Here, for your brain.

Gibson raised an eyebrow and offered a mischievous grin, "Or maybe... it's just because he's ridiculously good-looking?"

"Oh, please! Not everyone's as shameless as you are!" Gabrielle retorted. "The news said he's from the capital, a real power hub, and he's quite young too!"

As Sonia enjoyed her meal, her thoughts were on how to connect with such influential figures. Given her current status, rubbing shoulders with such heavyweights seemed nearly impossible. Even high-ranking officials were lining up for a chance to meet him, and she hadn't even caught a glimpse of him yet.

Gibson, sensing her frustration, teased, "Is that why you're all doom and gloom?"

"Well, why else? The north of the city is the last undeveloped area in Starfall City. Securing a plot there could be a game-changer."

"That's easy to fix. Knock off a hundred billion, and I'll sort it for you," Gibson offered with a sly smile, as if bartering on a grand scale was everyday banter.

A hundred billion for a chance! If he were Sonia, he'd agree in a heartbeat—it's not like those trillions he supposedly owes are anything more than numbers in the air anyway!

"Are you for real?" they both eyed him incredulously.

Ignoring their skepticism, Gibson sighed in resignation. "I'm serious! How about you wipe my debt to the Juarez family, and in return, I'll make sure they rise to the top of Starfall City's corporate elite. Sounds like a deal?"

The women exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"Are you out of your mind?!" they laughed. "A security guard? Even if you were capable, do you even grasp how much a hundred billion is?"

Gibson just shrugged, used to their disbelief. "A hundred billion? That used to be table change for me!" A hundred billion for a chance! If he were Sonia, he'd agree in a heartbeat—it's not like those trillions he supposedly owes are anything more than numbers in the air anyway!

"Are you for real?" they both eyed him incredulously.

Ignoring their skepticism, Gibson sighed in resignation. "I'm serious! How about you wipe my debt to the Juarez family, and in return, I'll make sure they rise to the top of Starfall City's corporate elite. Sounds like a deal?"

The women exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"Are you out of your mind?!" they laughed. "A security guard? Even if you were capable, do you even grasp how much a hundred billion is?"

Gibson just shrugged, used to their disbelief. "A hundred billion? That used to be table change for me!"

As they continued to mock him, oblivious to the fact that the 'big shot' they were discussing was actually Gibson himself, he just shook his head. Some lessons can only be learned the hard way.

"Sonia, consider this—our young big shot has quickly risen to wield immense power. Since his arrival, he's had the final say in all military affairs in Starfall City. Not just here, but even provincial leaders have come to Starfall to greet him!" Gabrielle gushed, clearly smitten. "A catch like that, if he were my husband, I'd hand over all of northern Starfall to you and the Juarez family!"

"Cough, cough!" At Gibson's provocative comment, he almost choked on his drink. "Don't even go there—he's not into the bimbo type. He prefers women with brains. You'd be dismissed on sight!"

"You don't know anything! Plenty of powerful people find me attractive. You talk as if you're some big shot," Gabrielle snapped, giving him a piercing look.

"I actually am," he retorted confidently.

"Why don't you take a long look in the mirror and tell me if you're really cut out for that?" she scoffed.

"Wanna bet?" he challenged.

Silence fell.

Even though Gabrielle was certain Gibson wasn't the high-profile celebrity constantly featured on TV, for some reason, she lacked the confidence to take the bet.

"Please, the guy's rich and handsome!"

Gabrielle just smirked and turned away, "Yeah, he is quite handsome."

Gibson looked over at Sonia with a casual smile. "I see you're smitten with me, wanting to keep me tied to the Juarez family, huh? You're a bit greedy, aren't you? If I were you, I'd settle for making Wind Group a billion-dollar company. That's more solid than chasing trillions!"

He was quite straightforward. A simple nod from Sonia, and a call to Phoebe could secure the best plots of land in the north of the city for Wind Group. Of course, that meant clearing the debts first.

"Me, like you?" Sonia gave him a cold laugh. "Just because you cook well and have a cheeky charm? What makes you so confident?"

"It's because I'm handsome!"

"I should smack that smugness right off your face!"

See, that's the thing about trust—it's nowhere when you need it most. Tell the truth, and nobody believes you; tell a lie, and it's taken as gospel.

Forget whether he's the televised big shot or not; with Gibson's clout, a single phone call could clinch the deal for the Juarez family.

Ah, women, often blinded by appearances, failing to realize that sometimes a little humility could get them everything they want without having to beg around.

"I get that you think I'm up to something, but let's be clear. No matter how smart or capable you were before, now you're just someone with a past. If you played it straight, maybe you could make a comeback, but as it stands now..."

Sonia shook her head in dismay, her eyes filled with regret.

Once a formidable genius, now he seemed trapped in his own world, unable to escape. If life hadn't thrown him so many curveballs, he might have been something special.

"Seriously, are all you women this stubborn?" Gibson couldn't help but laugh, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "I'm trying to help the Juarez family, and here you are, thinking I'm plotting against you?"

"And what else should I think?" she retorted.

"You're not just the least impressive woman I've met, but also the most conceited! This little game you're playing isn't cutting it. Still, I'll offer you a chance to chase me—just a chance, mind you."

Sonia was speechless.

Gabrielle, who was listening, couldn't help but double over laughing. She didn't understand where his bizarre confidence came from. "Forget chasing Sonia, chase me! I'm easygoing. Don't I look pretty?"

"You?" Gibson gave her a once-over and burst into laughter.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? Am I not pretty?" Gabrielle puffed her cheeks, visibly annoyed.

"The world's never short of pretty faces, but it's always in need of smart ones." He scribbled a simple algebraic equation on a piece of paper—a basic test for someone claiming to be a graduate student.

"What are you implying?" Gabrielle frowned, offended. "I am a grad student, you know!"

But as she stared at the equation, minutes ticked by with no solution in sight. As Gibson stood to leave, he quietly placed a few walnuts on the table.

"Here, for your brain."