Outside the upscale steakhouse in downtown L.A., the tension between the group was subtle but unmistakable.
Alex Hartley misunderstood his sister's subtle glance. He thought she was warning him not to act superior—not realizing she was actually signaling that the quiet guy across the table wasn't as simple as he looked.
But Alex couldn't resist showing off. That air of superiority rose again. With a smug smile, he said, "You're still in college, right? A scooter works fine for now. My car's just an entry-level BMW M4. Around 85 grand."
Across the table, Jason didn't even blink. He hadn't planned to show off, but Alex kept throwing bait.
"Men need a real car to show they've made it," Alex added. "What are you doing after graduation? If you're not set, I could get you into one of my family's companies. Put in a few years and maybe you'll afford a decent ride."
Jason's lips curved ever so slightly, as if amused.
"No need, thanks. I'm working on my own startup," he said coolly.
The two girls—Quinn and Courtney—exchanged glances, trying to suppress their secondhand embarrassment for Alex. Just a few hours ago, Jason bought a custom Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG—worth nearly $350,000. Meanwhile, Alex was bragging about a car worth barely a third of that.
Courtney leaned in toward Quinn and whispered, "You notice how Alex's always flexing like he's the main character in a finance bro podcast?"
She wasn't wrong. Compared to the always-tense vibe around Alex, being around Jason felt like a breath of fresh air.
"Don't talk about people behind their backs," Quinn whispered back. "Just eat your steak."
Alex tried to throw out another comment, but his sister, Madison, quickly cut in. "Can we not talk business at dinner? You're all still students. Enjoy your time, relax a little."
She shot Alex a sharp look.
He finally got the hint and shut up.
After the meal, Alex waved over the waiter with exaggerated flair. "I've got this," he said loudly. As he handed over his card, he made sure everyone heard, "That'll be $495. Nice."
Jason didn't even look up from his phone.
Outside the restaurant, Jason casually turned to Madison and said, "Hey, Madison, there's a really amazing spa upstairs. I was thinking of trying it out, but, you know… going alone feels kinda awkward. How about you, Quinn, and Courtney join me? On me."
Madison blinked, caught off guard. But she quickly caught on—this was Jason's way of paying for dinner without making it a big deal.
"That spa is crazy expensive…" Quinn said, realizing what Jason was up to. "Are you sure?"
Jason smiled. "If I were alone, yeah, it'd be pricey. But you three are worth it."
Quinn glanced at Courtney, who gave an excited nod. "Well then, we'll take you up on that."
Madison hesitated, but declining now would make her seem petty. She smiled politely. "Thanks, Jason. Appreciate it."
Jason turned to Alex and raised a brow. "You coming?"
Alex scoffed. "I'm good. I don't do spas. Not really my thing."
"Suit yourself," Jason said, looking almost relieved.
The four headed upstairs to the spa—a sleek, high-end retreat with marble floors and ambient lighting. Naturally, the ladies had their own section while Jason was led separately.
Alex waited alone in the lounge area downstairs, trying to stay composed.
Minutes passed. Then an hour. Then two.
As time dragged on, he began to stew. Why did Jason smile like that when he said Alex didn't have to come? Did he plan this?
By the time the group came back down, the girls looked glowing—hair softer, skin radiant, their moods visibly lighter. Jason followed after, looking even more effortlessly handsome than before.
Alex, on the other hand, looked like he'd aged ten years waiting in that lobby.
Madison walked up to him and sighed. "Alex, he invited us on purpose. He wasn't just trying to pay back the dinner. He's showing he's got resources. And he's calm about it. That confidence… it's not an act."
Alex clenched his jaw. "It's just a spa. Who cares?"
"It was a $495 dinner split between five people," she said quietly. "His spa package? It's gotta be ten times that—and that's just for the three of us. You think a guy willing to drop that kind of cash is average?"
Just then, Jason walked up to the counter and took out his phone.
The receptionist beamed at him. "Sir, that'll be four Platinum Deluxe packages. Each includes a full Guerlain aromatherapy massage, exclusive vintage Imperial Essence scenting, Orchid-based facial cleansing, hydration infusions, and a deep tissue wrap. Comes to $3,960 total."
Courtney's jaw dropped.
"Almost four grand?!" she gasped. "I feel like a Hollywood A-lister!"
Quinn touched her face in awe. "No wonder my skin feels like I've been reborn. I'm not washing it tonight."[Quinn Favorability +3]
Even Madison was stunned. She had sensed the luxury of the package, but she didn't expect this level.
Alex stood frozen.
Four. Grand.
His dinner flex felt like pennies now.
And the worst part? Jason didn't even flinch as he scanned his phone to pay—as if he were tipping a valet.
At that moment, Alex didn't just lose the battle.
He realized:He was never in the same league.