Right when he started getting cozy with the girls, another group approached.
They weren't loud or flashy, but it was obvious—they came from wealth. Old money.
Leading the group was a tall guy. Black hair. Monolid eyes. A small nose that barely moved when he talked.
He looked young, maybe early twenties.
"Camila, how about you introduce us to your new friend?"
She gave a small smile, eyes turning away like she rather be anywhere else than talk to him.
Still, she tried her best to act casual.
"This is Terrence. He's new around here." she introduced.
"Terrence, this is Robert Lee. His family owns this hotel, and he's next in line to run Dragon Hotels and Casinos."
The young Asian man looked him over casually, not hostile—just curious.
But when he saw Camila looking a bit too close, he showed signs of annoyance.
"Nice to meet you," Robert greeted with a smile, but there was a slight tension in how he speak.
It became clear when they shook hands. He tried to show off by tightening his grip, maybe thinking it would make him look tougher.
Terrence just scoffed in his mind and ignored it completely.
He kept a straight face the whole time, until this so-called hotel mogul finally gave up and let go.
"Camila, about what I said earlier..." Robert turned to her. "You know I meant it, right? I don't just say stuff like that."
Now it made sense—why he was trying so hard to act dominant, especially in front of a new face who was too friendly with his crush.
She pulled back a little, eyes drifting away from his.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she offered a faint, strained smile.
"Can you just... give me a bit more time? I need to think."
Robert's smile faded just a little. "Sure...Take all the time you need."
The way he said it wasn't patient; it was more like a warning dressed up as politeness.
Stepping back, he let his gaze linger on Terrence a few seconds longer than necessary.
"Here's a piece of advice—don't do anything stupid."
Terrence almost laughed at how arrogant Robert was—completely unaware he was facing someone who could snap his neck with one punch.
"I'll keep that in mind.."
After the group walked away, Georgina turned to Camila with a raised eyebrow. "Why didn't you just say yes?"
She bit her lip, "I don't like him. You remember what happened before, right? He tried to force himself on me."
"Yeah, but it was just a kiss. You don't need to make such a big deal out of it," Georgina said with a shrug.
Camila rolled her eyes. They were best friends, but completely different in many levels. Unlike her friend, she was more sensitive—shaped by growing up in a strict household.
"Wait, I have a great idea!" Georgina exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
"Just let Terrence fake being your boyfriend. Instant excuse, no drama. Total win-win."
He almost wanted to smack her for talking like that, but he stayed quiet. He was here to build bridges, not burn them.
But when he turned around, he saw Camila actually considering the idea.
Luckily, she just shook her head, sparing him from a drama-filled scene where a rich kid sends goons to rough him up.
If it ever came to that, he was ready to show everyone who the real boss was.
Currently, even a group of trained marines would be easy for him to take down in hand-to-hand combat.
Not even the strongest man alive could beat him in strength.
This was the difference between someone who used mana to train their body and those who didn't.
But his fighting skills were a story for another time. He would rather not use them unless absolutely necessary.
"Should we get out of here?" Camila asked. She wasn't in the mood to hang out anymore.
That was bad news. He only came here to meet rich kids who might invest in his pyramid scheme.
Fortunately, the ever-party-ready Georgina shook her head.
"No way," she shook her head strongly. "Let's have some fun. Running away from that jerk won't solve anything."
With that, Georgina pulled him toward another group. Camila let out a tired sigh and followed behind.
This time, the vibe was different. More relaxed.
One of the guys dressed in designer streetwear, with braids hanging past his shoulders, grinned wide and pulled Terrence into a hug like they been friends forever.
"Ayy, my dude! Lovin' the ride, man, real talk. You tryna be in one of my music videos or what?"
Terrence smirked and bumped fists with him.
"Only if I get a cut of the views," he played along. "Can't be showing' off my face for free."
The group laughed, already starting to warm up to him.