The sleek black sedan glided into the driveway of a quiet, tree-lined suburban neighborhood, a stark contrast to the towering glass and concrete of the financial district. Jake stepped out of the backseat, nodding a brief dismissal to Elias, who kept the engine idling just long enough to ensure Jake made it to the front porch safely.
Unlocking the door, Jake expected the quiet, empty stillness of a weekday evening. Instead, the smell of clean laundry and the distant sound of a television met him.
Walking into the living room, he found Aliya curled up on the sofa, her laptop balanced precariously on her knees and a half-empty bag of chips resting beside her.
Jake stopped in the doorway, arching an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a perfectly good apartment next to campus?"
Aliya didn't even look up from her screen, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. "Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Billionaire. Am I not allowed to visit my own parents' house now?"
