Chapter 288: What Did I Do?

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: What Did I Do?

The deep, guttural purr of the McLaren P1’s twin-turbo V8 echoed softly against the granite facade of the Meridian Crown as the valet parking supervisor carefully guided the volcano-orange hypercar to a stop right at the curb. He stepped out of the vehicle with the utmost reverence, using both hands to present the carbon-fiber key fob directly to Aliya, his posture bent in a deep, ninety-degree bow.

"Everything is pristine, Miss Rivers," the supervisor murmured, his voice trembling slightly with lingering awe. "Drive safely."

Aliya took the fob with a casual nod. Beside her, Fancy slipped into the passenger seat, smoothing down the satin fabric of her gown as she looked back toward the glittering entrance.

Kovacs and Sarah stood a few paces away, finishing their perimeter check before climbing back into the trailing Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Meanwhile, Luke and Brandon had already departed ahead in Brandon’s vehicle, having agreed to rendezvous directly at the Meridian Gallery security gate.

With a smooth, effortless sweep of the dihedral door, Aliya settled into the driver’s seat, feeling the immediate surge of raw engineering power beneath her fingertips. She tapped the starter, and the hypercar surged forward into the cool Aurelia night air, leaving the pathetic wreckage of Booth Four far behind.

As they glided onto the open avenue toward the financial district, Fancy glanced sideways at Aliya, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

"Hey, Aliya," Fancy began, hesitation coloring her voice. "Do you think... bringing Luke and Brandon along like this might offend Jake? You mentioned earlier that he was on a date night with Catharine."

Aliya shot her a light, confident smirk, her hands resting effortlessly on the steering wheel. "If anyone else tried to pull that kind of stunt on my brother while he was busy, he’d probably have them blacklisted before they reached the front door." She paused, a playful glint in her dark eyes. "Good thing I’m the one asking, then."

Fancy chuckled, shaking her head. "It’s honestly hilarious how you can put on the absolute picture of a cute, innocent baby sister whenever you want something out of him, but the second he’s not involved, you act like an untouchable, independent queen."

Aliya laughed softly, her gaze fixed on the glowing neon skyline ahead. "As much as I enjoy the perks of having a terrifyingly rich and powerful older brother, I still want to build my own accomplishments. I want my own empire, even if it never reaches the colossal scale of Jake’s."

Fancy smiled warmly, leaning back against the plush leather headrest. "Knowing your stubborn streak, you won’t stop until you actually achieve that dream."

"Well," Aliya grinned, glancing over with a wink, "enjoying a few VIP benefits along the way is just smart, logical management."

---

Ten minutes later, the low-slung orange predator slid to a silent stop at the private VIP vehicle checkpoint of the Meridian Gallery.

Parked just ahead of them was Brandon’s sedan, with Luke standing anxiously beside it. As the P1’s doors rose upward, Luke hurried over, his face etched with nervous anticipation.

"The gallery security checkpoint stopped us at the outer gate," Luke explained quickly, gesturing toward the armed corporate officers standing at attention by the barrier. "They said private box clearance requires biometric verification or a registered proxy band."

Aliya stepped out of the hypercar with unhurried grace, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. "Relax, Luke. We are already cleared."

True to her word, the moment the head security officer scanned the approach protocol linked to Aliya’s digital ID, the heavy steel security gate swung wide open with a smooth, pneumatic hum.

"Welcome, Miss Rivers. Mr. Rivers’ office confirmed your party," the officer saluted crisply. "Please proceed directly to the private elevator bank."

Luke let out a long, breathless sigh of relief, his shoulders dropping a few inches as he followed Aliya and Fancy through the sweeping glass entrance, with Brandon walking beside them in quiet fascination.

As they stepped into the private foyer, Alice was already waiting by the elevator doors, her tablet clutched professionally against her side.

"Miss Rivers, Miss Fancy, and gentlemen," Alice greeted with a formal nod, tapping the call button.

She paused for a brief second, her professional composure remaining absolute. "Mr. Rivers is currently occupied inside Box 1 with a confidential client meeting. Since these two gentlemen are unfamiliar guests to the security protocols, Mr. Rivers’ instructions dictate a brief holding period in the antechamber until the consultation concludes."

Aliya nodded calmly. "Understood. We can wait a moment."

Beside her, Luke swallowed hard, wringing his hands together as cold sweat pricked his neck. ’A holding period? What if Lot 42 comes up on the auction block while we’re stuck standing out here?!’ But seeing Alice’s unyielding expression and knowing whose name governed the building, he didn’t dare utter a single complaint.

---

Inside Box 1, the atmosphere was thick enough to cut with a knife.

The suite was bathed in subdued amber lighting, casting long shadows across the obsidian and leather interior. Seated near the front window was Jake Rivers, radiating an absolute, crushing aura of sovereign authority. He wore a tailored charcoal suit, his expression an unreadable mask of cold, calculated power. Across a low glass table sat a prominent local corporate executive, whose hands were visibly shaking as he clutched a leather portfolio.

The client finished outlining his final proposal, exhaling a shaky breath as he looked across at Jake like a peasant awaiting a death sentence from an emperor. "Mr. Rivers... that is the complete restructuring plan for our regional portfolio. What... what do you think?"

Jake didn’t answer immediately. He turned his head slightly, his dark eyes shifting toward Catharine, who sat gracefully beside him in her deep burgundy silk dress.

"Catharine," Jake said smoothly, his deep voice carrying effortless command. "What do you think of his proposal? Whatever you decide right now, that is the verdict we’ll go with."

Catharine was momentarily taken aback by the sudden transfer of executive authority. For a split second, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she couldn’t afford to show it infront of the client so she kept her expression impeccably composed. She tilted her head, maintaining a serene, unbothered facade.

"The proposal has merit and is certainly worth considering," Catharine replied evenly, her voice steady and clear. "Mr. Blair, I suggest you take these figures directly to Golden Investments Monday morning to schedule further discussions with our investment desk."

The client looked as though he had just been handed a royal pardon. He stood up instantly, bowing profusely to Catharine before turning to Jake with overwhelming gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Stone! Thank you, Mr. Rivers, for the incredible opportunity!"

Without waiting for another word, the client practically scrambled backward toward the door, eager to escape the suffocating pressure of the box.

As the heavy soundproof door clicked shut behind him, Catharine turned her head to glare at Jake, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Why on earth did you just dump that decision on me? You know I’m not involved in Golden Investments’ internal portfolio operations!"

Jake let out a low, dry chuckle, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Because I was already planning to approve his proposal. And I knew for a fact you wouldn’t have the heart to reject poor Mr. Blair straight to his face."

Catharine let out a mock gasp of betrayal before half-heartedly throwing a quick, light punch at his shoulder, which Jake effortlessly caught in his palm with an amused smile.

---

Outside Box 1, the wait proved to be mercifully short. Just two minutes later, the private door unlatched, and the corporate executive stepped out into the hallway, mopping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. He offered a polite, hurried nod to Aliya and the group before striding briskly toward the private elevator, accompanied by Alice.

Alice immediately turned back to Aliya, stepping aside and gesturing to the open doorway. "The meeting has concluded. Please, step inside, Mr. Rivers is ready for you."

Alice pressed her thumb against the biometric scanner, and with a soft, pneumatic click, the soundproof glass door swung wide open.

The interior of Box 1 was an opulent sanctuary. Seated comfortably near the front of the box, Jake turned his head as the door opened, his calm, dark eyes meeting Aliya’s. Beside him, Catharine sat gracefully, offering a warm, welcoming smile.

"You made it in time huh?" Jake noted mildly, setting his glass down on the obsidian side table as he stood up.

"Traffic wasn’t as bad as it was earlier," Aliya smiled, walking into the box and stepping up beside her brother. She gestured back toward the doorway where Luke stood frozen in absolute awe. "And I brought someone who claims he has urgent business with your catalog."

Jake’s gaze shifted past his sister, landing squarely on Luke Barnett.

The moment Jake’s eyes locked onto him, Luke felt an invisible, crushing wave of pressure wash over his chest. It wasn’t overt hostility; it was the sheer, overwhelming aura of a man who commanded billions in capital and decided the economic fate of entire industries with a flick of his wrist.

Luke quickly stepped forward, bowing his head in deep, instinctive deference. "M-Mr. Rivers... good evening. I am Luke Barnett. I apologize for the abrupt intrusion tonight, but I am profoundly grateful for your grace in letting me up here."

Jake walked slowly toward the center of the box, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his tailored charcoal trousers. A faint, inscrutable smirk touched the corners of his lips.

"Luke Barnett," Jake repeated smoothly, his voice deep and resonant in the quiet suite. "The Barnett family’s import network operates out of Veyra, if I recall correctly. What brings an international heir all the way to my private gallery box on a Friday night?"

Luke didn’t hesitate, diving straight into the truth with absolute earnestness. "My grandfather’s eightieth birthday is next week, Mr. Rivers. A centuries-old pocket watch commissioned by my great-grandfather—our family’s lost heirloom—is listed as Lot 42 in tonight’s anchor catalog. My concierge missed the registration window, and when I arrived in the city tonight, I was locked out. I... I needed to bid on it myself before it gets lost to a private collector forever."

Jake studied Luke for a long moment, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched in the private box, heavy with tension, until Jake finally gave a slow, measured nod.

"Family heritage is a respectable pursuit," Jake said evenly. He turned his head toward Alice, who stood waiting near the entrance. "Alice, register Mr. Barnett under a temporary proxy bidder tag linked to our corporate reserve account for Lot 42. Ensure he has direct bidding access from the terminal in this box."

Alice nodded instantly. "Right away, Mr. Rivers."

Luke’s knees nearly buckled with sheer relief. He bowed repeatedly, his voice shaking with emotion. "Thank you, Mr. Rivers! Thank you! I... I don’t know how to ever repay this favor!"

"You don’t owe me anything, Mr. Barnett," Jake replied calmly, walking back to his armchair and gesturing for Catharine to retake her seat beside him. "Just make sure you win the lot when it comes up."

Brandon stood near the back of the box, watching the exchange with unconcealed admiration. As Jake turned his attention briefly toward him, Brandon offered a respectful nod. "Evening, Mr. Rivers. Brandon, a high school classmate of Aliya—it’s an honor to finally meet you in person."

Jake offered a polite, approving nod in return. "Brandon. Aliya has mentioned you before. Take a seat and enjoy the auction."

Catharine smiled warmly, gesturing toward the open leather seating as the final bids for the current art piece echoed softly from the auditorium below. "Come sit. Lot 42 will be coming up on the main screen in just a few minutes."

As everyone settled into the plush leather seating, Aliya leaned over slightly toward Catharine, her dark eyes sparkling with mischievous amusement. She glanced sideways at Jake, then back at Catharine.

"Hey, Catharine," Aliya whispered loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear, "has my brother actually been treating you right tonight?"

Catharine smiled warmly, though a playful glint appeared in her eyes. "Oh, he’s been mostly fine—aside from the fact that he randomly likes to drop major corporate investment decisions on my lap without any warning, even though I have zero background in Golden Investments’ internal operations or long-term goals."

Aliya instantly shot Jake a sharp, knowing I knew it look.

Jake, who had been calmly taking a sip of his mineral water, happened to catch the exact expression his sister was giving him. He raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-sip.

Before Jake could utter a single word in defense, Aliya turned back to him with mock severity. "Honestly, Jake, how could you treat Catharine like that? Making her do your job for you? That’s it, I’m calling Mother tomorrow to tell her all about how you’re bullying your girlfriend!"

Jake froze, staring at his sister in absolute, unadulterated puzzlement. He had no idea what kind of narrative Aliya was spinning, nor why she was threatening to run off to their mother over a routine boardroom delegation.

Seeing the sheer, unreadable bewilderment frozen on Jake’s usually unflappable face, Catharine covered her mouth with her hand, a burst of bright, genuine laughter escaping her lips as she leaned back against the cushions.

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