It's widely acknowledged that wealthy individuals enjoy extravagant parties. Lavish music, opulent decorations, and especially sumptuous food are the norm, even for children's birthday celebrations. The aroma of sizzling steak wafted through the air as children frolicked in the garden, and adults swayed to the rhythm of the music. For Ethan, the party was a vivid memory of his past, one he wished would end quickly.Ethan recalled celebrating his half-sister's tenth birthday while seated next to his mother and wishing the celebration would end sooner rather than later. Everything about the scene appeared authentic, just as it had many years before; only this time, it was a dream that he desperately wanted to wake up from because he already knew how it ended.

"Ethan, look, Maxwell, your friend has arrived, and now you have someone to play with," his mother pointed toward the grand gate as a familiar Lexus pulled into the compound. Ethan and Maxwell had been friends since they were toddlers, thanks to their mothers' friendship and their fathers' business partnership.

"Come along; let's go and welcome them," she beckoned to Ethan.

"Emily darling!" Maxwell's mother exclaimed, her arms outstretched to embrace her friend.

"How was your trip to London?" Ethan's mother inquired warmly as she returned the hug.

"It was wonderful, though I wished the vacation could have lasted longer. But, you know, these children need to get back to school."

"At least you enjoyed yourself."

"Oh, dear, it was absolutely delightful!" Maxwell's mother gushed, her eyes scanning the entire scene.

"Do you know how much she spent on this party?" Ethan's mother sighed.

"I have no idea; you know I never ask. Whenever I inquire, they brush me off, so I've learned to mind my own business. After all, my responsibility is to ensure that Ethan and I dress up and show up."

"Speaking of Ethan, where is he?" Maxwell's mother inquired.

"He's gone inside with Maxwell; they've missed each other," Ethan's mother replied with a laugh.

With Maxwell's arrival, Ethan was free to enjoy the party to the fullest. He no longer sat with his mother but instead explored the swing, bounced on the inflatable castle with Maxwell, and even changed into swimwear to frolic in the pool area, savoring every moment of his seven-year-old joy.

"Miss Laura, do you know where my mom is? I couldn't find her in her room, and we need to leave before it gets too late," Ethan asked the chief housekeeper, after searching the entire estate once the party had ended.

"I haven't seen her, love. Have you checked her room? Maybe she decided to spend the night here."

"Yes, she's not there. Did she mention anything to you about going somewhere?"

Before Laura could reply, a familiar voice interrupted.

"She's gone," Lucas Brown, Ethan's father, stated.

Just as it had been for years, Ethan awoke from the dream, his body drenched in sweat.

Ethan didn't particularly enjoy being in New York. When he was in the United States, he preferred the calm and serenity of Arizona. While most people associated New York with a bustling nightlife, Ethan found Arizona to be more to his liking, with its beautiful women who knew how to keep secrets. He had joint partnerships with several major clubs in Arizona, where a single phone call could secure him the company of any woman for the night. Despite his good looks, Ethan was selective about his companions, choosing women who could maintain discretion after an intimate encounter. This was why he favored Arizona.He felt that New York women were overly chatty, careless in who they chose to sleep with, and frequently found themselves in the press the following day in an attempt to gain notoriety and attention. But now that he is in New York, hopefully he won't stay for long.

He had a business meeting to get to that morning and a meeting with his dad after. The Brown Palace, a hotel that is a subsidiary of the Brown Group, was experiencing bankruptcy, and as the acting head of the Brown Group, he had to call an emergency meeting with the shareholders and the head of the hotel, his half-brother Paul. The Brown Group is a family company built by Lucas' great-grandfather, and for years, they ran the affairs of the business in New York and the U.S. as a whole, from hotel chains to seaports, airplanes, car productions, and construction.

Additionally, they had political ties and would back candidates who would help them advance their initiatives and legislation. They had an established reputation, had never faced opposition, and planned to stay that way.

"Good morning, sir," greeted Ethan as he got out of his car by the hotel's head of operations.

"Mr. Martin, good morning. Do they all have seats?"

"Yes, sir."

"And where is Paul?"

"He's still not here," said Ethan, stopping abruptly.

"Get in touch with him immediately."

The boardroom was dead silent and felt a little cold—possibly from the air conditioning—but everyone knew that Ethan was the source of the chill. We waited for two hours, but Paul was nowhere to be seen. He would not allow the meeting to start without him.

"Hey, brother!" Paul strolled in looking happy.

"Paul, please take a seat," Ethan cut him off. He calmly started by adjusting the microphone on the table in front of him and giving everyone in the room a hard look.

Ethan said, "I could waste my time starting this meeting by dealing with your careless arrival late for a meeting that was scheduled two hours ago, but I won't waste it.Upon reviewing the hotel's three-year worth of financial reports, I've found a significant amount of money missing. When I asked, the accounting manager informed me that you, Paul, had approved the use of all the funds. What was the reason behind these expenses?"

Paul shifted around in his seat. "Ethan, it appears that you have forgotten who you are talking to. The hotel chains owned by the Brown Group report to me. Why do you feel qualified to criticize my handling of the hotels and what gives you the authority to closely examine our annual reports?"

Ethan laughed aloud. It appears that you are the one who is unsure of the addressee in this conversation. Let me remind you, Paul, that you will answer to me and that I am the leader of the Brown Group. I won't watch as you endanger an important aspect of our business.

"Ethan, I think you're insane! You believe you are in charge simply because Father designated you as the head. You're just holding the seat warm for the rest of us, and just like he did with your mother, you will be thrown aside when our father's blinding condition finally goes away."

Ethan's face distorted in a way that was both hurt and angry at the mention of his mother. His clenched fist whitened his knuckles, and his gaze turned into a turbulent storm of emotions.The room erupted into tension, and it was obvious that he was finding it difficult to control the emotions that were racing through him. His tone carried a hint of passion, even though he was talking to Paul.

"I'm giving you one week to provide me with a detailed account of the hotel's expenditures, or you will be dismissed." Ethan turned away from him and left the room.