“Yeah, I got some shit planned for us, baby.”
Nivea nodded, leaning over to kiss his lips.
“There’s a cabin in the back if you get sleepy and want more space.” Crown informed her.
“Okay,” she replied, but she wasn’t interested in sleeping. Nivéa wanted to stay up and savor the entire experience. She was embarrassed to admit that she’d never flown anywhere before.
Three and a half hours later, they made it to their destination. Crown had booked a penthouse suite at one of the resorts on the Strip. The view was breathtaking, just like he knew it would be, and it was the first thing that caught Nivéa’s attention. She walked straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows, city lights stretching endlessly beneath her. A slow smile spread across her face, and within minutes, she’d made herself at home, slipping out of her clothes and turning on Adele.
“Damn, don’t have too much fun without me.” Crown said, watching her move around naked.
Nivéa laughed. “Listen, I’m about to enjoy this day. Don’t be gone too long, or I might soak in that hot tub and sleep the rest of it away.”
Once she had spotted the hot tub located on the private terrace perched high above the Strip, Nivea had it in her mind that she would spend most of her time there.
“Nah, I’m just gon’ wake yo’ ass up. We got shit to do.” Crown replied, sliding into his crisp button-up and tailored slacks.
“I hear you, baby,” Nivéa’s eyes trailing over him. “You look so good.”
“You look better.” Crown hooked an arm around her waist, pulling her in, his gaze dragging slowly over her frame. “We got room service. Order whatever you want. This shouldn’t take me long.”
He stepped toward the mirror, straightening his cuffs. For a moment, he studied his reflection. He liked the man he was becoming with Nivéa. This was his endgame. He fastened his Rolex, slipped into his loafers, grabbed his briefcase, and headed out to meet his client.
∞∞∞
After walking the site, Crown and his client, Claus Garcia, returned to the conference room. Dressed in a tailored Tom Ford suit, Claus settled behind his mahogany desk while Crown took a seat across from him.
“So, Crown, what do you think? I’m trying to make wifey happy.” Claus said with a half-smile.
“I think you secured a prime location for her. The surrounding properties are established and generate consistent traffic. That works in her favor. But they’re also polished. Elevated. Which means her boutique can’t feel ordinary. If she’s going to sit among luxury, she has to reflect it. That level of execution requires premium materials. It’s going to cost you.”
Claus adjusted his tie and exhaled at the thought of another heavy investment. Still, for his wife, he’d spend whatever it took to see her smile.
“I’m listening,” he said. “Based on what you know so far, what do you have in mind?”
Crown unclasped his briefcase and spread several preliminary sketches across the table.
“These concepts are based on our initial conversation and the photos you sent me. For her boutique, we’re not just building a storefront, we’re building presence. Floor-to-ceiling glass framed in custom metal, imported stone, bespoke millwork, sculptural lighting that shifts from day to night. The entrance will feel exclusive before they ever step inside. Modern. Elevated. Timeless. It won’t compete with what’s around it, it will redefine the standard. Now that I’ve walked the site, I’ll refine a few things, but this is the overall vision.”
Claus leaned forward, eyes carefully scanning the plans. “I like this. And I trust your judgment. But how do you plan to manage this remotely? This is my wife’s first expansion out of state. I need it to be seamless. She’s stepping into something bigger. I don’t need unnecessary stress added to that.”
Crown didn’t hesitate.
“We’ll run this the same way we handled your last project. Nothing changes. My assistant, Shanise, will handle scheduling and immediate questions. Lisa, our project manager, will beyour primary on-site contact. Jamal, our senior architect who specializes in large-scale developments, will oversee this build directly. I’ll coordinate daily with the team through our systems and fly out for major milestones and inspections. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
Claus nodded, satisfied. “Sounds like you’ve got it covered. What’s next?”
“We finalize the timeline and execute the contract.”
Claus gestured for his assistant, who approached with a tablet. After reviewing the contract Crown had emailed earlier, Claus signed with a digital pen. Crown followed, discussing the timeline.
“I hear you relocated your office back home.” Claus made small talk as he poured them a drink.
“Yeah. The firm’s been growing steadily. It was time to expand.” The lie slid off Crown’s tongue effortlessly; he could sit with the best of them.
“I hear that. Congratulations to both of us, then, ey?” Claus said with a grin, raising his glass.
Crown lifted his, and they clinked.
