Inside the luxurious vehicle, Max sat in the back, the smooth hum of the engine carrying him further away from Brinehurst and closer to the Stern manor that lay on the outskirts of the city. The leather seats were soft beneath him, but no matter how comfortable the ride, his body remained stiff, his mind elsewhere.
He wasn't exactly looking forward to this gathering. He never did. Meeting with the Stern family was always an ordeal, always a battle of veiled words and hidden intentions. Still, there was no avoiding it. Instead, he tried to focus inward, to steady his thoughts, and to think carefully about what came next. He had literally just graduated a few hours ago, yet already his mind was turning to goals and steps, to strategy and survival.
