Chapter 06 – The Beautiful People
***Orangeside Streets***
Amelia walked home early from her half-shift, headphones in, music paused.
A woman leaned out of a second-floor window, calling a toddler inside with a voice where love sharpened into a scolding. Amelia looked away, keeping her pace steady.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
It was Chase:
Still on for Wednesday? I promise terrible jokes and honest answers.
A second later, another followed:
Summers Brew? Noon-ish?
Amelia stopped at the curb, watching a yellow cab splash through a puddle.
She typed back:
Summers Brew…I hope the coffee’s HOT like the season
Chase replied:
👍 👍
Pocketing the phone, Amelia smiled and continued home.
***Winters Home***
Amelia flicked the switch.
The studio apartment brightened, the click echoing in the room. She slipped off her shoes and moved to the center of the space, taking in her life.
A small fish tank hummed in the corner, and three potted plants sat on the windowsill, though only two were still valiantly clinging to life.
Neat, contained, manageable. A far cry from the life she planned for herself.
Her gaze drifted to the unopened letter from her mother hanging on the corkboard with a single translucent thumb-tack. Walking up she flicked the corner of the envelope.
Your life is small, it would say.
It was her mother’s favorite opinion, delivered a dozen different ways. The letters had sharpened since the FBI rejection.
As if smallness was a bug rather than a feature.
For the first time, Wednesday was more than just ‘hump-day.’
***El Viento Tower***
Across town, in the velvet-draped war room.
Vincenzo leaned back. Glow from the monitor illuminating his face, the private conference loading. Sliding off his ornate ring, he placed it on his desk.
EL VIENTO INTERNAL — EXECUTIVE BOARD ACCESS ONLY.
One by one, seven names chimed in. Alfonso. Eliza. Lucius. Shen.
And at the very top, glowing brighter than the rest:
Calder Viento — ONLINE.
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened. Whispering to himself, “Chase’s ‘spark’ from that orphanage is father’s latest protege.” His mouth twitched into a smile.
He settled into the velvet chair. “Good evening,” his voice dropping into a low, tender register. “Thank you for joining. Tonight is simple. Influence. And how we optimize it.”
Vincenzo tapped the key.
The image of Chase and Amelia filled the screens.
It was a shot from the reunion night.
Chase stood in the rain, his shoulders squared and his expression tired but resolute. Above him, Amelia was caught in the warm glow of her porch light, her bare feet pressing against the cold concrete.
“Look at him,” Vincenzo said, his voice softening.
“My oldest friend. The man who thought paying for Xbox Live was a scam, but cheated at wrestling. I’ve always admired that beautiful contradiction.”
He swiped to the next image — the two of them laughing near the percolator, heads tilted toward each other. He zoomed in on Amelia. “And her… she’s perfect. Gentle. Quirky. Readable. Together they’re the kind of beautiful people the public will trust. Relatable enough to follow, aspirational enough to envy.”
A low voice — Alfonso — cut in first.
“More influencer theater? We need to get to work on upgrading those properties. Naomi Lake needs actual work, not another content campaign.”
Vincenzo smiled. “What better way to push El Viento Construction into the public. Upgrade the cabins and have them show off your division’s craftmanship.”
Alfonso grumbled.
A softer, amused tone from Eliza: “She is very… cute. Almost too wholesome. Especially for your old high school buddy. He’s got that brooding hero thing down.”
Calder’s voice, quiet but clear: “Mr. Chase is awesome, and she reminds me of this lady who talked with me at Squire Park… she was nice, I felt better. That was before… Father.”
A creepy mutter — Shen — followed: “I like her. She’d fit nicely in my—”
Groans and sharp static cut him off.
Vincenzo leaned forward. “See? Even when you annoy each other, they still pull a reaction. Give me the green light on this pair, and I’ll wrap every one of your divisions in the kind of goodwill money can’t buy.”
The votes lit up one by one.
No hesitation. No holdouts.
Just quiet, unanimous alignment.
BOARD APPROVAL: 100%.
Vincenzo leaned forward, his eyes bright, picking up the ring. Sliding it back on and tapping the ornate ring twice on his desk.
“I’m not giving you guys a gift, I’m bringing you into the fold.”