Adrian Sinclair stepped forward, his presence heavy enough to make the air feel ten tis thicker.
Ethan imdiately sensed the tension rolling off the man in waves.
It wasn't hard to tell that Adrian was not pleased with what he had just walked into.
His sharp, calculating eyes weren't scanning the resort, nor the people around him.
Instead, his full attention was locked onto Ethan.
And Ethan? Well, for the first ti in a long ti, he felt like a high school kid caught sitting too close to the principal's daughter.
If looks could kill, Ethan would be six feet under before dessert arrived.
lissa, however, looked completely unbothered.
She waved at her brother with the sa casual ease she always carried. "Adrian! You're here early!"
Ethan almost wanted to give her credit for her ability to remain oblivious to the pure rage simring beneath Adrian's otherwise composed expression.
For a brief second, Ethan was sure Adrian was about to say sothing — sothing that would probably make this situation a lot worse — but then… he saw his sister's bright, smiling face.
And just like that, the man's icy glare softened.
It was almost comical.
lissa had her brother wrapped around her finger, and even a man as cold as Adrian Sinclair wasn't immune.
Still, Adrian didn't say much.
He simply walked forward and took the empty seat right beside lissa — a calculated move, if Ethan had to guess.
A clear ssage.
'You are in my sister's personal space. Move.'
Ethan didn't need to be told twice.
He quickly rose from his seat, grabbing his napkin in the process.
lissa, however, was faster.
She reached for his wrist, holding him down gently.
"Hey," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Where are you going? We're not done eating."
Ethan glanced between her hand and Adrian's increasingly darkening expression.
The last thing he wanted was to be on this man's hit list.
So, with as much tact and charm as he could muster, he gently freed his hand from lissa's grasp, offering her a small smile.
"You and your brother deserve so alone ti," he said smoothly. "I wouldn't want to disturb family matters."
lissa pouted slightly, but she didn't argue.
Ethan took that as his cue to exit before things escalated further.
With one last glance at Adrian — who was still staring at him like he was an unwanted pest — Ethan straightened his suit jacket and made his way downstairs.
Stepping away from the intense atmosphere of that table was like escaping a battlefield.
Ethan exhaled quietly as he adjusted his tie and walked through the main floor of the resort.
He needed to clear his head — and what better way to do that than checking on the progress of ATLAS?
The first thing he noticed was that more guests were pouring in.
From couples taking photos at the grand entrance to families making their way to the poolside, ATLAS was alive.
Everywhere he turned, he saw staff mbers moving efficiently, ensuring that everything was running smoothly.
The restaurant area was particularly packed.
Waiters were balancing trays of food, bringing out luxurious als to both the regular dining area on the main floor and the VIP dining section above.
Ethan nodded in approval.
Despite his concerns, it seed like everything was running exactly as planned.
"Sir, would you like a drink?" A passing waiter stopped beside him, holding a tray of elegantly crafted cocktails.
Ethan waved a hand. "No, thanks. I'm good."
He wasn't in the mood for anything alcoholic right now.
Instead, he made his way toward the reception desk, where a group of newly arrived guests were checking in.
Just as he was about to move on to the next area, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out and saw a ssage from Zack.
[Zack: Bro, where are you? VIP guests are asking about you.]
Ethan sighed. He had left the VIP area too quickly, and now people were looking for him.
He typed back:
[Ethan: Checking on the resort. I'll be back up soon.]
He slid his phone back into his pocket and glanced toward the upper dining area.
For a mont, he debated whether or not he should return to that table.
Did he really want to deal with Adrian's death glares again?
No, not particularly.
But business was business.
And if Adrian Sinclair had traveled all the way here, then Ethan couldn't avoid him forever.
With a deep breath, Ethan straightened his suit and started making his way back upstairs.
#####
The VIP guests were the heart and soul of ATLAS's exclusivity.
While regular custors still experienced luxury, the true opulence of the resort was reserved for those who could afford the VIP experience.
Ethan understood this well.
These were the people who could make or break ATLAS's reputation.
Wealthy socialites, business moguls, celebrities, and heirs of prestigious families — they were the ones who set the trends.
If they loved the resort, ATLAS would soar to unimaginable heights.
If they were disappointed, the dia would eat it alive.
So, despite his earlier hesitation about returning to Adrian's vicinity, Ethan knew he had no choice.
With one last exhale, he adjusted his silver tuxedo, ran a hand through his black hair, and stepped back into the VIP dining area.
The mont Ethan walked in, he could feel it — every gaze turning toward him.
A few mature won, adorned in elegant dresses and expensive jewelry, took a particular interest in him.
Ethan was used to attention.
He had the kind of chiseled, effortless charm that naturally turned heads.
His sharp jawline, piercing gaze, and the confident way he carried himself made him the perfect subject of fascination.
A few whispers echoed around the room.
"That's Ethan Grey, right?"
"He's even more handso in person."
"I heard he owns this entire resort."
A soft chuckle almost slipped from Ethan's lips, but he remained composed.
Zack, who had been sitting off to the side, finally relaxed the mont Ethan walked in.
The room had felt alien to him.
Not because he wasn't accustod to wealth — but because the people here were on a different level of rich.
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