CHAPTER 204: CHAPTER 203: INFLUENCE OF STERLING FAMILY

He started walking toward it, only for Kaalan to quickly step in front of the driver-side door.

"Boss, I’ll drive. You sit in the back."

Rex blinked, puzzled. "I can drive. I mean, I got here, didn’t I?"

Victor and Kaalan exchanged glances, then shook their heads almost in perfect sync.

"That’s exactly the problem," Victor muttered. "The way you stopped your last car? That was less ’driving’ and more ’vehicular parkour.’"

"Hey! That was skill!" Rex argued, feigning indignation.

"That was death with flair," Victor replied dryly.

Kaalan nodded solemnly. "Let me handle this, Boss. Back in the army, I drove everything—tanks, planes, helicopters. Give me a few hours, I could probably pilot a submarine, too. This car? It’s in safe hands."

Victor added with a slight smirk, "Yeah, let’s just let Kaelan drive. Trust me, there’s no vehicle this guy can’t tame. Even the army had a nickname for him: ’The Wheel Whisperer.’"

Rex sighed, throwing his hands up. "Fine. Fine. You win."

He slid into the back seat—and was instantly swallowed in decadence.

The interior of the Regalis Phantom was nothing short of breathtaking. The seats were upholstered in plush crimson and jet-black leather—his favorite colors—stitched with intricate patterns that hinted at custom craftsmanship. The air inside was filled with the scent of aged mahogany, expensive leather, and a hint of cedar and bergamot from the onboard diffuser.

The ceiling sparkled faintly with thousands of fiber-optic lights, mimicking a soft, starlit sky. Gentle ambient lighting curved along the door panels, casting a soothing glow. The floor beneath his feet was covered in handwoven velvet carpeting so soft it made him second-guess wearing shoes.

Every detail screamed opulence—but in a restrained, deliberate way. Nothing flashy. Everything curated.

Victor and Kaelan also got into the front seat. Kaelan, sliding behind the wheel with a focused gleam in his eyes, began fiddling with the controls—testing the grip, adjusting the seat, and brushing a hand over the dashboard like he was greeting an old friend. Within moments, his hands and feet moved with precision and confidence, already having gotten a feel for the car as if he’d driven it his whole life.

Victor, on the other hand, was a bit more... animated. He shifted in his seat, pushing his butt around like he was trying to test every inch of the plush leather cushion. He ran his fingers over the buttons and trim, admiring the seamless panel work and muttering things like, "Man, this leather could put a five-star hotel to shame," and "Is this real diamond stitching?" He tilted his head to catch the ceiling lights, marveling like a kid on a theme park ride.

Despite his antics, his awe was genuine. The Regalia Ravelle wasn’t just transportation—it was the kind of car that made even seasoned professionals like them act like starstruck teenagers. "

The engine purred to life—no roar, no jolt. Just a seamless glide forward, like the car was floating above the ground.

Victor and Kaalan settled in their roles like professionals. The city melted around them as the Regalis Phantom drifted into LA traffic. Inside, it was silent, peaceful, removed from the chaos.

As Rex leaned his head back and exhaled deeply, the exhaustion of the day began to settle in. But even so, a part of his mind stayed alert—calculating.

He didn’t know much about the Sterling family yet, but from Arabella’s wide-eyed stories and the army of guards at their beck and call, he could infer enough. These weren’t just rich people. They were influential. The kind who made things move behind closed doors. The kind of connection that, once secured, could become a shield—or a sword—in the cutthroat world he intended to step into.

In the business world, talent and skill were important—but not as important as connections. Without backing, a genius could still vanish. But with the right hand at your back, even a fool could rise.

Still processing everything, Rex turned slightly toward Victor. "Hey... just how powerful is the Sterling family, really?"

Victor’s eyes lit up. "Boss, you’ve asked the right guy." He leaned in slightly, dropping his voice with an almost theatrical tone. "You really struck gold... no, scratch that—diamond. Even though I should lecture you for acting on impulse earlier, as a friend, I gotta say—you have insane luck."

He glanced at the sleek interior around them and then continued, "You saved a child, yeah. But not just any child. Arabella Sterling is the crown jewel of the entire Sterling family. And that family? They aren’t just some upper-class elites in LA. Their influence stretches across the entire country—and even beyond."

Rex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Victor grinned slightly and leaned in like he was about to share a delicious secret. "Boss, you’ve asked the right guy. Let me tell you, you didn’t just strike gold—you struck a damn diamond mine. Sterling Group isn’t just a top 500 company in the world; they’re a juggernaut. They’ve got stakes in practically every industry—tech, finance, luxury goods, real estate, energy, pharmaceuticals—you name it, they own a slice of it. But more than wealth, it’s their reach that’s terrifying."

He lowered his voice a notch. "But their real strength? Connections. Influence. It’s whispered they’ve got friends in Washington. And the kind of friends that don’t appear in newspapers or social media. Real power—the kind you only see when they want to be seen."

He tapped the side of his temple for emphasis. "They don’t just make headlines, Rex. They shift economies. It’s said that a word from their boardroom can ripple through global markets. And their influence? Let’s just say there are whispers about ties to high-level figures in Washington. Not the social-media influencers kind—but the shadowy, ’you’ll never hear their names’ kind. The ones who really pull strings."

He lowered his voice a notch. "But their real strength? Connections. Influence. It’s whispered they’ve got friends in Washington. And the kind of friends that don’t appear in newspapers or social media. Real power—the kind you only see when they want to be seen."

Rex leaned back, absorbing every word. He didn’t know the full depth of what he’d stepped into yet, but something told him this wasn’t a mere thank-you.

In the ruthless jungle of business, connections were worth more than cash. A hundred deals could be crushed by a single rumor, or sealed with a single handshake. And if he ever planned to dive into that world—the real world of power—he’d need allies like this.

He subtly touched the card in his pocket, Vivienne hadn’t just handed him a card—she’d given him a silent promise, a pass into rarified circles. That card wasn’t just a symbol of gratitude—it was leverage. It was insurance for a rainy day, a bridge to opportunity, and a door to the kind of influence people spent lifetimes chasing. A single favor from the Sterling family could change the course of a business empire—or protect one from crumbling. This was more than generosity. This was legacy, and she had just offered him a piece of it.

And Rex? He wasn’t foolish enough to waste that key.

He smirked faintly as the city lights shimmered past the windows.

Los Angeles wasn’t done with him.

And this time, he wasn’t just passing through—he was stepping in with keys to a new world, a name worth remembering, and a future that was finally, undeniably his to shape.

(End of Chapter)