Jason did not walk toward the Aurelion One. He performed the walk, one hand lifted, his voice pitched for the whole showroom.
"There she is," he said. "Chloe, look at her. Tell me she is not perfect."
Chloe stopped beside him, her smile fixed and uncertain. "Jason, everyone is staring."
"Let them stare," he said. "They are about to watch a sale."
Derek hurried across the floor, hands open in welcome. "Mr. Cole. Miss Bennett. Welcome back to Aurelion."
"You kept her ready for me," Jason said.
"I kept the floor ready, sir," Derek said. "The One commands attention all by herself."
"Good, because I am done admiring from a distance." Jason turned slowly, making certain the couple by the Meridian and the young man near the door could hear him. "I am buying this car today. In cash. Today."
A murmur moved through the room. Grace looked up from her desk. Near the rope, Lily stayed where Jason had left her, in her plain coat, and said nothing.
Chloe touched his sleeve. "You said we were here to look."
"I said I had a surprise," Jason said. "This is the surprise."
"You said a viewing, Jason. A private viewing."
"And now you are viewing the moment I buy it." He laughed, bright and loud. "Do not look so worried. This is what winning looks like."
"I am not worried," Chloe said quietly. "I am asking you to lower your voice."
"Why? Because these people have never seen a real buyer?" He spread his arms. "Fine. Let me make it simple for everyone. Derek, start the paperwork."
Derek blinked. "Sir, as we discussed, the One is a prototype, and there are certain internal steps."
"Steps are for people who need financing," Jason said. "I just told you. Cash."
"Of course, sir. Of course. I only meant the process."
"Then process it." Jason pointed at the car, not at Derek. "Open her up. I want Chloe in the driver seat first. She should know what her life looks like now."
Chloe did not move. "My life?"
"Our life," Jason said. "Come on, sweetheart. Smile. You are embarrassing yourself a little."
Color rose in her face. "I am embarrassing myself?"
"You are whispering while I am trying to give you something extraordinary."
Lily watched Chloe fold her hands together, watched her try to become smaller without stepping back. She knew that effort. She had made it herself, years ago, in rooms where Jason needed an audience more than he needed air.
Derek clapped once. "Let us get Mr. Cole a moment with the car. Grace, clear the brochure stand, please."
Grace stood, but her eyes went to Lily first, a quick question Lily could not answer yet.
Jason followed Derek's glance and found Lily again. His expression sharpened with pleasure.
"Oh, good, you are still here," he said. "Make yourself useful. Go fetch the manager for us."
Chloe frowned. "Jason."
"What? She is around cars. She said so herself. Or she implied it. Honestly, I forget which."
"You introduced her," Chloe said. "You did not explain anything."
"There is nothing to explain." Jason waved toward the back corridor. "Manager. Now. And maybe bring back some water while you are at it. Chloe looks flushed."
"She looks flushed because you are shouting," Lily said, before she could decide to stay silent.
Jason stared at her. "Excuse me?"
"I said, she looks flushed because you are shouting."
"Wow." He gave a short, incredulous laugh. "Are you actually going to stand there and coach me? Today?"
"I am standing where you left me," Lily said.
"You are standing in my moment," Jason said. "That has always been your problem. Timing."
Chloe looked between them. "Do you two need a minute alone? Because this feels like a conversation I walked into halfway."
"No," Jason said. "We need exactly no minutes. Lily, water. Manager. Pick one and move."
Lily held his gaze for one beat. One only. She inclined her head, enough to let him believe he had won, and turned as if she might obey.
Then she felt Marcus before she saw him, his step measured on the floor, his presence settling at her shoulder like a door locking into place. He carried a dark file against his chest. He did not speak. He did not need to.
Jason frowned. "Who is this?"
Derek straightened. "Mr. Webb, sir, I was just about to call you. Mr. Cole is ready to proceed."
"Proceed with what?" Marcus asked.
"The purchase," Jason said. "Try to keep up. And could someone finally get this woman out of the way?"
Derek stepped forward, his smile gone hard around the edges, and pointed at Lily.
"You heard Mr. Cole," Derek said. "Step aside from Mr. Cole, miss. Now."
The showroom went still.
Chapter 21: Proof of Funds
Lily stepped forward.