GEMINI.
The bright lights of the Campus Groceries & More finally clicked into darkness. I locked the door, feeling the satisfying thunk of the deadbolt, and looked up. Percy's sleek Bentley was already waiting at the curb, its smooth lines a stark contrast to the utilitarian look of the store After an evening shift that included a truly bizarre run-in with Mark and his ridiculously forward teammate, Levi—and Mark's surprisingly strong warning about Percy being
territorial—a quiet and good night rest was exactly what I needed right now.
I slid into the passenger seat and tossed my messenger bag onto the back seat. "Hey. Thanks for the ride." I said, buckling up.
"You don't have to thank me for coming to get you every time, you know?" Percy replied looking at me, his voice the usual low, calm rumble.
As we pulled away from the curb, the easy silence I'd grown accustomed to settled over the car. I was just starting to relax when Percy broke the stillness with an entirely unexpected question.
"Is the store job stressful?"
I blinked, surprised by the unexpected question and the hint of genuine concern in his voice.
"Stressful? Not really. It's just retail. Lots of shelving and telling people we don't have some obscure item they wanted yesterday or today. Why do you ask?"
"You look tired," he stated simply, glancing at me before focusing back on the road. "And I don't think you should have to deal with aggressive customers or, overly friendly basketball players."
I felt a slight flush, realizing he'd somehow heard about that encounter, probably through Mark. I don't even want to know how that conversation went.
"Okay, fair point." I gave in. "But honestly, it's fine. It pays the bills and it's accessible."
Percy paused, his hands resting easily on the steering wheel. "Would you like to work somewhere less stressful?"
The question hung in the air, unexpected and, frankly, a little baffling. I thought about it for a moment. "I mean, of course, I would. Who wouldn't?" I reasoned. "But where else could I possibly work? This job is on campus, which makes it incredibly easy to get between classes and, well, being a broke student."
"The golf course is also on campus," Percy offered casually.
I sighed. "Yeah, I know the place. The Crestwood Greens. But come on, it's not like I can just walk in there and ask for a job. Everyone says that place is like...super exclusive. It's for faculty and major donors. I'm just a student."
"Have you actually been to the place?" he asked, a faint, almost teasing smile touching his lips.
"No, I told you, it's membership only. I've only seen the massive, fancy entrance gate," I admitted.
Percy let out a low, warm chuckle. "Right. Let's go there before we judge, shall we?"
I watched as he signaled a turn off the main university road and onto a winding, private drive. My heart gave a little thump. This was so typical of Percy—not asking or waiting for permission, just making things happen.
"Wait, we're going there right now? It's almost eight o'clock!" I protested.
"We are," he confirmed, sounding completely unfazed. "It's a beautiful course, even at night. You might as well see what you're turning down."
I leaned back into the seat, my curiosity fully piqued. What exactly was I about to walk into? I don't even want to know how Percy managed to make this seemingly impenetrable golf course yet just another stop on his way home. Somehow, something tells me that this was less about me finding a less stressful job and more about him making sure I don't encounter people like Levi.
Massive ancient oak trees lined the route, their branches forming a dark canopy that felt strangely grand as he drove. Up ahead, a majestic stone gate stood open, displaying a wrought-iron sign that read: Crestwood Greens.
"I told you it was super exclusive," I mumbled, feeling slightly intimidated as Percy drove past the gate without even slowing down.
"Exclusivity is relative," Percy replied, navigating the drive that opened onto a vast, emerald expanse of golf course, eerily beautiful under the soft glow of distant path lights. He pulled up to a handsome, stone-and-dark-wood clubhouse.
"We're here," he said, shutting off the engine. "Come on."
I followed him out of the car, feeling incredibly underdressed in my store uniform. Before I could ask who we were meeting, a figure emerged from the clubhouse—an older man, impeccably dressed in a crisp golf shirt and slacks, even at this hour. He looked strangely familiar. Percy's demeanor shifted. He went from relaxed to formal, yet still deeply comfortable.
"Uncle Phillip," Percy greeted the man, his voice respectful but warm.
"Perseus, my boy! What a surprise," the man replied, his handshake with Percy firm and his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And you've brought a friend. Don't tell me you're trying to tempt someone else into the horrors of the groundskeeping apprenticeship." He chuckled.
Percy merely smiled. "Nope, I'm done with that. This is Gemini. He's looking for a job that's less... retail. I told him he needed to see the place."
The man—Phillip—turned his full attention to me. His gaze was intelligent and assessing, but not unkind.
"A job, eh? And you're a student at St Morre?" Phillip asked.
"Yes, sir," I managed, feeling acutely aware that the job I thought I had been discussing was suddenly very real.
"Well, we always need good, reliable people here, particularly students with flexibility," Phillip said easily, reaching out to shake my hand. "How about this? You can start tomorrow, if you want. It's a lot quieter than a retail job, and the hours are more flexible. We need help in the pro shop and with coordinating events."
I was completely blindsided. The entire encounter had taken less than ninety seconds. I was still grappling with the fact that Percy had casually taken me to a job interview that I didn't know I had.
"Really? Just like that?" I stammered, turning to Percy for confirmation. "Percy, who is this?"
Phillip chuckled, a rich, easy sound. "My apologies, young man. I completely skipped the introduction. I'm Phillip Sinclair. My son goes to your school too." He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. My eyes widened. Mark's father? Oh, that's why he looked vaguely familiar. "I'm in charge of this place," he added.
"He's being modest," Percy interjected calmly, looking directly at me. "He's the owner of the place, Gemini. Along with a few other things."
I was starting to feel dizzy. "The owner? But… I thought…"
Phillip simply waved a dismissive hand. "It's a family business, my boy. My sister and I inherited it. Along with a few other bits and businesses."
"As you know, my maternal grandparents founded our school, Crestwood Greens, and a lot of other businesses," Percy clarified, providing the necessary information in his usual concise manner. "When they died, their children—my mother and her brother, uncle Phillip—inherited everything."
I looked from Percy to his uncle, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly locking together. The effortless generosity, the confidence, the wealthy family connections—it all made sense now. They weren't just wealthy; they were ultra-super-wealthy, the founders of the world I was currently living in. The Morre twins, causally taking the yacht out to the sea whenever they want, Percy buying me things without blinking, and Mark, offering to fix people's computers without requesting for money, they were all part of this family dynasty.
"Wow," was all I could manage. "Okay. Tomorrow it is, then. Thank you, Mr. Sinclair. Seriously."
Phillip smiled warmly. "Welcome aboard, Gemini. Now, Percy, let's give this kid a quick tour before we feed him."