The penthouse suite felt... different in the morning.
Sunlight spilled through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the sleek marble floors and modern furniture in a soft golden hue. The skyline stretched far beyond the glass, a breathtaking view of New York waking up—skyscrapers casting long shadows as the city buzzed below with mundanes going about their routines.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, mingling with faint traces of expensive perfume from the previous night. The place was pristine, yet the memories were far from it.
Parker stood at the door, gripping the handle a beat longer than necessary. He'd expected tension. Awkwardness. Maybe even regret.
But as he stepped inside, it was the exact opposite.
Ava, Claire, and Alina were curled up on the massive L-shaped couch, all wearing oversized hotel robes, laughing loudly at some reality show blaring from the massive flat-screen TV. No flushed faces. No nervous stares. Just... comfort. The specs of MILFs. Mature. Experienced. Collected.
Cassidy sat apart from them, perched at the glass dining table, laser-focused on his laptop, fingers tapping away with sharp precision. Her dark hair fell messily over one shoulder, a coffee mug untouched beside her. She hadn't even glanced up yet, but he could feel her awareness—like she knew every step he took the moment he entered.
And the three women on the couch? They barely noticed him.
Ava met his eyes first, a warm smile blooming on her lips. Not flirty. Not teasing. Just... welcoming. "Hey, there you are," she said, sipping her coffee. Claire waved lazily without looking up from the TV. Alina grinned and stretched, completely relaxed.
Parker blinked. "Well... What the hell..."
Had they forgotten? No, that was impossible. He could see it—the subtle way Ava's gaze lingered half a second too long, the slight curve of Claire's lips when she caught his eye. Something had shifted.
Not just for what had happened last night. For him. He almost felt off balance. The words nearly slipped out—Do you remember what happened?—but he bit them back. This... this was better.
"Good morning," he finally said, keeping his voice steady as he set a fresh bag with his clothes near the door. He was already dressed, but he had to keep moving to distract himself. "Everyone sleep well?"
Ava's lips quirked, her eyes sparkling. "Like a baby. Cassidy, though? She didn't. I bet she kept pacing like a hawk all night watching over us."
Cassidy didn't look up, voice cool. "Someone had to keep an eye on you drunkards."
Alina snorted, bumping Claire. "We weren't that bad."
Cassidy shot them a look over the top of the screen.
"...Okay, maybe we were," Claire admitted, laughing.
Parker exhaled, finally forcing himself to focus. He adjusted his cufflinks and crossed the room, planting himself at the head of the dining table. The laughter settled slightly, eyes shifting toward him.
He gestured toward the laptop Cassidy was using. "Everything ready?"
Cassidy nodded, finally closing the screen. "Infinity Holdings is officially established only just a bussiness building is left. All necessary accounts created. Shell companies routed. It's secure. Completely untouchable."
Ava blinked. "Already? That was fast."
Cassidy's eyes narrowed slightly, sharp as ever. "I'm fast."
Parker gave a faint smirk but kept his focus. "Good. Because it's time to fund it properly." He reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his phone. Finally recovered. With a few swift taps, he initiated the transfer.
Thirty billion dollars.
Cassidy asked"Thirty Billion?"
Claire choked on her coffee. "Wait—wait, did you just say—?"
"Thirty?" Alina echoed, wide-eyed.
The numbers flashed on the screen. Clean. Instant. $30,000,000,000.00 deposited successfully into Infinity Holdings.
Cassidy didn't gasp. She didn't choke. She simply stared after her question.
Because she knew Parker's past. Thirty billions weren't as much as they had ever seen but from this boy? That was beyond anything to be expected.
Ava was the first to speak, voice slightly breathless. "That's... that's more money than most Fortune 500 companies earn in a year, Parker."
He shrugged like it was nothing, locking his phone. "Get used to it."
Silence. They should indeed! Then Claire whispered, "Are we even supposed to be in the same room as his?"
Parker's lips twitched, but he stayed serious. "Now that Infinity Holdings is funded, we need to clarify roles. You're not just here for show."
The three women exchanged glances.
Parker leaned back, voice calm but direct. "You're going to be the board. The faces of Infinity Holdings when it comes to real estate dealings. That means public meetings, contracts, and media presence if ever needed. I'll stay behind the scenes. Understand?"
Ava nodded slowly. "And... salary?"
He gave a half-smile, already prepared for that.
"A million. Each. Monthly!"
Alina's jaw dropped. Claire opened her mouth, shut it, then opened it again.
"Each?" Ava echoed, voice barely above a whisper. Cassidy arched a brow but said nothing.
"Yes," Parker continued. "Except for Cassidy, since you're also handling strategic oversight and acting as my private fixer, yours will be $2 million be ready for the trouble that comes with being my immediate contact in case of anything."
Cassidy's lips finally parted, blinking in genuine surprise.
"You can take it or leave it," Parker added, voice just a touch smug.
Ava recovered first, her expression still caught between disbelief and awe. "You're serious." He nodded.
"You're paying us all... before we've even done anything?" Claire said, blinking rapidly.
Parker's gaze sharpened. "I'm paying you to secure your loyalty. I want your best work, and I want you to understand this isn't a job. It's an investment. You're free to work only for me. If that number's not enough—"
"No!" Ava blurted, hands up. "No. It's... more than enough."
Alina nodded rapidly. "Way more."
Cassidy, still watching him, finally gave a slow exhale. "...Alright, Parker. I see what you're doing." He met her gaze evenly.
"Good," he said quietly.
Ava cleared her throat, the tension finally melting into something lighter. "So... about Summit & Wolfe. Are we still buying in?"
Parker nodded. "Yes. Cassidy and you will handle the details under Infinity Holdings. Same setup. Anonymous. Ava, you'll front it. Make it clean, no need to make it loud. I don't want people talking but if you want that, just keep me out."
Cassidy smirked faintly. "Consider it done."
And just like that, the chaos from the night before was forgotten.
But Parker knew better.
The way they looked at him now?
Everything had changed.