The car rolled to a smooth stop, tires crunching softly on gravel. Amelia blinked, peering through the open window. They were parked in front of a massive, perfectly spherical glass building that gleamed like a giant crystal ball under the floodlights. Forty minutes on the road had flown by...she could have kept driving forever, basking in the hidden city that sprawled beneath the surface neon-lit tunnels, impossible skyscrapers hoisted up, gleaming in the fake sun, streets that curved like rivers of light. She had so many questions burning on her tongue.
How the hell does all this fit down here?
But she swallowed it. Some secrets weren't meant to be asked, especially not on day one in Jake's world. And something told her that if she actually asked, Jake would spill it out nonetheless and she couldn't trust herself with that information so...she kept her mouth shut and tight,
"Come on, Rainbow. Let's go inside," Jake said, voice low and amused, like he could hear every thought bouncing around her skull.
She snapped out of her daze. Outside the car stretched what looked like a private, deserted avenue_no people, no traffic, just this lone glass orb rising from the dark like a moon that had fallen to earth. Higher Heights, with its sterile towers and joyless suits, felt a million miles away, it was a literally souless city where everyone was overly serious and conserved. She smiled despite herself. Meeting Jake had been the best kind of accident.
He stepped out, circled the car, and offered his hand. Amelia took it, letting him hoist her up and over the console in one effortless pull..his strength still ridiculous, still unfairly hot. She landed lightly beside him, rolling her eyes on reflex. She knew exactly how strong those arms were; he'd shown her, thoroughly, on nights that still made her cheeks burn when she remembered.
Jake kept her hand in his and led her toward the entrance. "Welcome to my humble abode, my sweet."
Amelia's jaw dropped. The gag that escaped her throat was half-laugh, half-disbelief. Humble? This thing looked like a billionaire's snow globe designed by a mad genius. Steel beams framed the glass in elegant spirals; soft lights pulsed from within like a heartbeat. She'd known he owned streets—literally—but this? This was next-level.
Three figures waited just inside the automatic doors, standing in perfect formation. Three drop-dead gorgeous women or at least, that's what Amelia thought for half a second. Tailored suits hugged their frames like they'd been painted on, curves for days, cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass.
"Welcome home, Master," they said in eerie, beautiful unison.
Jake nodded with an easy smile. Amelia's stomach did a jealous flip. She folded her arms, face scrunched, and took a deliberate step back.
He tugged her forward anyway, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Relax. These are my secretaries: Mark, Nuel, and Nile." He pointed left to right.
"Ladies, this is Amelia Jones. My girlfriend."
The air temperature dropped ten degrees. Three pairs of perfectly lined eyes narrowed into slits sharp enough to slice diamonds. Amelia felt the bloodlust roll off them in waves. Her spine shrank two inches.
"Uh—uh, not girlfriend!" she blurted, smacking Jake's back in panic. "Work in progress, people! Still in beta!"
The murderous aura vanished as quickly as it appeared. The tension melted into polite, dazzling smiles.
"Welcome, Amelia," they chorused, voices like honey over velvet.
She exhaled, shaky. Then curiosity won. "Okay, real question—why the guy names? No offense."
Mark, the tallest, flashed a megawatt grin. "Because we're men, darling."
"Fem boys, technically," Nuel added with a playful wink.
Amelia's eyes went wide. "Oh my God, you're stunning."
"Thank you," they sang together, perfectly synced.
Jake chuckled. "Don't let the pretty faces fool you. They rank second only to the Manore trio in my organization. Deadly as they are gorgeous."
Nile snapped his fingers in rapid-fire flair. "That part."
Jake tugged her along. "Come on, let me show you my room."
Amelia waved awkwardly at the trio as they vanished down a glass corridor that reflected a thousand versions of her stunned face. Whatever world Jake ruled down here, it was bigger, wilder, and way more fabulous than anything Higher Heights had ever offered.
And she was officially in too deep.