The air was thick with tension, as Joey and Winter found themselves sitting together at the gathering, their eyes occasionally darting to the other guests in the room. The energy of Capone's birthday celebration was a mix of lighthearted chatter and unspoken weight—especially considering the absence of Zoey, who had stayed behind to handle things at ROYAL, her responsibilities as the co-owner pulling her away from the event.
Joey couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He observed his boss, Capone, who was busy chatting with a few of the higher-ups from the business, a hint of melancholy clouding his usually confident demeanor. It was hard not to notice the tension, especially since Zoey wasn't by his side.
