Self

Chapter 69

Cruising down Gastron Street, they found themselves amidst a sky full of drones, buzzing and dancing in formation, shifting into mesmerizing patterns.

That was not just any show; it was a high–tech drone performance with a price tag in the millions, even though it lasted barely ten minutes. The crowd was thick, but Shane had managed to snag a prime spot to watch.

He pulled over, and they gazed through the windshield, captivated by the drones morphing into incredible shapes.

Following Shane’s lead, Yara craned her neck and was instantly spellbound by the dazzling display.

Shane broke the silence. “Guess how many drones are up there?”

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Yara raised an eyebrow. “Is that even something I can guess?”

“Absolutely.”

“I have no clue.”

“I’d say…” He paused, a twinkle in his eye. “Maybe 997

“Why 99?”

“Isn’t it all about forever when you’re popping the big question?”

In a heartbeat, the drones rearranged themselves in the night sky, spelling out two words–marry me.

“How did you figure it was a proposal?”

Shane nodded toward the viewing platform, where a sharply dressed man was sneakily holding a rose behind his back.

“Wow.” Yara was genuinely impressed.

She had pegged Shane as just another rich kid with no real smarts, but he was proving to be anything but that. He was sharp and detail–oriented, and his observations were spot–on.

At dinner, when they had touched on her major, he had casually dropped some intel about NexTech’s stock movements. It was just a passing comment, but it revealed his formidable skills in finance.

Then, it hit her. Yale’s crew, including Shane, were all money–making aces. None of them were slackers when it came to cash.

In the world of the elite, things were always more twisted than she had ever guessed.

So, bowing out early and keeping her head high was the smartest move she could make. “This is my stop. Thanks for the lift.”

Shane could only pull up to the alley’s entrance, and Yara hopped out without hesitation.

He knew they were not at the point where he could walk her to her door, so he watched her go and then drove away without sticking around.

He had not gotten far when Zachary’s call buzzed in.

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“Where did you two vanish to? I look away for one second, and poof, you’re gone.”

He had just paid the bill and was heading back when, out of nowhere, he ran into his ex–girlfriend–the one

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he had not seen in almost a year.

She was all over him like a nasty rash, begging to catch up over dinner, laying on the charm thick.

It took him ages to finally get rid of her.

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“Oh, you took forever, and Yara had some emergency pop up, so I dropped her off first,” Shane said, lying smoothly.

Zachary said, “And Yale? Wasn’t he supposed to come and bump into us by chance? Why’d you show up solo?”

He had been dying to ask that since the beginning.

Shane replied, “Couldn’t find him. He’s probably off with his girlfriend.”

Since Yale’s dates with his girlfriend were sporadic, Zachary did not think twice about it.

“Such a missed chance, what a shame…‘

After hanging up, Shane parked and sent a payment to a number he did not recognize.

The person on the other end called him and said, “You’re a class act, Young Master Shields, quick and easy. Let’s team up again sometime.”

Zachary would have dropped his jaw if he had heard that because it was his ex–girlfriend!

Shane replied, “You got it, anytime.”

“But seriously, I’ve got to know. Why’d you have me bug Zachary? Why stall him for ten minutes? Was all that really necessary?”

What was the big deal with ten minutes, anyway?

Shane was stone–faced. “Ever heard how curiosity killed the cat?”