Silver Oak Dining sat tucked away in the Riverside District, just close enough to University Town to be convenient, but far enough to feel a little out of reach.
Twenty minutes after leaving, Evan eased the car into a reserved spot right outside the restaurant.
The building didn't try to impress with glass walls or neon lights. It looked more like a private estate—tall stone walls, a quiet entrance, and this immediate sense that you'd left the city behind. Even from the parking lot, the place gave off an air of quiet luxury.
"We're here," Evan said, turning off the engine.
Rose stared at the building, wide-eyed. "This is Silver Oak Dining?" She almost sounded nervous, like she was sure regular people didn't just stroll in.
Evan just nodded. "Yeah."
Rose let out a half-laugh. "If you weren't treating us, I don't think I'd have the guts to even try the door."
That made Evan smile.
They got out, and Emily slipped her arm through his—no hesitation, just natural, like she'd always done it. Isabella, Rose, and Jasmine fell in behind them as they headed for the entrance.
Inside, the place opened up into a stunning courtyard. Stone paths wound between wooden pavilions. Water features trickled quietly. The lighting was soft, warm, and somehow managed to make everything feel both private and open. It was quiet, tasteful, expensive—never flashy.
Evan seemed right at home. Ever since getting the system, places like this didn't shake him anymore. The bill could be sky-high; it wouldn't matter.
Emily walked beside him, all poise and grace, but Evan noticed a tension in her eyes. Isabella's face stayed calm, but she felt the weight of the space. Rose slowed down, clearly overwhelmed. Jasmine's heart thumped in her chest—nervous, excited, maybe a little intimidated.
So this is Silver Oak Dining, Jasmine thought. Is this really only for the rich? She almost pulled out her phone for a picture, but something about the place made her hold back. Taking photos felt wrong here, somehow.
A young woman in a sharp charcoal-gray uniform stepped up to greet them. "Good evening, sir. Welcome to Silver Oak Dining. Do you have a reservation?" She stood tall, smiling just enough—everything about her said polished and professional.
Evan didn't have to say a word for her to pick him out as the one in charge. He answered anyway. "Yes, I have a reservation."
She nodded, gave him a quick once-over. She was attractive—maybe not quite at Emily or Isabella's level, but she'd turn heads anywhere else. Even so, she wasn't special here. Several other staff nearby looked just as poised, just as well put together. It said a lot about Silver Oak Dining.
Yeah, looks like good looks are just the baseline here, Evan thought. No wonder—they probably paid staff way above average.
"May I have the last four digits of your phone number, sir? I'll confirm your private room."
Evan rattled off the number. "Sure."
"Thank you. One moment." She glanced down at her tablet, fingers moving quickly.
Even as she worked, her eyes flicked—almost without thinking—toward Emily and Isabella. She'd been here over six months and seen her share of gorgeous guests. Wealthy clients rarely showed up alone. But these two? They stood out.
Emily gave off this quiet, warm confidence, an easy brightness that never felt forced. Isabella was the opposite—cool, composed, a little distant, but impossible to ignore. Two totally different types, both unforgettable.
Jasmine hung back, her expression tightening. She hadn't expected this. Not just one staff member—almost all of them—were, honestly, prettier than her. It stung. She'd always known she couldn't quite match Emily or Isabella, but she thought she had an edge over most women. Here, she just felt… average. It hurt more than she wanted to admit.
The receptionist finally looked up. "Mr. Evan, your reservation is confirmed. You'll be dining in the Oakview Pavilion. Please follow—"
She stopped as a man in his early thirties approached, suit perfectly tailored, expression calm. His badge read: Manager.
At a place like this, that title meant something.
"I'll take Mr. Evan to Oakview Pavilion," he said, nodding to the receptionist.
He turned to Evan, offered a polite dip of his head. "Good evening, Mr. Evan. I'm Daniel Wright, the floor manager. I'll personally escort you."
He straightened up, barely glancing at Evan's wrist—just a flicker, really. The watch told him everything he needed to know. That settled it. No second-guessing.
Normally, he'd leave escorting guests to the staff. That wasn't his job. But a kid this young, wearing a watch that probably cost more than a house? That deserved a little extra care.
"Oh—of course," the receptionist said, caught off guard for a second. Managers didn't usually walk clients in themselves. That sort of treatment was rare, reserved for VIPs only. She recovered fast and stepped aside.
"Right this way," Daniel said, motioning ahead.
Evan didn't overthink it. He just nodded and followed.
They walked through the restaurant, which felt calm and a bit fancy—soft light, polished wood everywhere, hallways that wrapped around corners to keep things private and quiet.
Daniel stopped in front of a door: Oakview Pavilion, the sign read.
"We're here," he said, opening it with a practiced hand.
Evan walked inside.
The private room was big but not flashy. Muted colors, warm lights, the kind of place that felt expensive without trying too hard. Emily held onto Evan's arm, eyes darting around, clearly curious. Even Isabella looked interested, just for a second.
Silver Oak Dining had earned its reputation—it really was that good.
"Settle in, Mr. Evan," Daniel said. "Your server will be with you soon."
Evan nodded and found his seat. Emily slipped into the chair on his left. Jasmine noticed and quickly took the spot on his right.
A moment later, the server came in to take their orders.
Daniel slipped out quietly.
As he headed back to his office, someone hissed his name from the side.
"Hey—brother!"
He stopped. Of course, he knew that voice.
Claire Wilson, his cousin, hurried over in her work uniform.
"What now?" he asked, rubbing his forehead.
She leaned in, eyes bright with curiosity. "Who's that guy? You walked him in yourself. That never happens. And he's so young! Seriously, who is he?"
Daniel sighed. Claire was still in art school, picking up shifts when she could. He got her the job, and she knew all the unspoken rules.
"That's the thing," he said quietly. "I don't know."
She gawked at him. "You don't know? Then why—"
"Claire."
He cut her off, gentle but firm.
"I mean it. I have no idea who he is. I just know not to treat him like everyone else."
She tugged his arm, trying to coax a clue out of him. "Just a hint! I swear I won't tell."
He pulled away, a little exasperated. "Stop. I'm telling the truth."
Mia pouted, but her eyes just got more curious as she peeked back toward Oakview Pavilion.
"Liar!"
The girl stared at Daniel like he'd grown a second head. She just didn't buy it—how could he not know who Evan was?
"I'm serious," Daniel said, raising his hands like he was surrendering. He could tell his sister wasn't about to let this go, so he switched tactics.
"Look, I really don't know who he is. But the watch he wore? Patek Philippe Nautilus. That thing's worth about $200,000."
He glanced at her, waiting for the number to sink in. "Now you get why I brought him to the private room, right?"
Her jaw dropped. "Two hundred thousand dollars? For a watch?" Her eyes went wide, then she nodded, still a little dazed.
"I get it now," she said.
"Yeah. Honestly, someone that young wearing this type of watch—either he's crazy capable, or his family's loaded. Either way, that's enough for me to give him VIP treatment. Most rich people can't just drop that kind of money on a watch, you know?"
Daniel ruffled her hair. "Alright, any more questions?"
She shook her head. "Nope, that's all."
"Good. I'm heading back to my office," Daniel said, walking away. He still had work piling up.
But just as he reached the door, he paused and whipped out his phone, calling the front desk.
"Give a 10% discount on the private rooms at Oakview Pavilion."
"Yes, manager. Got it," came the reply.
Daniel grunted his approval and hung up.
After that, things just got more and more familiar between us.
…
Inside the private room at Oakview Pavilion, Evan sat flipping through the menu on a tablet. Everyone had one in front of them—pretty high-tech, honestly.
Rose squinted at the screen, then let out a soft gasp.
"Wow… this place is insanely expensive."
She wasn't kidding. Eggs and toast—just the basics—cost enough to make anyone do a double take.
The waitress hovered nearby, standing perfectly straight, her polite smile frozen in place. She didn't react at all.
Evan looked up and noticed Emily, Isabella, and Rose all doing the same thing—just staring at their menus, not saying a word. Clearly, the prices had thrown everyone off.
He tried to play it cool and turned to the waitress. "It's our first time here. Got any recommendations? Don't worry about the price, just tell us what's actually good."
The waitress nodded. "Any dietary restrictions?"
"Nope," Evan said, glancing at the others. "Anyone?"
Emily and Isabella shook their heads.
With that out of the way, the waitress launched into her list—nine different entrées and some fancy signature soup.
"There are five of you," she said, locking eyes with Evan. "This should be more than enough. These are all house specialties."
"Perfect," Evan answered without missing a beat. "Let's do it."
"Great," she replied. "Everything will be ready in about thirty minutes. Thanks for dining with us. Hope you enjoy your evening."
She slipped away as quietly as she'd shown up.
Rose just stared at her tablet, looking like she'd uncovered a crime.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered. "I did the math. That order costs more than a decent vacation—for one meal."
Emily let out a long sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. "It really is a lot. We didn't need to order this much…"
Even knowing Evan had money, spending that much on dinner felt crazy.
Evan just smiled. "Hey, expensive or not, I think it's worth it if the food's good."
Honestly, the price didn't bother him. The system was footing the bill anyway.
He glanced at the others. "And besides, you're Emily's roommates. I wouldn't do this for just anyone."
Emily's face lit up.
Rose nudged her and flashed a grin.
"Emily, Evan really treats you well."
She tried to sound casual, but you could hear a bit of envy slip through. And honestly, who wouldn't feel a little jealous?
Isabella stayed quiet, but her eyes kept drifting back to Evan. She picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and tried to look like she hadn't just been staring.
The waiter had just finished pouring tea for the table.
"Evan," Rose said, her cheeks warming up even as she tried to keep her tone light, "you look really good today. Can I take a few pictures before the food gets here? I want to brag a little online."
Evan smiled, easy as ever. "Go ahead. Take as many as you want."
That was all Rose needed. She jumped up, phone in hand, snapping shots of everyone and everything in the private room. She even threw open the window to catch a few photos of the courtyard.
Evan glanced at her, then turned back to Emily. Just as he started to say something, he felt something brush against his leg under the table.
He raised an eyebrow and looked over. Jasmine's cheeks were a little pink, and she tried to keep her face composed. She usually played the innocent card, never this bold. But this was new—her nerves peeked through, even if she tried to hide it. Still, she didn't pull back.
Money had always seemed like some far-off idea to her, just a number. But now it was right in front of her—one dinner, a ridiculous bill, and Evan didn't even flinch.
This is it, she told herself. This is the life I want.
She pressed her leg more firmly against Evan's under the table, heart pounding. She wasn't about to believe he'd ignore her. She knew she was attractive—maybe not as eye-catching as Emily, but that wasn't her edge. She knew when to act.
In Jasmine's mind, Emily was careful, always holding back. Even if she and Evan were together, Jasmine couldn't see it as anything more than innocent.
That confidence built up—right until it crashed.
Evan quietly moved his leg away.
Jasmine froze. For the first time, doubt flickered in her eyes.