Yvette beamed. “Summer, Mr. Graham really spoils you. We're lucky just being in the orbit.” They pulled up to the mall. Yvette didn’t hesitate—she grabbed a few exclusive dresses and slipped into the fitting room to try them on. Sienna was the total opposite. She stood there looking unsure and hesitant, like she didn’t know what to do. Yvette waved her on. “Come on, Sienna, pick something out already. It’s not every day your best friend’s boyfriend is treating us. We should soak it in.” Then she turned to Mike. “Is there a price cap or anything?” Mike shook his head and looked at Summer. “Mr. Graham said he wants Ms. Stewart and her friend to enjoy themselves.” Summer sat on the couch, casually taking in the rows of luxury designer dresses. Each one had a price tag starting at no less than twenty-seven grand. Back at the walk-in closet on Ravenshire Boulevard, she’d already noticed those clothes were all new-season limited editions. So she didn’t really feel the urge to shop. Still, seeing how excited Yvette and the others were—it made her genuinely happy too. Summer shot him a text. "Why the sudden dinner and designer shopping spree?" Fraser answered fast. "Trying to impress my girlfriend’s inner circle." She blinked at the screen, not replying right away. Another message popped up right after. Fraser was in a meeting, sitting at the head of the table, legs casually crossed, leaning back in his chair. He looked down at his phone with a lazy smirk, like he was fishing for compliments. " Did I do good?" The senior executive presenting paused mid-report when he noticed Fraser smiling. Thinking his presentation was killing it, he doubled down, rambling with even more enthusiasm—like he might break into song any second. Summer read the text and felt her cheeks heat up. She played it cool. "You did that on your own. I didn’t ask for it. And I’m not paying you back." "Just eat extra tonight. That’ll cover it." "That’s all it takes?" "Yeah. I like you with a little softness. Feels better in my arms." Summer blushed so hard she couldn’t even type a reply. Loaded down with shopping bags, Summer and the girls made their way to The Imperial Orchid. The Imperial Orchid was a luxury restaurant built around a crystal-and-glass concept. With rare flowers and lush greenery everywhere, the place was made for Instagram—every angle looked like a photoshoot. The owner personally led the three of them into a beautifully decorated VIP suite. The servers moved in perfect sync, placing each course onto pristine white plates with practiced ease. They started with chilled king crab claws served with lemon aioli, followed by butter-poached lobster topped with a touch of caviar. Next came a wild mushroom and herb medley over a ginseng-infused broth, then a slow-stewed game hen with a rich bone marrow reduction. Every dish looked like it belonged in a high-starred kitchen. For dessert, each woman received a delicate glass coupe of poached pear with vanilla cream—paired with a pour of vintage '82 Lafite red wine. Sienna stared at the table, wide-eyed. This meal had to be pushing six figures. She never used to care about that kind of thing, but right now all she could think was, This could've knocked down part of what I owe. A few moments later, the door to the private dining room swung open as a server stepped aside. In walked a man with long, confident strides. He wore a crisp dress shirt under a tailored gray vest, his suit jacket slung over one arm, a striped tie completing the polished look. He was dressed more sharply than usual—cool and laid-back, but with a quiet kind of power. "Apologies. Meeting ran long," he said.Sienna looked up at the sound of his voice. That face—sharp, flawless. That tall, lean frame. That effortless, upper-tier presence. It hit her like a wave. Fraser made his way straight to the seat beside Summer. Yvette spotted it and immediately gave Summer a knowing smirk, eyebrows wiggling with playful intent. From where Sienna sat, she could just make out Fraser’s arm, resting smoothly along the back of Summer’s chair. It almost looked like he was holding her, like she belonged there. This was the first time Summer's boyfriend had officially taken her best friends out to dinner. It felt kind of weird. "Today was... well, we all had a great time. Thank you," she said, correcting herself mid-sentence. Fraser gave her a lazy smirk, those dark eyes watching her closely. His voice was smooth and casually seductive. "But did you have a good time?" Summer wasn’t nearly as shameless as he was. She turned her head and shot him a glare—not a very intimidating one. But her eyes met his right then. His gaze was deep, the kind that pulled you in. The corners of his eyes had that subtle lift, soft but magnetic, like they knew exactly what they were doing. Summer had something to say, but the moment she met those dark, focused eyes, heat started creeping into her cheeks. Most of the time, it was just the two of them. But now, with her best friends sitting right there, it stirred up something different. A bit of awkwardness, sure—but something more, too. Across the table, Yvette was still stuck on her last impression of this so-called bossman—when he’d shown up at the hospital, cutting someone off in traffic like he owned the road. Now that he was sitting right in front of her, that memory hit harder. He was very real—and even more commanding in person.