Ethan chuckled. "Not surprising. Travel influencers have huge opportunities with sponsorships, book deals, and brand partnerships. If he plays his cards right, he could make more than some A-list actors."
Zack exhaled sharply. "Must be nice."
Ethan smirked. "We’re doing just fine."
Zack scoffed. "Fine? We’re killing it."
They both laughed, the conversation shifting into casual banter about future plans and upcoming projects.
Ethan appreciated these moments — Zack was one of the few people he could talk to without the conversation turning into corporate jargon or forced pleasantries.
After another fifteen minutes, Zack glanced at his watch and stretched. "Alright, I’m heading out. Gotta get some sleep if I’m going to deal with all the logistics tomorrow."
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, I’ll head out too."
They both stood, and Zack gave him a lazy salute before walking toward the door.
Ethan followed, rolling his shoulders as they stepped outside into the crisp night air.
The parking lot was nearly empty now, just a few cars scattered around under the glow of streetlights.
Ethan’s Porsche was parked near the entrance, sleek and waiting.
He fished his keys out of his pocket, already reaching for the car door when —
"Boo!"
"Shit!"
Ethan’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he spun around, his pulse spiking.
Standing just a few feet away, grinning like a damn menace, was Vanessa.
She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh my god, you should’ve seen your face!"
Ethan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. "You scared the hell out of me."
"That was the point," she said, still laughing. "I’ve been waiting here for, like, five minutes just for the perfect moment."
Ethan narrowed his eyes at her. "You need a new hobby."
Vanessa smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Please, you’re the only one around here worth messing with. Everyone else is too serious."
Ethan shook his head, but he couldn’t stop the small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "You’re lucky I didn’t punch you out of reflex."
"Oh, please." She rolled her eyes. "You knew deep down that it was me."
He sighed, finally recovering from the shock. "Where the hell were you all day? I didn’t see you causing your usual amount of trouble."
Vanessa shrugged. "I was… around. Enjoying life. Making sure I didn’t get roped into anything boring."
Ethan scoffed. "So, avoiding actual work?"
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
"Obviously." She grinned.
Ethan smirked, shaking his head. "You’re unbelievable."
She leaned against the hood of his Porsche, tilting her head slightly. "So, where are you heading now?"
"Home," Ethan said simply. "It’s been a long day."
Vanessa gave him a knowing look. "You’re not going to sleep, though, are you?"
He didn’t answer.
She laughed. "Knew it. Workaholic."
"Dedicated," Ethan corrected.
Vanessa pushed off his car, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, try not to overdo it. You might actually turn into a robot at this rate."
Ethan smirked. "Noted."
She gave him a mock salute before stepping back. "Alright, I’ll leave you to it. Drive safe, boss."
Ethan rolled his eyes at the ’boss’ comment but didn’t argue.
He got into his car, finally allowing himself to relax as he gripped the wheel.
As he started the engine, he glanced at Vanessa through the window — she was still standing there, hands on her hips, watching as if expecting him to say something else.
Instead, he just gave her a slight wave before pulling out of the lot.
Vanessa’s playful grin was the last thing he saw before he drove off into the night.
Ethan gripped the steering wheel as he cruised down the quiet city road, the hum of his Porsche blending into the night.
The neon glow of streetlights reflected off the car’s sleek surface, casting fleeting streaks of light across the windshield.
He wasn’t in a hurry, but his mind was restless, replaying the events of the day. There was always something to think about, always something demanding his attention.
As he passed through the downtown district, his gaze flickered toward a towering building that loomed over the street.
Newton Corp. The name was emblazoned in bold letters on the side, illuminated by bright white lights against the deep blue of the night sky.
Ethan exhaled sharply, barely resisting the urge to scoff.
’Figures.’
Newton Corp. was one of the biggest corporate entities in the city, a conglomerate with its hands in everything — real estate, finance, tech, tourism.
Maybe if it was before, he would have considered joining them but now?
He wasn’t interested.
Ethan had received more than a few offers from them today — calls through Zack, emails and chatting the ’ATLAS’ Postgram DM, even an in-person meeting request that he had promptly declined.
He knew their type after all he had worked there.
Where they saw potential and success, they wanted to consume it.
He could already imagine what they had planned — acquire ATLAS, strip away its identity, and turn it into another soulless corporate venture under the Newton brand. Like others had been.
Shaking his head, he drove past the building, gripping the wheel a little tighter than before.
[Newton Corp. – Top Floor Office]
At the very top of the skyscraper, in a luxurious office lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, Ryan Caldwell sat with his legs crossed, his fingers tapping idly on the armrest of his chair.
The glow from his office lamp cast long shadows across the room, blending with the soft city lights filtering through the windows.
His phone vibrated on the sleek black desk in front of him.
He sighed.
Another decline from Ethan Grey.
Ryan already knew the answer before he even checked.
He had his secretary reach out once again, though he doubted the response would be any different from the last ten times.
Still, it irritated him.
He was a man who recognized potential when he saw it.
He didn’t just make blind investments or acquisitions — Newton Corp. was built on careful, calculated moves. And ATLAS? That was something worth acquiring like some other businesses he had seen.
Ethan’s resort was only going to get bigger.
Ryan had been watching its rise from the sidelines.
The numbers were climbing at a ridiculous rate, even more so than Newton in it’s prime.
The exclusivity of ATLAS, the branding, the sheer appeal of it — Ethan had created something that stood out. It wasn’t just another high-end resort.
It had its own identity, something that tourists, influencers, and VIP guests gravitated toward.
And that was exactly why Ryan wanted it under Newton Corp.
But Ethan Grey wasn’t budging. Deep down, he knew the reason why and he almost felt tempted to shout at the people that had caused him to lose this opportunity.
Ryan’s jaw tightened slightly as he picked up the phone, swiping through the emails from his team.
Some advised aggressive negotiations. Others suggested waiting for ATLAS to hit a financial bottleneck before swooping in with an offer Ethan wouldn’t be able to refuse.
But Ethan wasn’t stupid.
The man was young, but he was sharp. He knew exactly what Newton Corp. wanted, and he wasn’t falling for the usual tactics.