This plan could've been flawless—if not for one fatal mistake.Julia wasn't just anyone. She was with Jason Carter's.
And Robert… had actually dared to harbor thoughts about her.It wasn't courage—it was suicide.
Everyone in the upper circles of California's real estate and tech scene knew the name Jason Carter.But the truth was, no one really knew him.
Some said he was the heir to a powerful East Coast dynasty, one of those untouchable political bloodlines that controlled banks and energy companies from the shadows.Others claimed he'd made a few billion overnight through some top-secret insider deal—something to do with real estate zoning changes that no one else had even heard of yet.
But it didn't matter which rumor was true.Any one of his rumored backgrounds was enough to crush Robert like a bug under a boot.
So now, as Jason sat quietly at the corner of the high-end lounge, Robert felt like his heart was about to explode. His palms were sweaty, his mind racing a hundred miles an hour, trying to figure out how to survive this night.
"Mr Robert, what's wrong?" Jack, the young entrepreneur who had brought him here, frowned in confusion. "You were just talking about Julia's family's problem. Why'd you suddenly go pale?"
Robert's throat tightened. Cold sweat ran down the side of his face.
Jack had no idea what kind of line he was crossing just by mentioning Julia's name in front of Jason.
Robert cut him off instantly—voice trembling but firm."Don't say another word."
Jason hadn't spoken once. He was just sitting there, lazily swirling the ice in his glass, but that silence was more terrifying than any threat. Robert forced a dry laugh, then turned to Jason with all the desperation of a man facing execution.
"Mr. Carter, I, uh… I just heard about Miss Julia's family situation back in Portland," he said quickly, stumbling over his own words. "As a fellow Oregon native, I couldn't stand by. I'll take care of it personally—right now. I'll make a call."
Before anyone could react, he snatched up his phone and rushed a few steps away, barking urgent orders down the line.
"Get me our people in Portland—now. Find out everything about Julia's family business. I want the people causing them trouble gone today. Pay them off, scare them off—I don't care how. Just make it clean. And keep it quiet."
Jack blinked. "Mr. Robert… what's happening?"
But Robert ignored him completely. He was too busy saving his own neck.
Ten minutes later, Julia's phone buzzed.
She answered, surprised—it was her mother."Julia, honey, what on earth is going on? A bunch of tough-looking men showed up at the factory and chased away those people who were making trouble. One of them even got his nose broken! The place is quiet now, but who are these people? Are we in trouble?"
Julia froze.
Her gaze slowly shifted to Jason, who was quietly scrolling through something on his phone as if none of this concerned him. Then her eyes flicked to Robert, whose face was drained of all color.
She wasn't stupid. She knew Robert wasn't helping her out of kindness.He was terrified of someone else in the room.
Jason hadn't promised her anything. He hadn't even said he would help.And yet, because of him, her family's nightmare had just vanished—like magic.
Julia felt a strange warmth bloom in her chest. Jason never bragged, never took credit, never acted like he was doing her a favor. He just was. And somehow, the world around her kept bending to his will.
Julia: Affection +10.
She smiled faintly and said into the phone, "Don't worry, Mom. Whoever did the hitting, it wasn't us. So it's none of our business."
After hanging up, she hesitated, glancing at Robert. She wanted to say something—to tell him not to go too far—but stopped herself. She didn't have the right to intervene in whatever power games were happening between these men.
Jason finally looked up.That single, calm glance made Robert's breath hitch.
Without waiting for Jason to speak, Robert jumped to his feet."Mr. Carter, please don't worry. My people have a sense of… discretion. There won't be any police trouble, and Miss Julia's family will be protected from now on. I'll make sure those parasites never come near them again. Are you satisfied with this handling?"
Jason gave a small nod. "Good."
That was it. Just one word.But to Robert, it felt like being granted a stay of execution.
Jack, on the other hand, was completely lost.
He'd spent days buttering up Robert—expensive dinners, drinks, karaoke, massages—just to get the man to agree to a minor investment meeting. Even then, Robert had acted like a king doing him a favor.
Yet now…
Here was that same Robert, sweating bullets, stumbling over himself to please Jason Carter.
Jason hadn't said a single thing all night. Not a threat, not even a request.And still, Robert was falling over himself like a dog begging to be petted.
Jack watched, dumbfounded, as Robert poured another glass of wine for Jason with trembling hands.
"Mr. Carter," Robert said with a forced smile, "if there's ever anything else you need from me—anything at all—you just have to say the word."
Jason didn't even look at him.He just stood up, adjusted his cufflinks, and said quietly to Julia, "Let's go."
Julia nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed, and followed him out into the cool night air.
Behind them, the lounge was silent.Jack and Robert exchanged a look—one of confusion, one of terror.
Jack finally muttered, "What the hell is he, man?"
Robert swallowed hard, staring at the door Jason had just walked through."Someone you pray you never piss off."
Robert Lee had just wrapped up Julia's family issue, but his face looked like that of a man begging for forgiveness."Mr. Carter," he said carefully, lowering his head a little, "if there's anything I didn't handle right, please… don't hesitate to tell me."
Jason Carter looked at him for a moment, expression unreadable. Then, he handed Robert a grilled chicken wing from the barbecue rack."You did fine," Jason said evenly. "Just don't cause unnecessary trouble."
Robert bent forward, both hands out, receiving the food as if it were a royal decree."Yes, thank you, Mr. Carter." His voice trembled slightly.
"Good," Jason said, waving him off. "Go handle your own business."
Robert practically bowed before stepping away. He wiped at the sweat on his forehead as soon as he turned his back.
He had originally come tonight to pressure Julia—use her family's small manufacturing problem to get leverage. But now?Now, he'd narrowly escaped with his career—and probably his life—intact.
He didn't know exactly who Jason Carter was, but it was crystal clear that the man wasn't someone you crossed twice. Robert made a silent vow: the people who'd been harassing Julia's family business were finished. He'd make sure of that personally.
"Here," Julia said softly as she sat back down beside Jason. "Eat the ones that are already done. I'll handle the rest."
She smiled gently and passed him a napkin to wipe his hands. Her movements were graceful, her tone warm—like someone who naturally belonged at his side.
To everyone watching, the air between them felt different.
Graceful. Familiar. Intimate.
Jack, standing a few feet away, looked like he'd swallowed a lemon. The girl he'd been chasing for weeks was smiling like that—at another man.
His chest tightened.He'd spent hours networking just to get Robert to agree to come tonight, all to make himself look good in front of Julia. And now?Not only had Jason solved her problem with a single glance, but somehow Jack looked like the fool who'd brought his own rival to dinner.
Am I seriously just here to make him look better? he thought bitterly.
Trying to suppress his frustration, he forced a smile and said, "Hey, Julia. I, uh… actually know a manager from the Observatory Tower renovation project downtown. They're looking for materials—putty, plaster, that kind of stuff. If you come with me tomorrow to meet him, I can help your family's factory land a big order."
Julia blinked, caught off guard by the sudden offer. For a second, she almost forgot he was even still there.
Then, after a pause, she said politely, "Thank you, Jack, but there's really no need. You don't owe me anything, and I don't want to take up your time. It's… not necessary."
Jack's forced smile stiffened. "I just want to help—why would that be a problem?"
Julia shook her head gently."Because it is a problem," she said, voice calm but firm. "We're just classmates. I appreciate the thought, but… please respect some boundaries."
The words landed like a slap.
Jack's face turned red. For a second, he couldn't even breathe. Then, without saying another word, he turned and walked a few paces away, his heart pounding.
But he didn't leave.
He pulled out his phone, staring down at it with trembling fingers. After a deep breath, he called a contact.
"Manager Frank," he said quickly when the other man answered, "hey, have you had lunch yet?"
"Not yet," came the cold reply. "What do you want, Jack?"
Jack forced a laugh that sounded painfully awkward."Ah, it's nothing big. I just remembered—you mentioned the Observatory Tower renovation project last time, right? You said you needed a supplier for wall plaster and putty. I happen to know a local factory that could give you a great deal…"
His tone was overly polite, even a little desperate.
But deep down, he knew.
No matter what deal he made, no matter who he called—he couldn't catch up to that guy sitting at the grill, quietly eating chicken wings like he owned the whole damn city.
Jason took another bite, unaware—or maybe just unconcerned—about the storm of jealousy brewing nearby.
To him, this was just another night.To everyone else, it was a lesson in what true power looked like.
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