The air in Elysium thickened with laughter and music as the night deepened.
Victoria, Sabrina, Evelyn, and Alexis—four of the city's most dazzling heiresses—were already well into their cups, their laughter growing louder, their movements looser. Champagne flutes clinked repeatedly, rose petals scattered on the floor, and the dance floor pulsed with energy.
Aria sat beside Darren, her cheeks flushed a soft rose. She swayed slightly, the glittering necklace catching every strobe light as she laughed at one of Sabrina's jokes.
Darren himself was leaning back, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips. The top-shelf whiskey he'd sipped wasn't slowing his mind, but it was softening the edges just enough for the celebration to feel real.
"Tell me again," Victoria giggled, voice thick but full of amusement, "how exactly did you manage to buy out Marcus's shares so fast? You're like some kind of… business wizard."
Darren shrugged, fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "Just good timing, a lot of research… and knowing when to act."
Sabrina slurred playfully, "Or maybe he's got some kind of magic system we don't know about."
The table erupted with giggles.
Aria shot Darren a quick, amused look.
He raised his glass toward Sabrina. "If only."
Evelyn, usually the most composed, leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Well, whatever it is, it's working. You're the hottest topic in the city right now."
The girls cheered and raised their glasses again.
Minutes stretched lazily as they drank and joked. The room blurred around Darren — not in a dizzy way, but as if the world had softened its edges just a bit.
He was on the border between sharp and tipsy — alert enough to catch every nuance but relaxed enough to enjoy the moment.
Aria leaned close, whispering, "You're doing great, big brother."
He smiled back, "Only because you're here."
The music shifted, a slower, more sensual beat. The heiresses linked arms and pulled each other to the dance floor, dragging Darren and Aria along.
Laughter and whispered secrets filled the air.
But beneath it all, Darren's mind ticked steadily.
The system was working—each pound spent multiplied by hundreds—but his real power lay in the moves he hadn't made yet.
Tonight was for celebration.
Tomorrow, the empire-building would continue.