Beau wasn't surprised by Lanet's reaction, but it still stung. He had hoped, just for a moment, that maybe this one elite would be different—someone who didn't see the world in black and white.
What a disappointment, he thought bitterly.
As Beau turned to look at Lanet, ready to give him a piece of his mind, something stopped him. Lanet was looking at him, but not with the revulsion Beau expected. No, this wasn't disgust. Lanet's gaze held surprise, curiosity, and maybe even… something else.
Lanet shifted in his seat, clearly tense, like he was measuring every word before speaking. "Is that why you didn't buy anything at the auction?"
Beau's brows furrowed. "No. That's not why."
Lanet's eyes narrowed slightly. "But the hotel you're living in, how could you afford that?"
"I said I was lower class than you, not poor." Beau bit out.
Some people, like him, had money. But they chose to stay under the radar.
Lanet seemed to deflate a little at the bite in Beau's tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."
Beau exhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. It's not just him, he reminded himself. It's the whole damn system.
"Look," Beau said, softening his voice, "Let's just enjoy this lunch. I don't care much about my status. I just want to be treated well."
Lanet finally nodded, his lips pulling into a tight, uncertain smile. "Of course."
But even as Lanet tried to smile, Beau could feel the tension still rolling off of him. He's not really okay with this, Beau realized. There was something off now.
Despite his best efforts to ease the tension, Beau's mind kept returning to one thing: It doesn't matter. It didn't matter how many times Lanet tried to be nice. They were still from two completely different worlds. Worlds that weren't meant to mix.
It wasn't long before they arrived at a lavishly decorated restaurant, the kind of place that oozed wealth and exclusivity. They were led to a table with a perfect view of the city. The skyscrapers stood tall, their glass facades gleaming in the afternoon light, while a few of the buildings were adorned with trees and plants, likely an attempt to restore some of the nature that had been lost long ago.
Beau's gaze drifted toward the outskirts of the city, where his district lay hidden, almost invisible against the sprawling metropolis. He couldn't help but feel bitter. It was like they didn't even exist. Maybe that was why people like Lanet never seemed to care about them—people who lived in such a different world, a world that didn't even acknowledge the existence of those beneath them.
"Hey, are you alright?" Lanet's voice pulled Beau from his thoughts. He turned to find Lanet looking at him, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Beau offered a strained smile. "This place is lovely."
Lanet's face softened, and his smile deepened. "I'm glad you like it."
Their gazes met as they studied each other. There was something about those eyes—charcoal dark and intense—that seemed to pierce right through him. Those eyes could draw anyone in, make them forget their own intentions. Even Beau, it seemed. (Coz, you're supposed to be robbing him Beau)
Lanet cleared his throat. "I know close to nothing about you. Can you at least tell me what a normal day is like for you?"
The question snapped Beau out of the daze he had fallen into. "Uhm…" He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. "I volunteer at the community clinic most times."
Lanet tilted his head slightly, listening intently. "Are you a nurse?"
Beau shook his head. "No, but I help where I can. If I'm not at the clinic, then I'm working on… other stuff." He left it vague, not wanting to reveal too much.
Lanet nodded, clearly satisfied with Beau's response. "That's nice. Do you play any sports or have any hobbies?"
He thought for a moment before answering. "I don't play sports, but I like to watch the children in my neighbourhood play soccer. It's a simple thing, but... it reminds me of how carefree life used to feel."
As Beau continued talking about his neighbourhood and the kids, a woman suddenly approached their table. She was carrying several platters of food, her arms full of beautifully arranged dishes that seemed to sparkle with flavour.
"Maria, we haven't ordered yet," Lanet said, his tone surprised and a little embarrassed.
Maria, however, didn't care. "Please, Lanet, this is to express my gratitude. If it weren't for you, they could've shut us down." Her voice was full of a motherly kindness that struck Beau somewhere deep in his chest—like a memory of someone who used to be close to him, someone he no longer had the privilege of being near.
"It's been over two years. You say that every time I come here." Lanet shifted uncomfortably, clearly wanting to push the food away, but Maria was insistent, pushing the tray back toward him with a grin.
"Then get used to it," Maria said before finally turning her attention to Beau.
"Anyway, where are my manners?" she said brightly.
"This is my date... uh..." Lanet faltered, realizing that he still didn't know Beau's name.
Beau couldn't help but chuckle at the awkwardness. Maria's eyes twinkled with amusement, and she flashed him a playful grin. "Tired of being a bachelor?"
Lanet groaned. "Oh god, please don't embarrass me. Go away."
Maria just laughed—a teasing, childlike giggle—as she skipped away from the table.
"So..." Lanet rubbed the back of his neck, clearly trying to shake off the awkwardness from the earlier exchange with Maria.
Beau chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "Don't be embarrassed. She's quite nice for an elite."
Lanet raised an eyebrow, his tone growing serious. "You can't judge a person based on their status in society. I know a lot of elites who are nice."
Beau scoffed, his lips curving into a small smile. "It's easy for you to say, you're one of them."
Something seemed to click in Lanet's mind, and his expression softened, a thoughtful look replacing the earlier tension. "How about we learn from each other? If I can see life from your perspective, I think I'll understand you better, and maybe you can understand me too. Then you'll see that not every person is the same."
Maybe he wasn't so bad after all. The words made something warm stir inside Beau, hope, that maybe the lines between them weren't so clearly drawn by their differences.
The conversation flowed easily after that, the two of them sharing stories of their lives. Lanet, despite his wealth and privilege, was far more down-to-earth than Beau had expected.
When lunch ended, Lanet was quick to leave a generous tip, probably paying for the meal in full.
Soon enough, they were in the car again, heading back to the hotel.
"I have to go back to work," Lanet said, sounding apologetic. "I wish we had a little more time together."
Beau smiled. "I'm glad you made the time."
An awkward silence lingered between them. Lanet fiddled nervously with his car keys, avoiding eye contact. Then, with a deep breath, he turned to Beau.
"Can I see you again?"
Beau felt a lump rise in his throat. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Lanet again—he did. But the situation was complicated.
"I would love to see you again," He pursed his lips, trying to find a way to let him down gently.
Lanet's face fell. "There's a but, isn't there?"
Beau nodded. "There is." He swallowed hard. As much as he wanted to embrace the warmth between them, he couldn't.
"Well, if anything, I enjoyed my time with you, and I really, really hope that I see you again."
Beau's heart twisted, but he forced a smile. "Me too."
Lanet got out of the car and rushed to the other side to open the door for him.
"After today, I don't ever want to open my own door," Beau said, trying to keep things light.
"That can be arranged," Lanet smirked, his eyes sparkling with something Beau couldn't quite place.
In that moment, everything felt simple. Lanet wasn't a target, or a wealthy elite. He was just a man—a man who was kind, genuine.
Without thinking, Beau threw his arms around Lanet's neck and hugged him tightly for a moment. He was about to pull away, but Lanet wrapped his strong arms around his waist, pulling him in just a little closer.
"Have a good day, Lanet," Beau whispered, his voice barely audible.
Lanet pulled back slightly, his lips curling into a soft smile. "Have a great one, Mysterious." His lips brushed against Beau's cheek in a sweet, lingering kiss before he let him go, stepping back with a look that almost made Beau forget where they were.
As Lanet got back into his car and drove off, Beau stood frozen for a moment, feeling a rush of emotions he wasn't prepared for. I am so fucked, he thought to himself, but the thought didn't sting as much as it should have. In fact, a small, reckless part of him didn't care. He was living on the edge, and for once, it felt exhilarating.
Grinning from ear to ear, Beau headed back to the hotel room feeling excited.
As soon as he stepped into the living room, his team's focused energy hit him.
"Beau! Great, you're here." Teddy's head popped up from behind his laptop .
"What's everyone busy with?" Beau asked.
"Everything's ready," Nova said. "We've got the security team schedule, we know when he'll be leaving and when he'll be back, we know where the safe is and what kind of safe it is. Stanz will be here by tonight."
Beau's excitement faded as reality set back in. He had barely gotten a taste of something that could be good. He was here for a job, not a romance.
He never thought he'd find himself questioning the job, but in that moment, he didn't want to be part of the heist anymore. It was stupid—he knew that. But everything with Lanet had felt different. He had never felt loneliness so keenly until today.
I guess I could be lucky and a meteorite will hit the city. He thought, glancing up at the clear skies from the hotel's large floor-to-ceiling window. Then we wouldn't have to rob him…
But of course, that wasn't going to happen.
Beau sighed, turning back to his team as they laid out the plans for the job. Tomorrow night.
As he sat down, he couldn't shake the thought of Lanet's smile, his gentle voice, and that kiss on his cheek. It was a reminder of how far out of reach things had become—and how much closer he was to losing everything.
There was no going back now.