Calliope strolled into the exclusive club, blissfully unaware that someone was tailing her.


    Gideon kept a safe distance behind, ensuring he wouldn''t draw attention yet close enough to keep her in sight. The particr club was tucked away in a prime location downtown, right by the sereneke, and had quite the reputation.


    Usually, getting into a ce like this required some serious clout. If you weren''t one of Capitalton''s elite, you could forget about it.


    Gideon never pegged Calliope as someone who could enter such a ce. He assumed she was with Ss, who had the pull that made such things possible. But Calliope appeared alone. Ss''s car had already driven off.


    What was she doing there? Did she snag Ss''s tinum-level membership card?


    It made sense. Calliope herself wouldn''t have the credentials to step foot in a ce like this. Gideon had only recently scored his membership after shelling out a small fortune and calling in countless favors.


    He shook his head, chuckling at his own naivety. What was he thinking? There was no way Calliope could just waltz in here.


    Plus, there was a private auction happening today, featuring some extremely rare artifacts. The club was even harder to ess than usual. Unless Ss had sent her here, she wouldn''t have a shot.


    Gideon followed at a respectable distance, watching as Calliope approached the entrance. To his utter bewilderment, the staff greeted her with nods of respect, not even asking for her membership card. She just breezed right in.


    Something was off! Gideon remembered how strict the club''s security was. Even members had to go through rigorous checks. Yet there Calliope was, not even pausing at the door.


    He quickened and tried to enter right behind her, but got stopped.


    "Sir, may I see your VIP card?" The staff member smiled politely.


    "Do you seriously need to see my card? You should know who I am," Gideon questioned, incredulous.


    Calliope had walked right in, and now he was being held up?


    "Mr. Baker, while we do recognize you, it''s part of our protocol. Please, show your VIP card."


    "Why verify if you already know I have one? Gideon pressed. "And what about the person who just went in? You didn''t ask her for a card. Are you ying favorites?"


    The staff member chuckled. "Mr. Baker, you misunderstand. Thedy isn''t a VIP."


    "Then how did she get in?" Gideon was more puzzled than ever.


    "Technically speaking, she''s our


    boss," then


    staff member grinned at


    ed. "We can''t ask the boss for a card, can we?"


    "Your boss?" Gideon was shocked. "You''re telling me that woman is the owner? Come on, I might not know


    who the owner is, and they might be mysterious, but a woman? Really?"


    "Mr. Baker, she is indeed our boss."


    "And what''s the boss''s name?" Gideon asked, still skeptical.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Baker, but we can''t disclose that information."


    Gideon was bbergasted.


    Calliope, the owner of this club? No way. If she was the owner, then he might as well be the King.