Chapter 76

As they passed Wilkie Road, countless drones hovered, forming intricate shapes in a synchronized light show. Such a display, lasting 10 to 20 minutes, would cost millions of dollars. A crowd had gathered to watch.

Sam and Miranda happened upon a location with an excellent view. Sam parked by the roadside. Gazing out the windshield, he watched the drones create complex, three-dimensional shapes in the sky. Miranda, following his gaze, was captivated by the beautiful light patterns.

"Can you tell how many drones there are?" Sam asked.

"Can you tell?" Miranda replied.

"Of course."

"I can't."

"I'm guessing about 99," Sam said after a pause.

"Why that number?"

"Don't people like to use that number when proposing?"

At that moment, Miranda saw the drones forming the words "Marry me" in the night sky. "How did you know it was a proposal?"

Sam subtly gestured toward a distant observation deck. A man in a suit was concealing a bouquet of roses.

"Impressive," Miranda said, admiring his perceptiveness. She had previously dismissed him as a spoiled rich kid, but today she saw a different side—knowledgeable and observant. Earlier, during a conversation about her major, he'd briefly mentioned fluctuations in Narssen Biotech's stock price, revealing his expertise in financial trading. This led her to realize that he and his friends were highly skilled in finance. Their world was far more complex than she'd imagined, and she decided discretion was the better part of valor.

"My place is right there. Thanks for the ride."

Sam pulled over, unable to drive his car into the narrow alleyway. Miranda got out. Knowing they weren't close enough for him to walk her to her door, he waited until she entered her building before driving away.

Shortly afterward, he received a call from Calvin.

"Where are you guys? You disappeared after I left the table for a second!"

Calvin had been paying when he ran into Gabby Owens, his ex-girlfriend from a year prior. They hadn't been in contact, yet she'd clung to him, persistently trying to persuade him to dine with her and flirting incessantly. It took him considerable time to escape.

"Oh, you were gone a while, and Miranda had a sudden emergency. I took her home," Sam explained.

"What about Hans? We agreed to make it seem like a coincidence. Why were you alone?" Calvin asked, finally voicing his suspicions.

"I couldn't find him. He was with his girlfriend," Sam replied flatly.

Calvin didn't suspect anything, knowing Hans occasionally met with Ingrid.

"What a missed opportunity," he sighed.

After hanging up, Sam pulled over and transferred money to an unknown bank account. The recipient called. "As expected, Mr. Cooper! You're so generous. I look forward to working with you again."

Had Calvin been present, he would have been shocked—the caller was his annoying ex-girlfriend!

"Likewise," Sam replied.

"I'm curious," the woman continued. "Why did you want me to keep Calvin occupied for ten minutes? Was it really necessary?"