Zack had beaten him to it.

    Ethan sighed, pulling his Porsche into an empty spot. He turned off the ignition, stepped out of the car, and adjusted his tie. His shoes clacked against the pavement as he straightened his silver tuxedo.

    The staff was already hard at work.

    A few maids were sweeping the drive-through with large brooms, their movements swift and methodical.

    Inside, more workers could be seen, adjusting table placements, wiping down glass surfaces, ensuring everything was spotless.

    He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air mixed with the faint scent of fresh flowers from the entrance garden.

    This was his moment.

    Stepping through the glass doors, the cool, luxurious interior of ATLAS greeted him.

    The marble floors gleamed under the soft overhead lighting, and the grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling sparkled as the light hit it just right.

    Zack was standing near the main lobby, scrolling through his phone, but he looked up the moment Ethan entered.

    Their eyes met, and Zack grinned.

    "Thought you were gonna oversleep," Zack said, tucking his phone into his pocket.

    Ethan scoffed, shaking his head as they clasped hands in a firm handshake. "You''re one to talk. You look like you haven''t slept in a week."

    Zack chuckled. "I haven''t. Not really."

    Ethan took a good look at his business partner. The man was dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, sharp and commanding, but the exhaustion in his eyes was unmistakable.

    They were both running on fumes, but that was the price of success.

    "Any updates?" Ethan asked.

    Zack ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Everything''s in motion. The VIP guests start arriving in about four hours, so we still have some breathing room. Catering is on schedule, security is tight, and the entertainment teams are doing their final checks."

    Ethan nodded. "Good. And the media?"

    "They''re set up outside. Cameras will start rolling once the first wave of guests arrive."

    Ethan took a moment to absorb the information. Everything was moving according to plan. ATLAS wasn''t just any resort — it was designed to be the resort, an experience so exclusive that only the elite could even dream of stepping foot inside.

    Zack studied Ethan for a moment. "You nervous?"

    Ethan smirked. "Not even a little."

    Zack raised a brow, unconvinced. "Bullshit."

    Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Maybe just a little. But that''s a good thing. It means this actually matters."

    A sudden tug at his wrist yanked him away from the door.

    Ethan blinked in surprise as he was pulled to the side.

    Melissa.

    Her grip was firm, her nails digging slightly into his skin as she dragged him away from the entrance.

    "Come on," she said, not even sparing him a glance.

    Ethan sighed but didn''t resist. He quickly signaled for a nearby butler to take over at the door before allowing Melissa to lead him deeper into the resort.

    "What now?" he asked, keeping his voice even.

    Melissa finally stopped once they reached the main VIP lounge, a private space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the infinity pool.

    She turned to face him, arms crossed.

    "Why are you standing at the front like some doorman?" she demanded.

    Ethan chuckled. "Because someone has to welcome the guests."

    "That''s what the staff is for," she said, exasperated. "You''re the owner of ATLAS, Ethan. You don''t need to be doing entry-level hospitality work."

    Ethan leaned against one of the nearby tables, watching her with amusement.

    "Maybe I like being hands-on," he said with a shrug.

    Melissa rolled her eyes. "It''s a waste of your time."

    Ethan didn''t argue. Instead, he glanced out the massive windows, watching as more guests trickled into the resort grounds.

    "Was that all?" he asked after a moment.

    Melissa scoffed. "You''re impossible, you know that?"

    Ethan smirked. "I''ve been told."

    She sighed but didn''t push the matter further. Instead, she took a step closer, tilting her head slightly.

    "You nervous?" she asked.

    Ethan thought about it for a second.

    "Nah," he said eventually. "Just... restless."

    Melissa nodded like she understood.

    "I get it," she said. "Today''s a big day. But you should take it easy. You''ve already done everything you could."