Lauren said plainly, "We three ladies would like to have a private chat, so we won't be entertaining you."

Aspen was even more direct. She picked up her phone and started scrolling through TikTok. She did not even glance at Hank, treating him like air.

Hank felt slightly embarrassed, but he was not ready to back down. The three stunning women in front of him were leagues above the likes of Hannah, and if he could land even one of them, he would die a happy man.

"Ladies, I think I ought to reintroduce myself. I'm Hank Armstrong, Special Ops. You know what that is, right? We're the ones who handle high-level classified missions. You don't see us often on Holtrien soil, but when we do show up, we're always the center of attention."

He laid it on thick, trying to paint himself as someone powerful and mysterious. That tactic had worked like a charm with Hannah before, but not this time.

Lauren was already losing her patience. "Mr. Armstrong, yes, we heard you the first time. You'r