Free Web NovelChapter 9: IDOL
"James, take us somewhere nice," Sean said. "Like... really nice."
James glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "I know a place, sir. Lumière. French cuisine. Hard to get into."
Sean nodded. "Perfect."
Olivia turned toward him. "Lumière? Sean, that place is ridiculously expensive."
"So?"
"So normal people don’t casually eat there."
Sean shrugged. "Good thing I’m not trying to be normal tonight."
She laughed under her breath and leaned back into the seat. Her fingers brushed across the polished wood trim inside the Rolls Royce.
"This still feels fake," she admitted. "This morning I thought I was going to some lame freshman party. Now I’m riding through downtown in a luxury car with a guy who buys champagne like it’s water."
"Life changes fast."
"No kidding."
She looked at him for a second before speaking again.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Where did all this come from?" she asked carefully. "The money, I mean. You’re eighteen. Most people our age are struggling to pay tuition."
Sean already expected the question.
"I got lucky," he said. "Made a few investments early. Things worked out."
"That’s the most mysterious answer ever."
Sean smirked. "Maybe I’m a mysterious guy."
"Or maybe you’re secretly in the mafia."
"Wouldn’t I need darker clothes for that?"
Olivia laughed again. It was easy around her. Weirdly easy.
"What about you?" Sean asked. "What’s your thing?"
"My thing?"
"Everyone has one."
She hesitated, then smiled a little. "I’m training to become an idol."
Sean blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. Singing, dancing, performances. All of it."
"That’s actually cool."
"My group’s still small," she said. "We post covers online mostly. We’ve got around fifty thousand subscribers right now."
"That’s not small."
"It feels small compared to the big groups," she admitted. "The industry’s brutal. Half the trainees never debut. And even if you debut, there’s no guarantee anyone cares."
"You’ll make it."
She tilted her head. "That confident?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Sean looked out the window for a moment. "You seem like the type who doesn’t quit."
Olivia stared at him quietly before smiling again.
"You really are different."
"People keep saying that tonight."
"I mean it," she said. "Most rich guys our age act like walking advertisements. They flash money around and wait for girls to get impressed. But you actually listen."
"Maybe I’m just good at pretending."
"Nah," she said softly. "I don’t think so."
The Rolls Royce finally stopped outside Lumière.
The restaurant looked unreal. Tall glass walls glowing with warm light. Valets moving around in sharp black uniforms. Everything polished to perfection.
James stepped out first and opened the door for them.
"Enjoy your evening, sir."
"Thanks, James. Take a break for now. I’ll call later."
"Of course."
Inside, the hostess gave them the kind of polite smile people used when they were trying not to judge someone. freewebnoveℓ.com
"Reservation?"
"No," Sean said. "But I’d still like a table."
"I’m sorry, we’re fully booked tonight."
Sean pulled out his phone casually. "What if I paid extra?"
The hostess blinked. "Extra?"
"Double."
Olivia nearly choked beside him.
The hostess excused herself and disappeared toward the back.
A minute later, she returned looking much friendlier.
"Right this way, sir."
Olivia leaned closer as they followed her. "Did you just bribe a five-star restaurant?"
"I prefer the term persuasive negotiation."
Their table overlooked the city skyline through massive windows. Candlelight flickered between them while soft music played somewhere in the background.
Olivia opened the menu and immediately lowered it again.
"Sean, these prices are criminal."
"Then order the expensive crimes."
"You’re impossible."
They ended up ordering far more than either of them could realistically eat. freēwēbnovel.com
The food was incredible. The kind of food that made you slow down after every bite just to process it.
And somehow the conversation flowed even easier than before.
Olivia talked about years of training. Endless rehearsals. Strict diets. The pressure to always look perfect online.
Sean listened carefully.
Nobody had ever really talked to him like this before. Not without wanting something.
"So what about you?" Olivia asked midway through dinner. "What do you actually want?"
Sean leaned back slightly.
That question hit harder than expected.
In his old life, every plan he made revolved around Rebecca. Every goal. Every sacrifice.
Now?
"I want to build something huge," he said honestly. "Something nobody can take away from me."
"That sounds intense."
"Maybe."
"You talk like someone twice our age sometimes."
Sean laughed quietly. "Maybe I’ve just had a rough year."
Olivia studied him for a moment but didn’t push further.
"I think you’ll get it though," she said.
"The empire?"
"Whatever it is you’re chasing."
The check eventually arrived.
Sean handed over his card without even glancing at the total.
[3,200 dollars sent]
[Balance: $707,080]
[6,400 dollars received]
[New Balance: $713,480]
The system notification flashed silently in his vision.
Still ridiculous. Still broken.
They stepped outside into the cool night air afterward.
Olivia wrapped her arms lightly around herself. "Tonight was honestly insane."
Sean looked at her. "Do you want it to end?"
She looked back at him for a second too long.
"...No."
Sean called James.
"Take us to the Four Seasons."
Olivia’s eyes widened slightly, and Sean immediately raised his hands.
"Hey, no pressure. Seriously. We can just hang out, grab drinks, talk more. If you want to leave at any point, I’ll have James drive you home."
The tension in her expression faded.
"Okay," she said softly. "Then let’s go."
The ride there felt quieter.
Not awkward.
Just charged.
Like both of them knew something had shifted already.
The hotel was pure luxury from the moment they walked in. Marble floors, chandeliers, soft piano music somewhere in the distance.
Sean walked to the front desk.
"Best suite you have available."
"The presidential suite is open tonight," the receptionist said. "Ten thousand dollars."
"Perfect."
Olivia stared at him while he handed over the card like he was buying coffee.
[10,000 dollars sent]
[Balance: $703,480]
[20,000 dollars received]
[New Balance: $723,480]
A few moments later they were standing inside the suite.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city lights below. The entire place looked bigger than some apartments.
Olivia slowly walked toward the glass.
"This is insane," she whispered.
Sean joined her by the window.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Olivia turned toward him.
"Can I be honest?"
"Always."
"I know we literally met tonight," she said. "And I know this sounds crazy... but I feel comfortable around you. Like weirdly comfortable."
Sean stayed quiet, letting her speak.
"You don’t make me feel pressured," she continued. "You don’t act fake. And when you look at me, it feels like you actually see me instead of just... looking at me."
Something in Sean’s chest tightened.
"I like being around you too," he admitted.
Olivia smiled softly.
Then she stepped closer.
"Good," she whispered.
She kissed him first.
Slow at first. Careful.
Sean’s hand settled against her waist while she moved closer against him.
The second kiss lasted longer.
The air between them changed completely after that.
Warmer. Heavier.
They pulled apart just enough to breathe.
"You sure?" Sean asked quietly.
Olivia nodded immediately. "Yeah."
He kissed her again.
This time neither of them held back.
Her fingers slid into his hair while his hands rested against her waist and back. They moved together slowly toward the bedroom, stopping every few seconds just to kiss again.
Her laughter slipped out once when Sean nearly stumbled against the edge of the bed.
"Smooth," she teased softly.
"Ruined the moment."
"A little."
She pushed him lightly onto the mattress anyway, smiling down at him.
