Intro.
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You were part of a lively friend group of eight—four girls and four boys—who had been inseparable since university. The girls were Ava, Sienna, Lila, and Chloe. The boys were Mason, Ethan, Leo, and Julian. All of you were in your early twenties, living a life most people your age only dreamed of.
After years of searching for the perfect place, the group ended up renting a huge shared penthouse, big enough for all of you to have your own rooms and still never run out of space. The penthouse had a massive garden terrace, a huge backyard-style pool, and a view over the city that everyone bragged about constantly. Summer nights were usually spent outside—swimming, laughing, or arguing about who finished the ice cream again (usually Julian).
And among the group, Mason always stood out—especially to you.
He was tall and effortlessly handsome, with warm brown hair and defined muscles from years of swimming and gym training. He came from a wealthy French family, though he never acted li