A soft knock on my office door draws my attention away from my work.
"Come in," I call out, and the door swings open to reveal Zane. He steps inside, glancing around the room with curiosity before casually seating himself opposite me, as if he owns the place.
I raise an eyebrow at his audacity.
"I just wanted to see what all the fuss is about. You spend hours in here," Zane remarks, his tone half-teasing, half-inquisitive.
"It's work," I reply dismissively, returning my focus to the hologlyph.
"Hmmm," Zane murmurs, seemingly understanding. "I spend hours working too." He stands up, moving behind my chair, and begins to massage my shoulders. His fingers expertly work through the tension in my shoulder blades and upper back.
"So much tension here," he comments while untangling the knots.
"You're spoiling me," I say, leaning into his touch despite myself.
"So, what's wrong?" he asks, genuine curiosity in his voice.
"Trying to steal my company secrets, Mr. Zane?" I tease lightly.
"Don't worry, your little resort means nothing to me," he responds with a playful smirk. I pinch his arm in mock offense, and he snickers in response.
"Fine," I concede, turning on the hologlyph to show him the current dismal state of the resort. The 3D display and data projections paint a bleak picture.
Zane inspects the hologlyph intently, walking around the table and zooming in and out on various details. His face grows more serious as he takes in the information. After a few moments, he whistles softly.
"Dang, it's a miracle this place is still functioning," Zane says, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Tell me about it," I sigh, feeling the weight of the resort's troubles pressing down on me once again.
Zane moves back to his seat, his demeanor shifting to one of thoughtful contemplation. "Have you considered any alternative strategies?" he asks, his tone now more serious and focused.
"I've explored several options, but nothing seems viable in the long run," I admit, frustration creeping into my voice.
"Let's brainstorm together," Zane suggests. "Two heads are better than one, and who knows? Maybe we can come up with something that will work."
His willingness to help takes me by surprise, and I feel a glimmer of hope.
"This is a wonderful long-term plan," I say, looking around the room at the final arrangements. However, my optimism quickly wanes as I focus on the final calculated cost. The figure is astronomical, and the reality of our financial situation hits me hard.
"No banks are willing to give this place a loan, especially not for an amount this high," I admit, stress evident in my voice. "The last time I asked for half this amount, they denied me."
"Hmmm," Zane muses, his expression thoughtful. Then, with a decisive clap of his hands, his demeanor shifts. He leans back in my chair, a serious expression settling on his face.
"Let's say I'm a lending institution. How would you convince me?" Zane proposes, adopting a businesslike tone.
"Are you serious?" I ask, incredulous at the sudden turn in our conversation.
Zane's serious gaze sends a delightful spark through my spine, a feeling I quickly push aside. He really is a businessman, I realize, seeing him in this new light.
"Fine," I agree, accepting the challenge. I grab the hologlyph and prepare myself for the impromptu presentation.
Once the display is ready, I launch into my pitch, detailing the resort's potential and the strategic plan we've developed. Zane listens intently, his piercing green eyes never leaving me. He begins to fire off questions, each one more probing than the last. I feel sweat forming on my forehead as I respond, the intensity of the exchange pushing me to my limits. Zane's business acumen is evident, and for the next hour, he doesn't go easy on me.
But I don't back down. I remain confident, answering his questions with as much clarity and conviction as I can muster. His relentless grilling only makes me more determined. There's something invigorating about this challenge, and I find myself rising to meet it.
Eventually, Zane leans back and starts clapping. I roll my eyes, feeling a mix of relief and annoyance.
"As expected of a Neo Novus University student!" he exclaims.
"Don't embarrass me. I told you I dropped out!" I respond, feeling both embarrassed and a little proud. Recognition for my work is rare, and despite my protest, it feels good.
"You were still a student for a year," Zane counters, ignoring my embarrassment. "You clearly learned a lot."
I cover my face in my hands, feeling a flush of shyness. Zane's praise and recognition had caught me off guard.
"So, what are the account details you use for business and your personal expenses?" Zane asks.
I give him the information, still not entirely sure why he's asking. "Why?" I inquire, curiosity piqued.
Zane flicks his wrist, activating his intercom. I watch as he navigates through several options on the display. Within moments, my own intercom buzzes on my wrist. Expecting spam, I open it absentmindedly, only to be greeted by two notifications from my banking app:
[500,000,000 Merits have been credited to <
[100,000,000 Merits have been credited to <
I choke on air, my eyes widening as I stare at the screen. The sheer number of zeros makes my heart skip a beat. I glance up at Zane, shock and confusion written all over my face.
"Zane, what the fuck is this?" I manage to sputter, my voice trembling with disbelief.
Zane leans back in my chair, a look of amused satisfaction on his face. "An investment," he says simply.
"Investment? Investment my ass! This is millions in merits!" I scream, my voice echoing off the office walls.
"And?" Zane responds calmly, his nonchalance only fueling my hysteria.
I stomp over to him and grab his shirt, pulling him closer. "What the hell do you mean 'and'?!" My voice trembles with a mix of shock and frustration. James' company was huge, and the profits for two months just got deposited into my account. How am I supposed to stay calm?
"Listen to me, before you attack me any further. This is an investment, okay? An investment," Zane says, gently prying my fingers from his shirt. I'm about to unleash more of my disbelief when he interrupts. "This money, I know, might be hard to believe, but it's really not a big deal to me. You'd have to multiply it several times over for it to make a dent in my funds."
His attempt to placate me only partially works. "Also, I am a ruthless businessman at my core. I don't invest in failing avenues. Trust me on this," Zane says, his eyes steady and sincere.
I look at him suspiciously, trying to gauge the truth in his words. "Believe me," he repeats, his voice soft but firm.
The tension drains from my body, and I collapse onto his lap, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what has just transpired. Zane wraps his arms around me, pulling me close.
"Besides, we're friends, aren't we?" he murmurs, brushing a few strands of my hair away from my neck with a gentle touch.
I scoff, feeling a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. "What an imbalance this friendship has."
"Listen to me," Zane says, his arm tightening around me. "If you really want to pay me back, spend time with me."
I blink, taken aback by the simplicity of his request. "That's it?" I giggle, the absurdity of the situation hitting me.
"That's it," he confirms, a smile spreading across his face. "Your company means more to me than any financial investment. Time is the most valuable currency, after all."