Chapter 5

Tiffany triumphantly linked her arm through Brandon's, cooing.

"Brandon, don't be angry. She's not worth it."

"Chad, tell security to kick her out. No need to spoil everyone's fun."

Chad waved a hand.

"Get the manager in here. Let him see what kind of trash they're letting in."

The VIP room door swung open.

Mr. Dawson, the General Manager of The Summit Club, rushed in, sweating profusely.

He'd seen me enter this room on the surveillance cameras and was clearly terrified.

"Chad, what can I do for you?"

Mr. Dawson bowed, his tone deferential, but his eyes darted around the room, clearly searching for me.

"Mr. Dawson, has The Summit Club's standard dropped?"

Chad pointed at me, his face full of disdain.

"You just let any prostitute walk in here?"

"Get her out, and don't let me see her again."

Tiffany chimed in. "Exactly, Mr. Dawson. This woman is lowering The Summit Club's class."

"Look, she's even dirtied the floor. Make her kneel and clean it before she leaves!"

Mr. Dawson followed their pointing fingers to me.

When he saw the wine stain on my clothes and my disheveled appearance, the color drained from his face completely.

He froze in place, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

I calmly walked to the main leather sofa.

The two trust fund babies who were sitting there instinctively started to curse when they saw me approach.

But I just gave them a cold stare, and they inexplicably fell silent, even making way for me.

I sat down, crossed my legs, and leaned back into the chair.

I picked up an unopened bottle of Romanée-Conti from the table, weighing it in my hand.

"Mr. Dawson." I called out.

Mr. Dawson shuddered, then dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud.

That sudden genuflection stunned everyone.

Brandon's eyes nearly popped out.

Chad's wine glass slipped from his hand, hitting the floor and shattering.

Tiffany's smile froze.

"Boss..."

Mr. Dawson's voice trembled, his forehead pressed to the floor. He didn't dare lift his head.

"This was my negligence. I deserve to die. I'm so sorry you were disturbed!"

Boss?

The word struck everyone like a hammer.

Brandon's mouth hung open, his eyes fixed on me as if seeing a stranger.

Chad's face drained of all color. He knew better than anyone who truly owned The Summit Club.

That was Aria Knight, the heiress of the Knight Empire, a name the entire business elite knelt before.

The woman rumored to possess a sharp mind, ruthless tactics, and a fortune in the billions.

I ignored Mr. Dawson's pleas and turned to Tiffany, who was now trembling in terror.

"Tiffany, you called that old man short and ugly?"

I rose slowly to my feet and advanced toward her, step by step.

"Did you know that the 'creepy old man' begging me for an investment in the hallway, even trying to kneel, was your own father, Mr. Hayes?"

"And this club? It truly is the least valuable of all my assets."