Among the elite

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The private lounge was nestled within one of the city's most exclusive high-rises. Only a select few had access to this space—men who controlled industries, wealth, and influence.

The polished marble floors reflected the dim golden glow of the designer chandeliers overhead. Plush leather seats surrounded a large conference table, where three men, each exuding quiet power, were engaged in conversation.

Thomas Blackwell entered the room, guided by Leonard Carter, his latest business associate.

The three men turned, their eyes locking onto him with curiosity.

A bald, stocky man leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Leo! Just the man I wanted to call. But look at this—you brought company."

Leonard chuckled. "Come on, Richard, I know you too well. You never call unless you need something."

A sharp-eyed man with gold-rimmed glasses glanced at Thomas with intrigue. "And who's this?"

Leonard grinned. "Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Mr. Thomas Blackwell. I just made an agreement on my entire real estate development with him—full cash payment."

Silence.

The three men exchanged glances, and a flicker of realization passed between them.

They knew how much that property was worth.

But outright buying the entire development? In cash?

They had seen wealthy men before, but even the ultra-rich preferred to leverage capital rather than throw down billions in liquid funds.

This was something else.

After a beat, the bald man stood up, extending a hand. "Richard West. If you don't mind, call me Rich. We should get to know each other."

"William Hayes," said the bespectacled man. "A pleasure, Mr. Blackwell."

"Greg Sullivan," the third man introduced himself. "Welcome to our little circle."

Thomas shook their hands, giving only a small nod in return.

He didn't offer them much—just his presence alone was enough to assert dominance.

Though he had just arrived, he already understood the nature of this gathering.

This wasn't just a group of rich men flaunting their wealth.

This was a network.

And tonight, he had just stepped into it.

---

Leonard clapped his hands together, grinning. "No need to stand around. Take a seat. I just arranged for some new company tonight. Let's make this evening interesting."

Richard's eyes gleamed. "New faces? Don't keep us waiting."

William chuckled. "Rich, you're acting like you haven't been here before."

Richard smirked. "What can I say? I enjoy the finer things in life."

Leonard laughed but didn't waste time. He stepped out of the room, leaving Thomas to settle in.

Within minutes, Thomas learned more about the three men.

Richard West, 45, was a giant in the construction materials industry. A man who supplied the very foundations of the city.

William Hayes, 35, owned a successful film production company—his influence stretched deep into Hollywood.

Greg Sullivan, 39, had a portfolio that spanned across various industries. But from the way Richard and William spoke about him, it was clear—Greg's past wasn't entirely clean.

When they asked Thomas about his ventures, he remained elusive.

"I invest in whatever interests me," he said simply. "Depends on my mood."

None of them pried further.

A man with enough power to casually purchase an entire real estate development wasn't someone to interrogate.

Instead, they exchanged contacts, solidifying the first step toward a potential partnership.

---

Not long after, Leonard returned.

This time, he wasn't alone.

A striking woman in her early thirties walked beside him. Elegant, poised, and commanding. Behind her followed a group of young women—refined, graceful, and undeniably stunning.

Unlike the models from the exclusive club earlier, these women were different.

No exaggerated outfits. No forced, sultry expressions.

Instead, they carried themselves with quiet confidence. Dressed in sophisticated yet flattering attire, their beauty was enhanced by natural elegance rather than excess.

Thomas's sharp gaze swept across them in an instant.

Most of them were exceptional—easily a nine out of ten. A few even surpassed that.

Noticing his interest, Leonard approached with a knowing smile.

"Go ahead, Thomas," he said. "You get first pick."

The other three men had no objections. It was clear—Thomas was the guest of honor tonight.

He raised an eyebrow. "You've done your due diligence?"

Leonard grinned. "Only the best. Thoroughly vetted, professional, and exclusive."

Thomas nodded slightly before raising his hand, selecting two.

One possessed a delicate beauty with piercing blue eyes, while the other had the kind of effortless elegance that turned heads without trying.

The woman leading the group stepped forward, addressing them in a low, reassuring voice.

"You know the rules. Take care of Mr. Blackwell, and you'll be well rewarded."

The two women nodded, then gracefully moved to Thomas's side.

He cast them a brief glance before turning back to Leonard.

"The contract for the property," Thomas said smoothly. "My legal team will finalize everything tomorrow. Ensure all documentation is in order."

Leonard gave an approving nod. "Of course. There won't be any issues."

Thomas said nothing more. Instead, he simply draped an arm around each woman and stood.

"I've had enough business for one night," he said. "I'll be heading out."

Leonard walked him to the exit, ensuring his departure was handled with the respect he commanded.

Only after Thomas had left did Leonard return to the others.

The moment he re-entered, Richard leaned forward, his expression serious.

"Leo," he said bluntly, "who the hell is he?"

Leonard exhaled and shook his head. "I don't know exactly. But I'd recommend keeping him as an ally."

Richard rubbed his chin. "Most people buy properties in units. He just bought an entire development like it was nothing."

Greg frowned. "You think he knows something? A market shift?"

William smirked. "No chance. The real estate market's cooling off. If anything, prices will dip further."

Leonard nodded. "Exactly. That's why I wanted to offload it now."

Greg still wasn't convinced. "Then why would he buy it? There's no immediate profit."

William chuckled. "Maybe he's just making a long-term play. If you have enough capital, you can afford to wait. No interest rates. No debt. Just pure ownership."

Richard sighed. "If I had that kind of cash, I'd do the same. Hold onto it, wait for the price to rise—or rent it out in the meantime. Either way, he wins."

Silence hung over the room.

They had all met wealthy men before.

But Thomas Blackwell wasn't just rich.

He was something else.

The kind of man who didn't play by the same rules as the rest of them.

And tonight was only the beginning.

---