The family got out of the car. George and his family met them at the door with warm greetings. George clapped Ricky on the back, a gesture that seemed more obligatory than genuine. He then turned to Rachel, his smile becoming much more authentic.

"Rachel, you look wonderful," he said, taking both her hands in his. "It has been too long."

"You as well, George," Rachel replied, her voice smooth and practiced. "And this is my husband's son, Adam. And our daughter, Annie."

Adam gave a polite nod. "It's an honor to meet you, sir." He followed the script Rachel had drilled into him.

George's eyes appraised Adam for a moment. "A fine young man. Rachel has told me a lot about you." He then turned his attention to his own family. "And you know my wife, Anastasia. And this is our daughter, Samantha."

Adam's eyes met Samantha's. She was wearing a simple but elegant dress that complemented the one she had worn the day before. She gave him a small, polite smile and a slight nod. She seemed curious, her intelligent eyes watching him from behind her glasses. Adam felt a brief, unexpected jolt. He quickly masked it, returning her nod with a neutral expression. He was here for business, he reminded himself.

They were led inside. The interior of the mansion was even more impressive than the outside. The floors were polished marble, the ceilings were high, and expensive-looking art adorned the walls. It was a clear and unambiguous display of immense wealth.

They were soon seated around a large, formal dining table. The seating arrangement was no accident. Adam was placed directly opposite Samantha, forcing them into each other's line of sight. Rachel had positioned herself next to George, where she could easily direct the conversation.

The dinner began with light chatter. George, a natural host, did most of the talking. He spoke of the market, of recent business trends, and then he turned his attention to Adam.

"So, Rachel tells me you have a keen interest in business strategy," George said, leaning forward slightly. "A young man with ambition. I admire that."

Adam, following his instructions, responded humbly. "I just find it interesting, sir. I have a lot to learn."

"Nonsense," Rachel interjected with a laugh. "Adam is too modest. He spends all his free time studying different companies, looking for new opportunities. He has a real talent for it."

Adam saw Samantha raise an eyebrow slightly at her mother's enthusiastic praise. She was clearly not buying the performance entirely.

The conversation continued. Rachel skillfully guided it, creating opportunities to highlight Adam's supposed strengths. She mentioned his (fabricated) interest in sustainable business models, a topic she knew was one of Samantha's passions.

George picked up on this immediately. "Sustainable business, you say? That's a challenging field. Most new ventures in that sector fail within the first few years. What's your take on the primary barrier to entry for green technology startups?"

It was a direct and challenging question, designed to test Adam's knowledge. The table fell silent for a moment. Ricky looked nervous. Rachel held her breath.

Adam paused, as if considering the question carefully. He had already accessed the relevant information from the One-Click Billionaire app's knowledge base. He knew the answer.

"I think the primary barrier isn't the technology itself," Adam began, his voice calm. "It's the initial capital cost combined with the public's perception of value. Most consumers are willing to be green, but only if it doesn't cost them more. The real challenge is creating a business model where sustainability is a byproduct of a superior and more cost-effective product, not the main selling point."

The answer was insightful and well-articulated. George looked genuinely impressed. "A very sharp analysis," he said, nodding.

Adam saw a flicker of genuine interest in Samantha's eyes. She had been expecting a shallow, rehearsed answer. He had given her something more.

The dinner continued, but the atmosphere had shifted slightly. Adam had proven he could hold his own.

A few minutes later, as George was telling a story about one of his early business deals, his wife Anastasia made a quiet comment. "Ambition can be a dangerous thing," she said, not looking at anyone in particular. "It can make a person forget what is truly important."

The comment hung in the air for a moment. The warmth in George's expression faded slightly. He gave his wife a cold look before continuing his story, but the facade of the perfect, happy family had cracked. Adam noticed it immediately. He saw the years of resentment and unspoken conflict that lay just beneath the surface.

After the main course was finished, Rachel made her next move.

"George, your terrace has the most beautiful view of the city," she said. "Samantha, why don't you show Adam the view? I'm sure he would appreciate it."

It was a blatant and obvious attempt at matchmaking, but in the polite confines of the dinner party, it was impossible to refuse. Samantha looked at her mother, then at Rachel, her expression unreadable.

"Of course," she said, her voice polite. She stood up from the table. "Would you like to see the view?" she asked Adam directly.

"I would," Adam replied, also standing.

He followed her as she led him through a set of large glass doors and out onto a wide, stone terrace. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stuffy formality of the dining room. The city lights spread out below them like a carpet of scattered jewels.

They stood in silence for a moment, looking at the view.

Then Samantha spoke, her voice losing its polite edge and becoming more direct. "Your mother is trying very hard to set us up, isn't she?"

Adam was not surprised by her directness. He had expected it. He turned to look at her. "Yes, she is," he said honestly.

He saw a small smile play on her lips. She appreciated his honesty.

"But I was hoping to talk to you anyway," Adam continued, pivoting the conversation. "About business."

This caught her off guard. She turned to face him fully, her curiosity piqued. The pretense of the evening had been stripped away. Now it was just the two of them. Two intelligent people who saw the game that was being played around them, but who were now interested in each other for their own reasons.

"Oh?" she said. "What did you want to talk about?"

The question hung in the cool night air. Adam had her complete and undivided attention. His performance was over. Now, his real work could begin.

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