Zurich was different from the cities Ethan was used to.
Cleaner.
Calmer.
But beneath that calm surface was one of the most powerful financial networks in the world.
The private summit took place in a restored historic hotel overlooking the lake. Inside, quiet conversations between investors and founders carried enormous weight.
Ethan stepped into the ballroom wearing a perfectly tailored dark navy suit, simple but precise. He had learned something important already:
The most powerful people rarely dressed to impress.
They dressed to signal confidence.
Aria walked beside him wearing a charcoal blazer and elegant silver earrings, composed and observant.
Cara followed slightly behind in a deep emerald dress, attracting attention without trying.
Almost immediately Ethan felt eyes turning toward him.
Some curious.
Some skeptical.
Some calculating.
But none fully certain who he was.
That was intentional.
Most people in the room had heard his name.
Very few had ever seen him.
His presence carried a strange effect: people whispered quietly, trying to confirm if the young man walking confidently through the room was actually Ethan Cole.
Cara leaned closer.
"They're already talking."
"Good," Ethan said calmly.
At that moment someone approached them.
A tall man in his late twenties with confident posture and relaxed charm.
"Ethan Cole?" he asked.
Ethan nodded slightly.
"Chris Palvin."
He extended a hand.
The name clicked instantly.
Palvin Logistics Group.
A multibillion-dollar international infrastructure company.
Chris smiled.
"My sister insisted we meet you."
"Your sister?" Ethan asked.
Chris gestured across the room.
Standing near a cluster of investors was a woman in a white blazer, speaking calmly with two executives.
"Elena Palvin."
Aria recognized the name immediately.
"She runs half their company now," she said quietly.
Chris chuckled.
"Technically we run it together. Our father left it to us."
Cara tilted her head slightly.
"Multibillion inheritance."
Chris shrugged.
"Comes with responsibility."
Then his eyes shifted toward Aria.
"You must be the strategist I've heard about."
Aria met his gaze calmly.
"I suppose that depends who you've been talking to."
Chris smiled.
"I like confident people."
Across the room, Elena Palvin finished her conversation and began walking toward them.