Nathan checked his reflection in the restaurant's darkened window.
Shirt ironed. Collar sharp. No stains. For once.
The blazer wasn't his. Neither was the shirt. Some friend-of-a-friend had loaned them after Nathan pitched the word networking. Technically true. Technically not.
He smoothed his hair and took a breath.
Dinner with Evelyn Moreau.
Not a pitch. Not a boardroom ambush.
Just dinner.
Still, Nathan didn't trust it. Evelyn wasn't the type to offer things for free. If she invited you somewhere, it was because she wanted something—or wanted to test if you could survive what came next.
The doorman nodded as he stepped through the entrance. Inside, the restaurant looked like a museum of taste. Dim lighting. White candles. Every table had too much space, as if personal bubbles were part of the price. Low music filled the air like perfume.
Nathan spotted her instantly.
Corner booth. Back to the wall. Wine glass in hand. Gown simple, black, and devastating. Her hair was pinned up tonight, her posture as precise as ever.
No laptop. No assistant. Just Evelyn.
She looked calm.
He didn't feel the same.
"Right on time," she said without checking the clock.
"You look…" Nathan hesitated. Not dangerous. Not cold. Not like she was about to fire someone. "Different."
She raised an eyebrow. "Try again."
He grinned. "You look like someone trying really hard not to fire someone."
That earned the smallest smile. Barely there—but real.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Evelyn's Guard Lowered – +4 Interest]
Nathan took the seat across from her. The table was already set. The cutlery weighed more than his phone. He reached for the water glass—just to do something with his hands.
"I thought this wasn't business," he said.
"It's not," she replied, eyes calm. "I already know what you can offer on paper. Tonight, I want to see what you're like off it."
He paused. "And if I disappoint you?"
"I've already been disappointed by better men."
He laughed softly. "Then that makes me the underdog. At least I've got room to impress."
"You're confident," she said, examining him like a portfolio. "For someone with nothing."
"Exactly. When you lose everything, fear stops being useful. It's like going skydiving without a parachute—scary once. After that, you start thinking about how to land better next time."
She tilted her head slightly, intrigued.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Trust Threshold Reached – Evelyn sees you as genuine]
The waiter came by, offered no menus. Just delivered. Clearly pre-planned. Clearly her doing.
Perfectly plated food arrived—steak, risotto, a garnish Nathan couldn't name. He hadn't eaten this well in months. His stomach wanted to devour everything, but his pride told him to take it slow.
Evelyn sipped her wine, watching him more than the food.
"You're not what I expected, Nathan," she said eventually. "You fell hard, but you still have this… edge."
"Desperation sharpens people," he replied. "Or breaks them."
"I know which one you were," she said, then added quietly, "but I was curious if you'd stay that way."
Nathan nodded. "This curiosity—does it come with a price tag?"
She smiled over the rim of her glass. "It might come with a challenge."
The wine was good. The silence between them even better. It wasn't awkward—it was calculated, like two poker players waiting to see who flinched first.
Nathan looked around the restaurant. Expensive people in expensive clothes, having expensive conversations. He didn't belong here.
But Evelyn had invited him.
And that meant something.
After dinner, they stepped out into the night. The city lights gleamed like temptation. Evelyn's heels clicked softly against the pavement as they walked toward the valet.
The air was cool, but she didn't seem to feel it. Nathan shoved his hands into his pockets to stop them from fidgeting.
"You said this wasn't business," he said, "but it felt a little like an interview."
"It was," she replied, voice casual. "And you didn't fail."
He glanced at her. "High praise from someone who used to call me a clown."
"You've grown," she said. "Or maybe… you've remembered who you used to be."
They stopped near her car. Sleek. Black. Probably worth more than his entire failed startup.
"I have a project," she continued. "Small, but important. A boutique hotel we're launching next quarter. The logistics are a mess. Too many moving parts. Too many incompetent hands."
"And you want me to clean it up?"
"I want to see if you still know how to lead without everything falling apart."
Nathan took a breath. Then nodded. "Consider me in."
Evelyn finally looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Good."
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Side Quest Unlocked – Project: Aurora Hotel]
[Mission: Deliver a working proposal within 14 days]
[Reward: +200 Tycoon Points | Skill Boost – Project Management I]
She opened the car door, but paused before stepping in.
"One more thing."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
She glanced down at his jacket. "Don't wear that next time."
He smirked. "Don't serve the same wine."
A flicker of something in her expression. Amusement. Maybe approval.
Then she got in. The door shut.
Nathan stood by the curb, heart still catching up with the night.
A project to lead.
A second chance he didn't think he'd get.
It wasn't just charm anymore. Or clever lines.
This was real now.
And the game?
It had officially begun.