Ethan stepped out of the agency, feeling like he'd just stumbled into the wrong room and gotten laughed at. His hands shook slightly, and his heart was still racing.
"Phew," he muttered, his breath visible in the crisp morning air. "Well, that was something."
What lingered with him wasn't just the awkwardness of the encounter—it was how naturally he'd stepped into the role of a confident entrepreneur.
Not long ago, even asking a barista to correct a wrong coffee order would have felt like a challenge.
Now, he was standing up to condescending agents.
The confidence had come out of nowhere, surging at the moment like adrenaline. But now that it was fading, he felt a mix of frustration, embarrassment, and maybe a tiny bit of pride.
"Money really does change things," he thought with a small smile.
Suddenly, he laughed—a quick, loud burst that turned a few heads on the street. The whole scene replayed in his mind: the tracksuit, the smirking agents, flashing his bank card like a movie cliché. It was ridiculous.
He quickly covered his mouth, trying to hold back more laughter. "Alright, Ethan," he said quietly, still grinning. "Let's not scare people."
Spotting a coffee shop nearby, he decided to take a break. A quiet moment and some caffeine sounded like the perfect plan.
Inside, the warm air and smell of fresh coffee felt comforting. Ethan slid into a booth by the window, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup, and pulled out his phone.
The first agency might've been a flop, but he wasn't giving up. NovaTech wasn't going to build itself. Scrolling through listings for other property agencies, he made a mental note to find somewhere he'd be taken seriously.
As he browsed, his mind wandered back to the morning's events. Dressing casually to blend in as just another student had backfired completely. Maybe blending in wasn't an option anymore.
After all, hadn't he read somewhere that the wealthiest people often dressed the simplest? But of course, their "simple" likely came with a designer label—and not a university crest.
'Lesson learned,' he thought, taking a sip of coffee. 'Appearances do matter, apparently.'
But even as he acknowledged that a small voice in the back of his mind argued that appearances shouldn't matter quite so much.
Why should he have to change himself to be taken seriously? Shouldn't professionalism come with a bit of basic human decency, regardless of someone's outfit?
'Maybe I'm not quite ready for this world yet,' Ethan thought. He had entered this new life armed with the system's power and a fierce determination to succeed.
But he still had a lot to learn—about people, business, and, most of all, himself.
One listing finally caught his eye; Metropolitan Realty. It seemed promising—high-end enough to meet his needs but with reviews that spoke of professionalism and fairness.
"Alright," Ethan said softly, setting his phone down. "Let's give this one a try."
Finishing his coffee, he stood up and straightened his tracksuit jacket. This time, he resolved to approach the situation with patience and an open mind.
He'd give the agency—and the world—one more chance to show him that decency still existed. Yeah. He knew what a naive thinking that was. But who cares.
As he stepped out of the coffee shop, heading toward the sleek building of Metropolitan Realty, Ethan couldn't help but smirk. He knew he might face the same judgment as before, but this time, he felt a little steadier.
"Hope that it will go well this time," he muttered.
He pressed the bell on the glass door of the agency, waiting for it to open. Still, he could not help but wonder if the universe was planning another lesson for him.
This time, Ethan noticed the change the moment he walked into Metropolitan Realty.
That was when a young woman, whom Ethan believed was just two or three years older than him, greeted him. On her tag was the name... Jessica.
"Hi there! Welcome to Metropolitan Realty. I'm Jessica. How can I assist you?" she asked, her tone inviting. But the best of all, Ethan could not feel any pretense.
Ethan blinked a few times. He was caught off guard since he did not expect such a warm welcome. Totally contrasting his previous experience.
For the past few days, Ethan had become so used to judgmental looks and dismissive tones that the warmth in Jessica's greeting felt almost disarming.
"Uh, hello," he managed. "I'm Ethan."
Jessica's smile widened, clearly patient with his hesitance. "Uhm... I'm actually looking for an office space to rent or... buy. It's for my startup."
"That's fantastic!" she said, her enthusiasm feeling entirely unforced. "Do you have any specific requirements? How many employees are you planning to hire? What kind of office environment are you looking for?"
Ethan was surprised. She wasn't just polite—she actually seemed interested in helping. No judgment, no skepticism, just a friendly curiosity.
"Well," he said, feeling more at ease, "I'm hiring about twenty people for a tech startup. I need a modern, open space that's easy to get to."
Jessica nodded thoughtfully, swiftly typing notes into her tablet. "That makes sense. Give me a moment... I believe we have a few places."
She then tilted her head with curiosity before adding, "If you don't mind, can you tell me more about your company?"
Ethan hesitated for only a moment before answering, "We're called Nova Tech. We're focused on developing apps and digital solutions for businesses. Right now, I'm aiming to start locally but with plans to expand."
Jessica's eyes lit up. It was amazing to hear that because he believed this man in front of him was younger than her. "That's... incredible," she said.
"Come to my desk. I'll find a few that fit your vision," Jessica added.
Her excitement was a breath of fresh air. She wasn't just doing her job—she truly cared about helping him. What Ethan didn't know was that Jessica was still new to the real estate world, with less than a year of experience.
Armed with a degree in Business Management and Marketing, she had applied for various positions.
But she had no luck. That was when she learned that being a property or insurance agent would be a good start for a career. That was when she joined Metropolitan Realty with big ambitions.
But the reality of the field had been anything but smooth.
The more established agents had already secured the high-paying clients, leaving her to navigate smaller, less lucrative deals.
Yet Jessica remained undeterred. She saw potential in every client, no matter their initial appearance. Who knew what they might become?
For her, today's effort could lead to tomorrow's success—not just for her clients but for herself. That mindset had brought her to Ethan, and it showed.
"Alright," Jessica said briskly, her eyes sparkling with determination. "If you're free now, I have a few properties we can check out. They're just a short walk from here."
"Sure, let's do it," Ethan agreed, feeling more confident in her capable hands.
Over the next hour, they toured three locations. While each had its merits, none quite fit Ethan's vision for Nova Tech. One was too small, another too normal, and the third lacked the creative energy he wanted to foster for his team.
"Are you sure none of the previous places were to your liking?" Jessica asked, her voice carrying the slightest hint of disappointment.
Despite her professionalism, Ethan could tell she had hoped one of the earlier properties would work.
He shook his head, offering a sheepish smile. "None of them felt… right."
Ethan was silent for a moment. He then said, "Do you have any building? The one suitable for a tech company. Even if it doesn't check every box, I can always renovate it."
Jessica's eyes lit up at his words, though she hesitated. "A whole building?" she repeated, almost testing the idea aloud. "Well… there is one more option."
Ethan leaned forward, curious. "Why didn't you mention it earlier?"
Jessica hesitated, glancing at her tablet. "Well… it's expensive."
Ethan chuckled. "How expensive?"
She sighed. "Before I tell you the price, I believe it was worth the price. The design was sleek and futuristic. I believe your startup suits it well. However... the price is twelve million dollars."
"Twelve million?" Ethan repeated, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
Ethan's eyebrows rose slightly. "Twelve million?"
Jessica nodded quickly, feeling compelled to clarify. "Moretti is firm on the price. He's refused every offer that doesn't value the design and his terms."
Ethan's response was calm, almost nonchalant. "Let's go see it."
Jessica blinked. "Wait… you're serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Ethan asked, tilting his head. "The price is well within budget."
"What?" Jessica's mouth opened slightly. She tried her best to maintain her composure. You are just a kid. What's that well within budget?
Most of the clients would walk away for anything above three million. But Ethan... treated twelve million like a pocket change.
"I'm sorry. What's that what for?" asked Ethan.
"Nothing. Nothing, Mr. Cole. If you're serious about this, I can contact Moretti's office to set up a viewing," said Jessica.
"Yeah. I'm serious. Go on," replied Ethan.
To her surprise, the stars seemed to align. Within moments, she had arranged for them to visit the property immediately.
"Well," Jessica said. She was having trouble to maintain her calm. She added, "They said we can head over right away."
Ethan nodded, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Perfect. Let's go."
Jessica offered to drive, and as they climbed into her modest car, Ethan leaned back, letting his thoughts wander.
He realized that for all his newfound wealth, he still hadn't considered buying a car—or hiring a chauffeur.
"I need to ask Charles about that," he muttered to himself, already envisioning a sleek, unassuming vehicle that would suit his needs.
The drive took them across the city to an industrial area dotted with massive plots of land and low-rise buildings.
Jessica guided them through the busy streets, and as they arrived at their destination, Ethan's breath hitched.
The building was a masterpiece of modern architecture—sleek, futuristic, and gleaming in the sunlight. Its glass and steel façade shimmered like a jewel, standing out boldly among the more ordinary buildings surrounding it.
Jessica glanced at him, noticing his awe. "Moretti's designs are statements in themselves," she said softly. "Owning one isn't just about the space—it's about the prestige."
The guards at the entrance gave them the access card, and the tour took about an hour to complete.
"This…" Ethan murmured. "It is better than what I imagined."
His gaze had been fixed on the building for a while now. Yes, everything happened because of the mission. However, it was slowly becoming his dream, too.
Jessica was surprised to hear that. Her brows shifted slightly. She and a few other agents had shown this building to a few potential clients. But no one had ever reacted as Ethan did.
React with such certainty.
"Are you sure?" she asked. Her tone was cautious. "It's okay for you to take a moment to think about it or the previous ones, too. I know this is going to be a big decision for you to discuss with your board of directors or—"
With a confident smile, Ethan reached for his phone. "Proceed."
"What?"
"I said proceed," Ethan said with a chuckle. "Oh. Another thing, I don't need a loan or payment plan. I'll buy it outright—transfer the money straight away."
He then asked, "If I did that, would the process be quicker?"
"Wait a minute. What's outright? What's no loan?" Jessica could not help but speak nonsense. This was because she was not entirely sure to believe her ears.
Ethan looked at her. He was confused, too. He was not well versed with this kind of thing other than reading a few things here and there from the internet.
That was when Jessica got herself together. "Sorry. I mean, are you sure?"
Ethan nodded firmly. He asked, "Can I transfer the money?"
He recalled everything that Charles had told him. Never carry large amounts of cash. He could always wire it. It would be faster and safer.
"Absolutely," Jessica said. "L-L-Let's finalize this as quickly as possible."
She was still having trouble believing it. A twelve-million-dollar transaction was not something that occurred every day. Not even monthly. Maybe once in a few years.
Yet, Ethan was so confident in his voice.
"Well," she said. She tried her best to regain her composure. "I'll call Moretti's office about this sale."
Ethan gave a simple nod, his gaze fixed on the building before him. 'I wonder how David will react.'
Jessica, meanwhile, was already on the phone, speaking quickly but professionally. Though her words were crisp, Ethan could sense the underlying excitement in her tone.
After all, this deal was not just a sale—it was the kind of career-defining moment that most agents could only dream of.
As she hung up, Jessica turned to Ethan, her expression a mix of nervous energy and growing admiration. "They're ready to proceed," she said. "We can start the paperwork immediately. Are you really going to wire the funds… now?"
Ethan met her gaze, his smile calm yet brimming with determination. "Yes."