The moment the name Jake Rivers left Alan's lips, Luke's polite, calm expression evaporated. His eyes widened into dinner plates, his jaw dropped, and he completely ignored Alan, spinning sharply on his heel to face Aliya directly.
"Wait... Jake Rivers' sister?!" Luke blurted out, his voice cracking with sheer, unadulterated disbelief and sudden, frantic excitement as he practically dove toward Aliya's side of the table.
Aliya blinked, genuinely taken aback by the sudden, explosive burst of enthusiasm from a complete stranger.
"Uh... yes?" Aliya replied, raising an eyebrow.
Luke clasped his hands together, his face flushing with desperate hope. "Are you serious?! Oh, thank god! Listen, I know this is completely out of line, I just met you, but I am begging you—do you think there is any possible way you could get me VIP access into the Meridian Gallery auction happening right now?"
The entire table stared at Luke as if he had lost his mind.
