James’s mother stood in the doorway of their Northgate apartment with two large suitcases packed and waiting. She wore her best casual clothes, which were still worn but clean, and the anxious expression on her face told James she’d been awake most of the night wondering where they were going.

"Are you going to tell me now?" she asked for the third time that morning.

James checked his phone, confirming the cab was five minutes away. "You’ll see soon."

"James." Her voice took on that tone mothers used when they were trying very hard to stay patient. "You told me to pack for three months. I need to know—"

"Do you trust me?" James asked, meeting her eyes.

Her expression softened. "Of course I do."

"Then trust me now," he said, just as a knock sounded at the door.

The cab driver helped them load the suitcases into the trunk while James’s mother watched with growing confusion. When they settled into the back seat, James leaned forward and gave the driver the address.

"Forty-seven Seaview Terrace, Killiney."

His mother’s head whipped toward him. "Killiney?"

"Just wait," James said.

The twenty-minute drive took them through Dublin as the city gave way to suburbs and then coastal roads. His mother watched through the window as the houses got bigger and the neighborhoods got quieter, her fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve.

"What’s in Killiney?" she asked quietly.

"A friend," James said.

"You don’t have friends in Killiney."

"I do now."

She didn’t respond, just continued watching the scenery change as they drove deeper into one of Dublin’s most expensive areas.

The cab turned onto Seaview Terrace, a tree-lined street where the ocean was visible in the distance and every house looked like it belonged in a magazine. When the driver pulled to a stop in front of Number 47, James’s mother went very still.

The property sat behind wrought-iron gates with modern architecture rising beyond them, surrounded by a landscaped garden and offering a clear view of the sea beyond.

"Is this where your friend lives?" she asked.

James paid the fare with a generous tip and climbed out. "Come on."

He grabbed both suitcases while his mother got out slowly, looking around like she’d stepped into another world. "James, whose house is this?"

James set the suitcases by the gate and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. He unlocked the gate and pushed it open.

"We can’t just walk in," his mother protested.

"It’s fine," James said, picking up the suitcases and walking up the driveway.

She followed with hesitant footsteps, her eyes taking in everything around them. When they reached the front door, James set the suitcases down and turned to face her.

"Close your eyes," he said.

"What? James, I don’t—"

"Please. Just for a second."

She stared at him with exasperation and confusion written across her face, but she closed her eyes. James unlocked the front door and let it swing open silently before stepping to the side.

"Open them."

His mother’s eyes opened, and for a long moment she just stood there taking in the view through the doorway. High ceilings stretched above marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the ocean. A fully furnished living room sat to the left with a fireplace, and through an archway she could see a modern kitchen with appliances that probably cost more than their annual rent. A staircase curved up to the second floor.

She went very still.

"What is this?" she whispered.

James stepped inside and gestured for her to follow. "Come in."

She crossed the threshold like she was stepping into a museum, moving slowly and carefully as if afraid she might break something just by being there.

James turned to face her. "It’s ours."

Silence stretched between them.

"What?" The word came out barely audible.

"The house," James said. "It’s ours. I bought it."

She stared at him, blinked, stared again. "You bought a house."

"Yesterday."

Her voice rose. "James, do you know how much houses in Killiney cost?"

"Two point one million euros," James said. "I paid in full."

His mother’s legs gave out and she sat down hard on the floor right there in the entryway, staring at nothing while her brain tried to process what he’d just said.

James knelt beside her. "Are you okay?"

"How?" The question came out broken. "Where did you get that kind of money?"

"I cleared a floor," James said, keeping his voice steady and calm. "Found a rare item. The TRB bought it from me for a lot of money."

It was the truth. But it was also a lie.

She looked at the number. Looked at him. Looked around at the house. Then she broke.

She pulled James into a hug and sobbed into his shoulder, but these weren’t sad tears or scared tears. They were relief. Years of seventy-hour work weeks and water-stained ceilings and broken heating and watching her son walk into a death tower, all of it poured out in those sobs while James held her and said nothing.

After the tears slowed, she pulled back and wiped her eyes with shaking hands. "Your father would be so proud of you."

James’s throat tightened.

"Patrick always said you’d do something great," she continued, her voice still thick with emotion. "I was just so scared you’d die before you got the chance."

"I’m not going anywhere," James said.

She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Promise me you’ll be careful in that tower. Please."

"I promise."

She kissed his forehead and stood slowly, looking around the entryway again like she still couldn’t quite believe it was real. "If this is our house now, I should see the rest of it."

James showed her through the property quickly. Six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a home theater, and a heated pool overlooking the ocean. She cried again when she saw the master bedroom with its own balcony facing the sea, and by the time they ended up on the back patio, she’d run out of tears and just stood there in silence.

"When are we moving in?" she finally asked.

"Today," James said. "I’ll hire movers for the Northgate stuff. We can be settled by tonight."

She was quiet for a moment before turning to look at him. "What about your Tower work?"

"I’m meeting with a team," James said. "We’re going to try Floor 5 together."

Her smile faded slightly. "Is it dangerous?"

"Every floor is dangerous," James admitted. "But I’ll have a good team, and we’ll be smart about it."

She squeezed his hand. "Just come home. That’s all I ask."

James’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to find a text from Finn, the first contact since their brief conversation at the TRB.

Team meeting today. 6PM. Hale Estate, Blackrock.

An address was attached below.

James checked the time and realized he needed to leave soon. His mother noticed him looking at his phone and her expression shifted.

"What’s wrong?"

"Team meeting is today, not tomorrow like I thought," James said.

"Are you leaving now?"

"I need to head out."

She looked disappointed but understanding. "Go. Do what you need to do."

James stood and his mother walked him to the door. She hugged him, holding on a little longer than usual.

"Be careful," she said. "Come back safe."

"I will."

She watched from the doorway as he climbed into the cab he’d called, and James gave the driver the Blackrock address. The cab pulled away from the curb, and through the rear window James could see his mother still standing there, framed by the doorway of their new house. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He turned forward as the cab merged into traffic. His mind shifted from the emotional weight of the house reveal to the upcoming team meeting, and he found himself thinking about Floor 5, about Finn Hale, about who else might be on this team.

The cab drove through Dublin as evening approached and the light began to fade. New house, new team, new floor. Everything was changing fast, and James wasn’t entirely sure if he was ready for it, but ready or not, it was happening.

The cab turned onto the street leading to Hale Estate, and James could see the property ahead. Large gates, manicured grounds, the kind of place that screamed old money and power.

He took a breath as the cab slowed to a stop outside the entrance.

Time to meet the team.