profile, so we upgraded it with an opera-inspired resonance chamber. Now it roars like Pavarotti, rich and commanding. Totally elevates the value."

I couldn't believe my ears. My three business partners who'd tagged along stifled smirks, and even Chad bowed his head in embarrassment.

Beryl kept going, getting more absurd by the second. "Last but not least, our technicians found an imbalance in your turbo boost. It was a serious issue that required Swiss-precision calibration in a vacuum environment, with HQ experts guiding remotely for that deep, almost spiritual sync between the turbo and the engine. This is a premium, one-of-a-kind service, you follow? Everything here is upfront and fair. You're just not used to this level, so it's blowing your mind."

That final jab was pure disdain, meant to humiliate me.

One of the partners, David Brooks, stepped in to end the farce. "Adriano, it's getting late. Let's head out. I'll cover the bill."

I held up a hand to stop him. By now, this wasn't about money anymore.

I'd come here to hook Chad up with these valuable partners while getting a quick tune-up, only for Beryl to turn it into a public humiliation. It was just crazy.

I pushed down my anger and turned to my partners apologetically. "Sorry you had to see this nonsense. It totally ruined the vibe. To make it up, I'll book the entire Summit Peak this Saturday and host a proper dinner for you guys."

Almost simultaneously, their phones started pinging with confirmations from Summit Peak. David, who'd just offered to pay, looked shocked and excited all at once.

They were all accomplished in their fields, but in the top-tier circles, they didn't quite rank. Summit Peak was known as a mythic private spot where real power players met.

It was invite-only; no amount of cash could buy entry without connections. Yet I'd locked it in with one simple message.

Any doubts they might've had about me evaporated right there. The way they looked at me shifted to straight-up respect.

I escorted them to the entrance, watching their cars disappear down the road. As soon as the taillights faded, my smile vanished, replaced by icy resolve.

I turned back to clean house, but Beryl blocked my path with two hulking security guards.

"Halt!" she shrieked, pointing accusingly at my face. "Think you can slip away like that? Pay up, or you're not going anywhere!"

The guards moved in, looking ready for trouble. I paused, taking in the absurdity without a word.

Getting blocked at the door of my property and shaken down for bogus fees? It was utterly absurd.