"Oh, by the way, you can call me too, right? You have my number?" Nigel said casually as he snatched Calliope''s phone and added his contact without waiting for a response.


    Calliope just stood there, speechless.


    "You guys, be nice to my lifesaver here. If you''re not, I''ll deal with you myself!" Nigel dered before heading out the door.


    Monty and the group fell silent, clearly intimidated by Nigel''s warning. They exchanged nces and then turned their eyes back to Calliope.


    "Calliope, are you nning to tattle on us to Nigel if we don''t meet your expectations?" Monty asked, half-joking, half-serious.


    "No wonder you chose this ce for dinner. Did you know Nigel would be here all along?" Another member chimed in.


    "And aren''t you supposed to be with Ss? What''s going on with you and Nigel? Are you out of your mind?" Valerian''s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    Calliope simply shrugged, her face a mask of indifference.


    Zelda leaned in, her eyes narrowed. "So, are you going to help us or not? And what about Lisette? Are you going to get her out?"


    "Callie, I''m begging you. Please help us," Monty pleaded, his eyes hopeful.


    "I already told you my terms, didn''t I? Give me thepany, and I''ll save it. Otherwise, it''s not my problem," Calliope replied calmly.


    "Callie, stop being so ridiculous!" Monty sighed, clearly frustrated. "Running apany isn''t child''s y. You''ve been a stay-at-home wife, you wouldn''t understand."


    "I''ll give you five percent of thepany shares. Help us, please," he offered, as if making a huge concession.


    "Calliope, that''s a fair amount. Don''t push your luck," Zelda added, her tone sharp. Calliope shrugged again. "Nope, not interested. It''s too little."


    Valerian sneered. "You? Run a


    Last time you were there,


    co kicked you out. You think this is


    lved you out. You think this is


    some kind of game?"


    Just then, the door creaked open, silencing everyone. They all


    Nigel''s return but


    instead greeted by Franco.


    belongs to en.kiko et


    "Franco!" Monty eximed, surprised to see him. "What''s going on?"


    Everyone knew that Franco managed this club, and his presence was unusual.


    Franco smirked, giving Calliope a knowing nce before turning to the others. "Nothing much, just saying hi since our boss is dining here. Sorry, I overheard your conversation. Just so you know, she''s more than capable of running apany."


    Monty and the group exchanged confused looks.


    "Franco, what do you mean?" Monty asked, perplexed. "Your boss? The owner of the Pearl Tiger Club?"


    "That''s right," Franco chuckled. "Our boss is so low-key, didn''t even announce their arrival."


    "Who is your boss, exactly?" Monty asked, his eyes scanning the room until theynded on Horatio.


    Valerian couldn''t help butugh, "Horatio, is this your ce? You''ve been holding out on us!"