Chapter 5

Meanwhile, Zane pulled up to Lume and parked out front. He stopped himself from grinning, checked his outfit one last time, and got his head together before opening the door. But before he walked in, a deafening roar tore through the sky. A helicopter with Gibson Group's logo suspended in mid-air. The cabin door opened, and a sharp-looking middle-aged man came down the rope ladder. That person was none other than my dad, Paul, Gibson Group's chairman. Just then, dozens of black luxury cars pulled up to the entrance. Bodyguards in black suits smoothly got out and lined up behind Dad. Zane took in the scene with envy and greed. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he thought that the Gibson heiress wasn't bluffing—Paul really did show up. Thinking it over, he couldn't hold back anymore and stepped forward. "Hello, Mr. Gibson. I'm your daughter's boyfriend. My name is…" But Dad didn't even look Zane's way. He just walked right past Zane with his bodyguards and headed into the club. Holding his hand out, Zane was left standing there alone, feeling like a fool. Zane swallowed his frustration and trailed behind Dad with a respectful expression, telling himself that that was just how the big players acted. People at the top always appreciated humble talent. Zane just needed to show him his skills. Lume was one of the Gibson family's businesses. Every VIP from the headlines was there, gathering around Dad and buttering him up. After working his way inside, Zane carefully offered his business card. "You might have missed me earlier, Mr. Gibson. I'm Zane Holt, Ellie's boyfriend." Dad stopped smiling and took the business card before finally turning his attention to Zane. "Mr. Holt?" Zane responded, "Yes, Mr. Gibson. I wouldn't dare act important around you. I'm just lucky your daughter looks my way. That's the only reason I get to be here. We're supposed to meet up with you at Lume today, but I haven't seen her yet." Dad remarked, "She's still taking care of a few personal matters. But back to what you mentioned earlier—are you my daughter's boyfriend?" Thinking back to those intimate texts with the Gibson heiress, Zane felt a little more confident and straightened his back. "Yes. We may have started online, but we're truly in love. What we have is deep and real." Dad asked, "Really? My daughter has high standards. Plenty of excellent suitors came and went, but she chose you, Mr. Holt. You must have something truly special." He sported a smile Zane couldn't read. All Zane could do was double down on being humble and careful. "If I have any edge, it's simply that I care for her deeply." Dad nodded thoughtfully, but his eyes stayed locked on Zane's face. "Loving her is all it takes, huh? My silly daughter values loyalty above all else. If she found out that someone lied to her, she would pay it back ten times over—no matter how much it pains her." The words made Zane uneasy. Reading nothing from Dad's tone, he quickly promised, "You have my word. I'll love her forever and never lie to her." "In that case, we should sit down and really talk things through." Zane broke into a wide grin, the last bit of worry vanishing with Dad's words. It looked like he was on the fast track to success. Keeping his cool, Zane waited for about ten more minutes. Just then, a voice came from a few steps away. "Isn't that her car? She's here." "My daughter is here." Dad sounded genuinely pleased. Hearing that, Zane turned his eyes to the entrance, too.