Jessica drove Ethan back to the office. She wanted to settle everything quickly. In this world, most of the things have been simplified to make every process smoother.
Anything that required days, weeks, or months could be settled much quicker. That was good for Ethan, too. With this, he could buy a few more properties.
The agency required Ethan to provide a few documents which Ethan had provided. However, when Jessica told them that he did not need any loan, they were shocked and asked for proof.
Ethan was confused about how to prove it. They wanted him to show his bank statements from the past twelve months. But he was a few days rich.
For now, Ethan had only one man to help him. That was Charles Weston. Ethan did not know how, but after a call and a few documents sent by Charles, everything could be processed.
Jessica was glad that they could proceed with it. The potential commission alone was enough to make her pulse race. A 10% commission on a twelve-million-dollar property.
She felt as if the stars themselves had aligned.
Of course, the commission was unusually high, thanks to Luca Moretti himself. The original rate was a respectable 6%, but Moretti, ever the generous one, had added another 4% to reward any agent capable of selling what he deemed his architectural masterpiece.
The 4% would go straight to her. The other 6%, well, she did not care how the agency wanted to split it with her. Still, she believed she would get something in between 2-3%.
Jessica wasn't about to let this chance slip away.
Across the room, some of the senior agents—seasoned veterans of skepticism and cynicism—watched her with smirks.
"You seriously think that kid is buying Moretti's building?" Greg, one of the senior agents, leaned against her desk, his smirk practically dripping with condescension. "He looked like he came straight out of gym class."
Jessica didn't flinch. She barely glanced up from her screen. "We'll see," she replied evenly, "when the deposit clears. The law firm will confirm the transfer soon enough."
Patricia, another agent, chimed in with mock concern. "Oh, Jess, sweetie, don't you know? College kids don't carry six million in their back pockets. He's probably out there Googling 'how to sell a kidney.'"
The laughter that followed was meant to rattle her, but Jessica stayed calm. Their jabs rolled off her like water off a well-waxed car. She knew their game; they were already imagining her failure and lining up to say, I told you so.
But Jessica had no intention of giving them that satisfaction.
Instead, she focused on what mattered—getting everything ready for the law firm that acted as the trustee. She double-checked the details, reviewed the documents, and ignored the snickers in the background.
'Just believe in what you believe,' she reminded herself.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours until her phone buzzed. The notification lit up the screen like a tiny beacon of hope. An email from the law firm.
Jessica's hands trembled slightly. She moved her finger slowly, clicking the email open.
[Deposit confirmed. $6,000,000 received.]
Jessica blinked at the screen a few times. She believed that Ethan was not lying or pranking her. But, seeing the confirmation was different. She felt relieved.
She quickly cross-checked the email on her desktop, her hands trembling slightly as if her brain needed multiple reassurances that this was real.
Her sudden silence caught Greg's attention. He sauntered over, grinning smugly. "What's the matter, Jess? The bad news?" His tone carried just enough schadenfreude to make Jessica smirk inwardly.
With deliberate calm, Jessica tilted her monitor toward him. "Deposit's... cleared," she said, her voice slightly trembling. "Six million dollars."
The effect was immediate. Greg's smug grin vanished as he leaned closer, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait… what?!" he spluttered.
Jessica didn't bother repeating herself. The confirmation on the screen spoke louder than words. As the other agents craned their necks to see, their earlier derision evaporated, replaced by stunned silence.
"It's… real?" Patricia whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. "He had the money?"
Within minutes, the office was abuzz, word of Jessica's deal spreading like wildfire. Agents who had sneered at her mere moments ago were now flocking to her side, offering "helpful" advice and feigning enthusiasm.
"Need a hand with the paperwork?"
"Let me know if I can assist with anything."
The hypocrisy was almost comical.
But Jessica wasn't buying it. She gave them a polite but firm smile. "Thanks. I think no help is needed. He paid in cash."
Hours later, an email popped into Jessica's inbox from Luca Moretti's office. The deal was moving quickly. Intrigued by Ethan's firm interest, Moretti had personally sped up the final steps.
Money, influence, and determination—Jessica realized—were a powerful combination.
Jessica wrapped her tasks quickly at the office. The only thing left was for Ethan to transfer the balance.
She quickly went to meet Ethan at the nearby coffee shop. Ethan was sitting at a corner table. He was enjoying his moment, sipping a latte.
"It feels so good to be able to spend without worry," muttered Ethan. He let out a satisfied smile.
That was when Jessica's voice interrupted his thought.
"Mr. Cole, it's all sorted," she said with a smile as she approached. "But there's one thing—Luca Moretti wants to meet you before handing over the keys."
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "That's fine."
He then added, "I think I should tell my business partner to meet us there, too."
"Sure. Sure. Please do, Mr. Cole," said Jessica.
***
Thirty minutes later, Ethan stood in front of what would soon be NovaTech's headquarters—a sleek, glass structure that gleamed in the afternoon sun.
The building radiated ambition and innovation, exactly as he had imagined.
"It's amazing," Jessica said, her voice full of admiration. "Moretti really outdid himself."
"Stunning doesn't even cover it," Ethan agreed. His eyes scanned the clean lines of the façade. "This is exactly what Nova Tech needs."
As they stood admiring the building, a sleek black car pulled up. Out stepped Luca Moretti himself, a tall, distinguished man with silver hair and a gaze as sharp as the designs he was famous for.
"Ethan Cole, I presume?" Moretti said, his voice smooth and resonant as he extended a hand.
Ethan met his handshake with a steady grip. "Yes, sir. Nice to meet you, Mr. Moretti."
The architect studied Ethan for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I must say, I didn't expect someone quite so young. But I find youth often comes paired with bold ambition."
He smiled before adding, "That, or wild recklessness. Which one are you?"
Ethan smiled wryly. "Hopefully, the first one, though some might say it's a little of both."
Just as Moretti smirked at the reply, another car arrived, this one carrying no other than David Turner.
As the door opened, David stepped out, every inch the composed professional—until he laid eyes on the building. His jaw practically hit the ground.
"Wait a minute..." David began, trailing off as he stared up at the structure, clearly overwhelmed.
In his mind, he was calculating the rental cost for such a prime location. Surely Ethan wouldn't have gone too far beyond their budget?
"Did you rent an office space at this place?" asked David. "How much is the rental?"
Jessica was stunned because two of the most influential figures in Novan City were standing in front of her. 'Who is Ethan, really?'
"Nope. I bought it," Ethan said, unable to suppress a chuckle. "This is it. Nova Tech headquarters."
Jessica, sensing the moment was golden, stepped forward with her most professional smile. "Hello, everyone. I'm Jessica Moore, the agent who facilitated Mr. Cole's purchase of this entire building."
David froze, the words "purchase" and "entire building" ricocheting through his brain. He blinked rapidly as if trying to clear his ears of some misunderstanding. "Wait... Y-y-you bought this building?!"
His gaze darted to Moretti, who, with a subtle smile, confirmed it. David's eyes widened further as he connected the dots. Moretti wouldn't be here for a rental deal. That left only one possibility.
"You… really... bought it," David repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, his disbelief palpable.
"Yep," Ethan replied casually, his grin widening.
"But I thought…" David's hand gestured vaguely at the sky as if trying to summon the words. "I thought we were looking for a small office. Something modest. Affordable. Not… this."
Ethan shrugged lightly. "Plans changed, and it is... well, I can say, affordable."
David let out a laugh, looking up at the impressive building. "This isn't just any ordinary building, Ethan."
Moretti, standing quietly nearby, spoke up. "Well, you got it right on that part, David. It's not just a building. It's a symbol."
"And why you didn't tell me you're part of this, David?" he said with a chuckle.
"Well, I just knew about it, too, Luca," replied David. He then grinned. "Why? Are you going to give us a discount?"
"Ethan had paid in full. No refund." Both of the men laughed out loud. They had met numerous times. So, they were pretty casual with each other.
Then, with a chuckle, David turned to Ethan. "Seriously, what's on your mind?"
Ethan grinned. "Well, just preparing the best for Nova Tech."
He then turned to Moretti and said, "Mr. Moretti. This is beyond my imagination for Nova Tech. Thank you for crafting this masterpiece."
Moretti shook his head a few times. "No. No. I should be the one thanking you, but don't be formal with me. Just call me Luca, as David did. I believe we'll be friends from now on."
Actually, Luca was being careful with his words and actions. Ethan, by his appearance, was remarkably unremarkable—there was no commanding presence, no air of someone accustomed to wielding great wealth.
And yet, here he stood, purchasing one of his masterpieces with quiet confidence.
"Seeing someone who truly values great design is rare," Luca continued. "I hope it will bring a massive help in your venture."
Ethan smiled a genuine, hopeful expression that spoke of determination rather than boastfulness. "I promise to take really good care of it," he replied. "You'll be impressed with what we turn it into. Nova Tech will do it justice."
Luca's smile deepened, the kind that came from a lifetime of discerning good instincts. "I believe you will," he said warmly. "Perhaps, one day, this building will become even more famous because of what you achieve here."
Then, with a ceremonious air, he handed Ethan the keys and other access-related cards.
Jessica, standing a little to the side, watched the exchange unfold with quiet pride. To think she'd been part of something this transformative in just a single day was almost beyond belief.
Deals of this scale didn't happen in hours—they often took weeks, if not months. Yet, here they were.
'With power, wealth, and the right connections, the impossible seems to happen over coffee breaks,' she mused with an amused shake of her head.
But it wasn't just the speed of the deal that struck her—it was Ethan himself.
Author's Note:
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