New York City.
The Olles Hotel.
The Olles was one of New York City’s premier five-star hotels, an establishment renowned for its extravagance and exclusivity.
Even the cheapest rooms cost several thousand dollars a night.
Anyone who stayed here was either extraordinarily wealthy or remarkably influential.
Over the years, the hotel had become a symbol of status, attracting some of the city’s richest and most powerful people.
Its restaurant was equally prestigious, renowned for cuisine worthy of three Michelin stars.
Securing a private dining room required more than money alone.
Guests needed either considerable wealth or the connections and social standing to gain access.
As New York City’s wealthy elite continued to grow, the hotel had become increasingly selective.
Money could open many doors, but at the Olles, reputation and influence mattered just as much.
“Wow, so this is the Olles Hotel!
The place really lives up to its reputation!”
“Look at that bear’s head mounted on the wall!
Do you think it’s real?
And those paintings and decorations look incredibly expensive!”
“If this were an ordinary hotel, I’d suspect half of it was fake.
But this is the Olles.
They wouldn’t put on such a show with cheap imitations!”
“I heard every dish here costs thousands of dollars.
A single meal could easily run into tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands!
My annual salary wouldn’t cover dinner here.
The gap between rich and ordinary people is ridiculous!”
“Tens of thousands?
That’s practically the starting price!
For some of the people who dine here, spending hundreds of thousands on a meal is perfectly normal.
Some even spend millions.
They say one dinner here can cost as much as a house down payment.
But what can ordinary people like us do?
We can only admire them from afar!”
“Honestly, if I hadn’t known a wealthy classmate, I probably never would’ve had the chance to set foot in this hotel!”
“Exactly!
And it’s not just Adrian Cross.
Claire Bennett is just as impressive.
I heard her family’s wealth and influence are on par with his.
Adrian organized this reunion partly because he wants to win her over!”
“I knew Adrian came from a powerful family, but I had no idea Claire’s background was so extraordinary.
Who would’ve thought our university’s campus beauty would turn out to be such a major figure?
Amazing!”
The former classmates continued marveling at the hotel’s opulence as they entered the lobby.
Some had made considerable progress in their careers over the past two years, but hearing about Adrian and Claire’s wealth and influence left them feeling insignificant by comparison.
No matter how hard they worked or how respectable their family backgrounds were, bridging that gap would be nearly impossible.
“Frank, I heard you’re working for Adrian now.
Is that true?”
“That’s right!”
Frank Doyle nodded, unable to conceal his pride.
“Then how much are you making these days?”
A female classmate asked curiously.
“Nothing too impressive,” Frank replied casually, adjusting his tie.
“Just over $800,000 a month.”
“Holy cow!”
“Eight hundred thousand dollars a month?
That’s more than nine million a year!”
“Frank, you’ve really struck gold!”
The old classmates stared at him in disbelief, their envy impossible to hide.
More than $800,000 a month!
That was over $9 million a year.
Plenty of people would never accumulate that much money in their entire lives.
“So, that’s why I invited you all today,” Frank said, adopting the air of a generous mentor.
“I’m giving you an opportunity to improve your lives.
Whether you can seize it depends on your own luck!”
Just then, a Rolls-Royce glided toward the hotel entrance and came to a stop.
The classmates’ eyes immediately lit up.
They knew the guest of honor had arrived, and they hurried forward with eager smiles.
“Everyone!
It’s been a long time.
How have you all been?”
The chauffeur stepped out and respectfully opened the rear door.
A handsome young man emerged, impeccably dressed, with a confident bearing and a hint of roguish charm in his eyes.
Adrian Cross.
He was the sole heir to the Cross Group, one of New York City’s most powerful business empires.
His family controlled assets worth more than $100 billion, while his personal fortune exceeded $10 billion.
That kind of wealth gave him plenty of reasons to be confident.
“Adrian!
It’s been two years, and you look even better than before!”
“Hahaha!
What an honor to see you again!”
The classmates quickly surrounded him, showering him with compliments and eager greetings.
For most of them, this was a rare opportunity to build a connection with someone so wealthy and influential.
Naturally, they intended to make the most of it.
If they could secure even a fraction of the opportunities Frank had received, they would be celebrating for years!
Adrian smiled and exchanged pleasantries with his former classmates, but his attention remained elsewhere.
Every so often, he glanced toward the road behind them, waiting for someone in particular.
About five minutes later, a taxi pulled up outside the hotel.
A graceful young woman stepped out, wearing a simple white dress and a beige sun hat.
Her outfit was understated, but the moment she turned toward the entrance, the surrounding classmates fell silent.
Several stared in open amazement.
Her lips were naturally rosy, her face flawless, and her delicate features seemed almost too beautiful to be real.
Her figure was equally striking, with every curve perfectly balanced.
For a moment, it felt as though a goddess had stepped into the hotel lobby.
Claire Bennett.
She had been the undisputed campus beauty of their university.
Back in college, her looks had attracted countless admirers, from wealthy heirs and privileged students to successful businessmen from outside the university.
Men had pursued her relentlessly, yet every single one had been turned down.
At the time, people had assumed she was simply too proud to give any of them a chance.
Some even predicted that she would eventually regret rejecting so many wealthy suitors.
Now, however, they understood how wrong they had been.
Claire didn’t need to marry into a wealthy family.
Her own family was already extraordinarily powerful, and she had become an impressive woman in her own right.
Two years after graduation, she had also grown more mature and elegant.
The youthful innocence she once carried had gradually given way to a more captivating charm, making her even more striking than before.
Adrian finally broke into a satisfied smile.
“Claire!”
He walked straight toward her, greeting her warmly.
“I’m glad you could make it.”
“Mhm.”
Claire gave him a polite nod, her expression calm and reserved.
Then she turned toward her former classmates, and her face brightened with a genuine smile.
“It’s wonderful to see everyone again!”
Despite her family’s wealth and status, Claire remained friendly and approachable toward the people she had known at university.
She showed no desire to put herself above them.
Beep!
Beep!
Suddenly, another car pulled up behind the taxi.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound.
The moment they recognized the vehicle, their eyes widened once again.
A Bugatti Veyron!
ENJOYING THE STORY SO FAR?
WANT MORE CHAPTERS AND CONSISTENT UPDATES?