As time passed, Sumeri and Nikolai said their goodbyes to Ren and Leonel.
They lived only a few floors below Ren's unit now. For the time being, they were staying in one of Silvia's spare rooms for free. That single fact made Ren pause as the elevator doors closed on them. It was nice to have a billionaire's daughter for a friend. One favor from someone like Silvia could soften a fall that would crush anyone else.
Ren and Leonel stayed in the restaurant a while longer. The waiters moved like shadows, the lights dimmed warmer as night settled in, and soft strings played over the hush of conversations and clinking cutlery.
Leonel tapped his heel against the floor like a drumbeat, the memory of his bill still stabbing his heart.
"Aren't we going to enter the game and rack some money?" he blurted, shifting in his chair as if the cushion had spikes.
