The alarm clock rang viciously—once, twice, and on the third ring, a hand slapped over it, abruptly stopping the high-pitched cacophony.
Ortega opened his eyes and reluctantly got out of bed. He stood for a moment, gazing at the notifications that had just appeared before him:
{Completed! Get at least 8 hours of sleep.}
{Reward granted +5 XP}
{Do you wish to begin your morning workout routine?}
{A. Yes B. No C. Later}
He stretched his arms above his head, feeling the tension ease from his muscles, and then walked over to the tall standing mirror beside his bed.
His reflection greeted him with a tired but determined expression. He smiled faintly, inhaling deeply to wake himself up fully.
"Yes, but with a higher intensity," he said aloud, his voice filled with determination. It had barely been two weeks since he started exercising regularly, and it was slowly becoming a part of his routine.
He enjoyed the challenge it brought him and was eager to see improvements in his fitness.
The exercises he had been doing were starting to feel a bit too basic. Ortega knew it was time to spice things up and add some variety to his workout routine.
{Loading...}
{What changes would you like to make?}
Reviewing his current routine, he decided to incorporate more challenging exercises that would target different muscle groups and increase his overall strength and endurance.
Leaning against the edge of his bed, he mentally mapped out the new plan:
Warm-up:
- 10 minutes of dynamic stretches and light cardio
Workout:
- Pullups: 5 sets of 10 reps
- Pushups: 10 sets of 10 reps
- Jump rope: 2 sets of 3 minutes
- Squats: 5 sets of 35 reps
- Plank: 1 minute
- Russian Twists: 3 sets of 30 reps (15 each side)
- Leg Raises: 3 sets of 10 reps
Cool-down:
- 5 minutes of static stretching for all major muscle groups
Ortega nodded to himself, satisfied with the plan. He knew it would challenge him but also push him to achieve new fitness goals. Dressed in nothing but his boxer shorts, he decided to get down to business.
"Ah, before I suffocate." He sighed and walked over to his bedside window, drew the curtains aside, and pushed open the blinds, letting fresh air in.
"Much better." He glanced at his clock; it read 5:32.
"I've got work at eight, that gives me over two hours to prepare. If I allocate 45 minutes for exercise, 15 minutes for breakfast and a shower, 5 minutes for my skincare routine, and 10 minutes to get my clothes ready, that leaves me with just enough time to prepare my apology gift to Sylvia."
He cracked his knuckles and downed a bottle of water from his mini fridge. "Sounds like a good enough plan, don't you think?"
Ortega didn't have to wait; the AI's response was sharp and no-nonsense.
{Sure. Now quit stalling and get to work!}
He also couldn't shake the feeling that it sounded more human and less like a programmed robot the more he interacted with it.
"One day, I'll get to the bottom of this," he swore.
If the System AI had a face, she would be rolling her eyes at Ortega's words.
As he started his warm-up routine, he felt a surge of energy and excitement. Each exercise pushed his body to its limits, but he welcomed the challenge.
By the time he finished, sweat glistening on his forehead, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He knew he was one step closer to achieving his fitness objectives.
After completing his workout, he took a refreshing shower and then prepared a nutritious breakfast to refuel his body. Sitting down to eat, he reflected on how far he had come since he started his fitness journey.
{Alert! Alert!}
Ortega almost choked on his salad as a red-hued message flashed before his eyes, accompanied by a heart-thumping alarm that reminded him of sirens.
{Your reputation is under attack!}
"My reputation! What the hell's going on?"
{Someone is trying to infiltrate sensitive medical information about the host!}
{Activating defensive measures...}
{Threat neutralized.}
Ortega squinted like an old man, his mind flooded with numerous scenarios as to whom the hacker might be. "Huh?! Who would—"
Then it hit him. There was a certain doctor who probably hated his guts...
"System!" Ortega's heart began to beat wildly, "Identify this... someone."
{On it. Conducting Advanced Infiltrator Identification...}
{Obtaining IP address of the hacker...}
{Location found! No. 35 Bow Street, BeautyPlus Fashion & Retail. 2nd floor, Health clinic.}
"Holy cow!" Ortega's eyes bulged in disbelief, "This—this..." He felt his eyes tearing up with profound gratitude, "System! You're a godsend!"
{Save your tears, Omega. Someone just tried stealing confidential medical information from your records and you sit here crying with relief after I diverted the threat... Pathetic!} The voice lectured, its tone disdainful.
Ortega clenched his jaw, annoyed at the AI's insensitivity and Sylvia's wild attempt to implicate him.
{If you want to be an alpha, you must learn to be proactive, and that means nipping potential threats in the bud before they become uncontrollable!}
Ortega was quick to rebuke the idea, "No! I will not commit murder!"
{What?! Not that, Omega! I meant making sure she doesn't repeat the same action against you ever again by using this criminal act against her.}
Ortega couldn't believe what he was hearing, "You want me to blackmail her. I thought you were against this line of action."
{Not anymore. Though extreme, blackmail is the only surefire way to obtain absolute control over your differences with Sylvia.}
Ortega felt his heart turn cold at the AI's suggestion, renewing his once dormant manipulative ego.
{Your reputation is your lifeline, protect it at all costs!}
He grinned maliciously, his eyes blazing with determination and an insane desire to control.
{What would you have me do?} The voice was back again, this time, Ortega felt the System AI was a truly reliable guide.
His grin widened, he already knew his answer: "First things first, I want you to create the impression that she got something out of me. Can you do that?"
{Affirmative.}
Ortega thought he heard the System AI scoff.
"Ah, good. Very good." He gulped some water and stood up from his table, then took out his phone and dialed a number:
"Hello," he said the moment his call went through, "I'd like to order a perfect flower for a special someone, please..." His tone was strangely jolly as he spoke.
He soon ended the call, then walked over to his closet.
"Let's give doc a taste of her own medicine..." He nodded while holding his three-piece suit on a wooden hanger.