The elevator climbed silently toward the penthouse, each floor marked by a soft chime that seemed to echo James’s racing heartbeat. At twenty-two, James Jacobs had finally made it—the job offer from Goldman Sachs had come through that morning, and tonight felt like the beginning of everything he’d worked toward. His reflection in the polished steel doors showed a man who’d earned his confidence: broad shoulders from years of college basketball, designer clothes that fit his success, and eyes that held the satisfaction of someone who’d just conquered the world.
The penthouse suite stretched across the top floor of the Cosmopolitan, floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip in all its neon glory. James had spared no expense—crystal flutes waited on the marble bar, premium bottles chilled in silver buckets, and the sound system played something smooth and sophisticated that matched the city’s electric pulse below.
His phone chimed wi
