Alex was driving home from a meeting when his phone buzzed. Glancing at the caller ID, a faint smile curved his lips—it was Samuel, his college best friend and his personal assistant, he had took his leave of absence for some days because of his mother's health. Things had definitely felt off without him around.
He answered, "Hey, Sam. How are things on your end? It's been chaos here without you handling my schedule."
Samuel chuckled on the other end. "Yeah, I figured. How are you holding up?"
"Managing," Alex replied. "More importantly, how's your mom? Is she getting better?"
"She's improving with rest. Thanks for asking."
"Good to hear," Alex said, then added, "Let's meet this Sunday. I have something important I want to talk to you about."
"Sure. Sunday evening then. Velvette Noire?"
"Perfect," Alex confirmed.
After a few more minutes of light conversation, the call ended. Alex placed his phone down, the faint smile still lingering. And said to himself "Its was time to put my plan in motion".
Luna PoV
The week passed quickly, with Luna being busy with her work and soon it was Sunday evening.
Luna stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the simple yet elegant shirt midi dress she had chosen. Her look was effortless—minimal makeup, natural beauty, and a touch of grace that couldn't be missed. Beside her, Bella was slipping into her cider solid wrap midi dress, the soft fabric hugging her figure perfectly.
"You look beautiful," Luna said with a grin.
Bella twirled lightly. "And you look like a goddess who doesn't even try."
With a laugh, they took a taxi and headed to the restaurant. When they reached Velvette Noire, a few of their college friends were already gathered outside, chatting and checking their phones.
As the girls stepped out, heads turned.
"Whoa, is that Luna?" one of the guys blinked in surprise. "She have really glowed up."
Bella, hearing the comment, smirked and nudged Luna playfully. "Told you."
Luna smiled politely and waved at them. "Hey guys! Has everyone arrived?"
"Yeah, just waiting for the person who planned all this," one friend replied. "Oh, wait—there they are!"
Everyone turned as a sleek BMW 5-Series
pulled up to the curb, the polished body gleaming under the streetlights. The car door opened, and Jennifer, dressed in high-end designer wear, stepped out with her equally stylish boyfriend. Their arrival made a small wave of murmurs ripple through the group.
"Wow," someone among the group whispered, eyeing the car. "That must've cost a fortune."
Jennifer flashed a proud smile and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Yeah, it's just around 60k. My boyfriend bought it after getting his first paycheck."
Her tone dripped with casual flaunting, and while a few people clapped lightly or complimented the car, Bella leaned into Luna's ear and whispered, "She's already flexing. This is going to be fun."
Luna giggled softly but kept her composure. "Let's just enjoy the night." As they made their way inside the restaurant.
Inside the Premium Room – Velvette Noire
Just a little further from the lively reunion outside, the mood in the premium private room was quieter, more refined. Soft lighting, deep mahogany furnishings, and a hint of classical music playing in the background set the tone.
Alex sat across from Sam, fingers loosely interlaced on the table, an untouched glass of water before him. Sam, ever the contrast, leaned back comfortably with a teasing smile.
"Sam," Alex began, his tone unusually solemn, "I wanted to talk to you about something importan well not as your boss, but as your best friend—someone you trust. And listen, if you're not okay with it, you can reject the idea. No pressure."
Sam raised an eyebrow, half-amused. "Whoa, whoa, what's with the emotional blackmail all of a sudden? Should I be worried? You're not secretly into some shady business deals now, are you? I mean, come on, your family's already drowning in money."
He chuckled and added with a theatrical whisper, "Wait—do you want to silence your business competitor? If yes, I totally don't know you we are strangers."
Alex rolled his eyes, but the edge of a smile tugged at his lips. "Hey, stop joking around. I'm serious. Just hear me out."
Sam straightened up a bit, sensing Alex was too serious about it. "Okay, okay. I'm listening. What's going on?"
Alex looked down for a second, choosing his words carefully. "It's about something personal… though not that unconventional. But it involves my future plans—and I can't think of anyone else I'd trust to help me with this."
"Alright. You've got my attention. Let's hear it." Sam leaned forward, interest growing. "So what kind of business are we talking about?"
Alex exhaled slowly, resting his arms on the table. "I've been thinking about setting up my own business," he said finally. "Something separate from the Walton legacy. Not a hand-me-down company, not a branch of my family's empire—just something that's mine. Where people don't say it was all given to me."
Sam blinked, surprised. He wasn't used to hearing this side of Alex—the vulnerable, ambitious side beneath the polished perfection. "Whoa… that's unexpected," he said honestly. "I mean, you've always handled everything in the family business so well. But… I get it."
Alex gave a faint nod. "It's not that I'm ungrateful. I owe everything to my parents. But sometimes, it feels like no matter what I do, it's always followed by, 'Well, of course he did it—he's a Walton.' I want to prove that I'm capable on my own terms."
Alex picked up the drink from the table and had a small sip, his fingers tapping lightly on the table as he looked Sam in the eyes.
"So, what do you think of this project?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with a hint of anticipation. "Is it going to work?"
But instead of answering his question, Sam gave a small smirk. "So you're saying I'm hired?" with absolute trust on Alex like he always does.
Alex smiled. "That depends. Can you handle a boss who's occasionally moody, wildly ambitious, and impossible to impress?"
Sam laughed. "Buddy, I handled your caffeine-deprived breakdowns during college finals. I can handle anything."
The two of them clinked glasses—water for now, but something far more valuable passed between them in that moment: trust, loyalty, and the start of something new.