Chapter 6: Caught in 4K

"Look at this guy," Lexi whispered to her phone, ensuring the camera had a clear angle of Jude and the Maybach. "He’s got the whole brooding, mysterious billionaire vibe going on. But a pretty face and a fancy ride mean nothing to me. Watch me wrap this guy around my little finger."

Lexi smoothed out her skirt, put on her best damsel-in-distress expression, and walked toward Jude.

Just as she passed him, she let out a delicate gasp, intentionally rolling her ankle.

She threw her weight sideways, aiming to crash directly into his chest.

*Got him,* she thought, preparing for the inevitable awkward grab and the flustered apologies.

The five attribute points he had allocated into Strength and Agility fired instantly. Instead of fumbling or stepping back, Jude smoothly shifted his stance.

He didn’t just brace her fall; he caught her completely, wrapping one strong arm around her waist and the other under her knees, lifting her off the ground before her shoes even scuffed the pavement.

Lexi’s breath hitched. She found herself suddenly cradled against his chest, staring up at him in genuine shock.

"Oh," Lexi stammered, forgetting her script. "I... my blood sugar... I’m so dizzy."

"Is that so?" Jude asked.

He glanced at the gimbal clutched in her right hand, the red recording light blinking steadily.

Without breaking a sweat, Jude walked three steps to a bench and deposited her neatly onto it.

"Dizziness is dangerous. Luckily, you bumped into me," Jude said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Lexi was speechless. *What is he doing?*

Jude turned to the small artisan kiosk right next to the bench, tossed a crinkled two-dollar bill onto the counter, and grabbed a water bottle.

He twisted the cap off and handed it to Lexi.

"Here," Jude said, patting her gently on the shoulder. "Hydrate. It would be a real shame if you actually passed out and your viewers missed the rest of your broadcast."

Lexi’s jaw dropped.

With a nod, Jude turned and continued his walk down the promenade.

Lexi looked down at her phone screen. The chat was moving so fast it was a blur of text and emojis.

*LMAOOO HE READ HER LIKE A BOOK!*

*Alpha energy.*

*He gave her a $2 water and left!*

*Streamer taking massive Ls today!*

The guy with the glasses, who was still standing outside the jewelry store across the plaza after blowing two thousand dollars to appease his angry girlfriend, watched the entire interaction.

He looked at Jude, who had defused a manipulative trap with a cheap bottle of water and a smirk, and then looked at his own empty wallet.

A wave of profound depression washed over him.

Lexi’s face burned hot with embarrassment. Her smile shattered.

*Dammit!* she thought, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her phone.

Her grand plan to embarrass a rich guy had backfired. Jude hadn’t looked like a creep; he looked cool, and he had made her look like an amateur.

"No way," Lexi muttered under her breath, glaring at Jude’s retreating back. "I am not letting this go. I’m going to expose him. Look at that cheap suit he’s wearing! He’s probably just a chauffeur posing in front of his boss’s car!"

Ignoring her chat’s teasing, Lexi stood up and began tailing Jude from a distance.

A few blocks away, Jude’s phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from Manager Caldwell at the Aurelius boutique.

*Mr. Lawson, the reserve order of fifty bespoke suits has been fully prepped. We have loaded it into our private transport truck. However, store policy requires a signature for any release exceeding $250,000. We are parked just at the edge of the Zenith District.*

Jude tapped out a quick confirmation. He wasn’t far. He adjusted his collar and walked toward the designated intersection.

At the corner of the high-end district, a black transport truck was idling with its hazard lights blinking.

Pedestrians were giving it curious looks. Usually, trucks that size were reserved for moving entire store inventories.

Jude approached the corner, looking for Caldwell.

Suddenly, Lexi popped out from behind a nearby pillar, a sickly-sweet smile plastered on her face.

"Wow, what a coincidence!" Lexi exclaimed, shoving her camera slightly in his direction. "We meet again! I didn’t get to properly thank you for the water earlier."

Jude stopped, letting out a sigh. This woman was remarkably persistent. "Don’t mention it. Feeling better?"

"Much better," Lexi said, her eyes doing a slow sweep of his faded, off-the-rack polyester suit. "Though I have to ask... what brings you to the Zenith District? This is the most expensive street in the city. You aren’t planning on buying anything, are you?"

She was openly mocking him now, trying to salvage her ego by pointing out his cheap clothes to her audience.

Jude didn’t care about the stream, but her assumptions were getting tiresome.

"No," Jude said simply. "I’m not here to buy anything right now."

Lexi’s eyes lit up in triumph. *I knew it. He’s completely broke.*

At that exact moment, a man in a flashy silk shirt and a diamond-encrusted watch strutted out of a nearby luxury jewelry store, a young model hanging off his arm. He reeked of new money and arrogance.

Lexi immediately saw an opportunity to double down. She turned her camera to the flashy man.

"Excuse me, sir! I’m doing a quick lifestyle interview," Lexi said cheerfully. "Would you mind sharing what you just bought for this lovely lady?"

The flashy man puffed out his chest, thrilled to have an audience.

"Oh, nothing major. Just a thirty-thousand-dollar diamond tennis bracelet for my baby here. The markets have been good to me, so what’s thirty grand, right?"

"Wow!" Lexi gasped. "That is incredible! A real high-roller. What do you think about people who come to the Zenith District just to window shop because they can’t afford a single item?"

She angled the camera directly at Jude as she asked the question.

The flashy man looked Jude up and down, taking in the frayed lapels and the scuffed shoes.

He let out a snort.

"Look at him," the man laughed. "It’s pathetic. Guys like this just come here to stare at things they’ll never touch. With a suit like that, he’s probably a lost intern or someone’s driver. Frankly, the security shouldn’t even let people dressed like that onto this street."

The model on his arm giggled loudly. "So true, babe. Good thing you aren’t a broke loser."

Lexi was ecstatic. She had successfully flipped the narrative. She turned back to Jude, offering a mock-sympathetic pout.

"Aw, don’t feel bad, handsome! Maybe one day you’ll save up enough to buy a nice tie!"

Before Jude could even open his mouth to reply, a voice echoed down the street.

"Mr. Lawson! Mr. Lawson, I am so sorry for the wait!"

Manager Caldwell, flanked by three identically dressed boutique employees holding clipboards, came sprinting out of the Aurelius storefront.

He looked frantic, ignoring Lexi and the flashy man as he skidded to a halt in front of Jude and bowed deeply.

"We had to secure the transport properly," Caldwell breathed, offering Jude a stack of invoices. "Please, sir, your signature."

Jude took the pen and signed the top sheet.

"Excellent! Open it up, boys!" Caldwell shouted.

The employees rushed to the back of the black transport truck and hit the hydraulic lift.

The doors rolled up, revealing the interior.

The truck was packed front-to-back with dozens of premium garment bags, all bearing the golden *Aurelius* crest.

There were rows of bespoke suits, luxury outerwear, and perfectly packaged dress shoes.

The flashy man stopped laughing. His jaw dropped.

"Is this everything?" Jude asked, handing the clipboard back.

"Yes, Mr. Lawson!" Caldwell announced proudly, loud enough for the entire street to hear. "Fifty bespoke corporate suits, plus your entire personal seasonal wardrobe buyout! A fully paid transaction of five hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars! We are ready to transport it to your suite at the Obsidian Grand whenever you say the word!"

The flashy man’s eyes rolled back in his head.

Over half a million dollars? On *clothes*?