The clink of silver on glass was the only sound for a heartbeat after Jake's question. Leon, ever the social chameleon, felt the temperature in the room plummet and immediately shifted into damage-control mode.
He had intended for the gate incident to be a minor hazing ritual—a way to see if the 'new kid' would fold under a little bureaucratic pressure—but seeing the Silver Tier membership card resting on the table like a silent threat made him realize he'd overplayed his hand. Jake wasn't just navigating the system; he was rewriting it in real-time.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves with the heavy vintage stuff just yet," Leon said, his laugh sounding a bit more forced than usual as he signaled the waiter. He leaned back, spreading his arms to encompass the table. "Jake, I realize I haven't properly introduced the circle. We're all friends here, despite the rocky start."
