Ren sits on the edge of his bed, staring down at the thick stack of bills spilling out of the bag Ivan gave him. His fingers trace the edge of the bills, a big smile creeping onto his lips.
For the first time in his life, he's holding serious money. Sure, this is only a fraction of what he'll have in the future, but right now he doesn't have that.
"This is just the beginning," he mutters to himself, looking at the bills on his bed. The weight of the bills feels empowering.
He steps in front of the mirror, admiring his reflection.
"What should I do first?" Ren asks aloud, considering his options. "I could save it... but what's the point of that? I've got plenty more coming."
"No, today, I gotta celebrate. I deserve something nice, something extravagant." His mind races with thoughts—fine food, designer clothes, luxury beyond his wildest dreams.
Ren grabs a bundle of bills and heads out, the excitement bubbling inside him. Today, he's going to live like a king.
Ren strolls into one of the city's finest restaurants, a place he's only ever walked past in awe. The interior is gleaming with marble floors, chandeliers, and velvet-covered seats. The kind of place that screams wealth.
The hostess, a stunning woman with dark curls and red lipstick, greets him.
"Good afternoon, sir. Table for one?"
Ren eyes her up and down, looking at her beautiful body, and takes out a crisp hundred-dollar bill between his fingers.
"You're too pretty to be standing here. Why don't you sit and join me?" Ren teases, his grin wide and unashamed.
The hostess blushes, momentarily caught off-guard. "I'll… see what I can do, sir" she responds, regaining her composure.
She motions him to follow her to one of the prime spots in the restaurant—a table by the window with a perfect view of the city skyline.
After moments, a tall blonde waitress approaches, her blue eyes piercing as she hands him the menu.
"Welcome, sir. What can I get you today?"
Ren doesn't bother to look at the menu. Instead, his eyes travel up and down her figure.
"How about you start with your name? Beautiful women like you deserve to be more than just 'waitress.'"
She flushes slightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "It's Jessica."
"Jessica... nice name for a gorgeous woman." He leans back in his seat, crossing his arms.
"I'll have the best steak you've got, and some aged wine to match. Surprise me."
Jessica's professional smile falters slightly, her eyes flicking over to him with intrigue. "Coming right up," she says, turning to walk away.
"Hold on," Ren stops her, pulling out a crisp hundred-dollar bill. He slides it across the table with a grin.
"You're gorgeous. This is for being yourself."
Jessica's eyes widen as she takes the bill, her fingers brushing his hand for just a moment longer than necessary.
"Th-thank you, sir," she stammers, clearly flustered. "I... I'll make sure everything is perfect for you."
As she hurries away, Ren watches her hips sway, amused by how easily money can shift the balance of power. It feels good, he feels good.
A few whispers rise from the nearby tables—couples and businessmen eyeing Ren with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
He's never felt this kind of attention before, and it sends a thrill down his spine.
He relaxes into his seat, scanning the room. A group of women at a nearby table catches his eye, four of them. They're all dressed to kill, exchanging glances as they sip on champagne.
One of them, a brunette with a sultry gaze, meets his eyes. Ren flashes a cocky smile, and she giggles behind her hand.
Noticing this, another waitress—a petite redhead—passes by, and Ren reaches out, stopping her mid-step.
"You've got beautiful eyes," he says, holding up another hundred.
"Why don't you take this, and come back with whatever dessert you think I should try?"
Her face flushes instantly.
"Oh, sir, that's... that's so generous of you."
Ren leans in slightly, lowering his voice.
"Generous is just my nature. Keep it up, and there might be more where that came from."
The redhead bites her lip, clearly excited by the sudden attention. As she walks away, Ren catches more whispers from other tables, people clearly talking about him.
The attention, the admiring looks, and the envy from the men around him fuel his ego.
Throughout his meal, Ren enjoys the stares. This is his first time having such attention from beautiful women around him.
But then again, this is just the beginning of the show.
He finishes his meal, savoring every bite of the luxurious steak, and when the blonde waitress returns with the check, he slips her a crisp $100 bill as a tip.
Waitress (flustered): "Oh wow, thank you so much!"
Ren (grinning): "No, thank you. You're beautiful, so consider it a tip for making this meal even better with your presence."
She laughs, clearly flattered, returns with the payment.
Ren's eyes flick to the group of girls at the next table, noticing they've been watching the entire exchange.
Ren (thinking): Why not? Let's meet them then.
With a confident swagger, Ren stands and approaches their table, his eyes locking onto the brunette's.
Ren: "Mind if I join you for a moment?"
They exchange looks, a mix of surprise and excitement lighting up their faces.
Brunette (smiling): "Sure, why not?"
Ren pulls up a chair, sitting down with a relaxed grin.
Ren: "Saw you looking. Thought I'd come say hi."
The brunette laughs softly, her fingers playing with her hair as she leans closer.
Brunette: "Well, you were hard to miss. That was quite a tip you gave."
Ren (shrugging casually): "I like to spoil beautiful women."
The other girls giggle, clearly enjoying his smooth charm. The brunette bites her lip, her eyes never leaving Ren's.
Brunette: "So, you do this often? Throw money around to impress?"
Ren: "Impress? Nah. Just having fun."
He slides $50 across the table toward the brunette, a cocky grin playing on his lips.
Ren: "Maybe I should start tipping you for being such good company."
She laughs, accepting the bill with a wink.
Brunette: "Well, maybe next time we could be more than company."
The flirtatious tension lingers in the air as Ren finishes his drink. The girls watch him, intrigued by the mysterious man who wields cash and confidence like weapons.
As Ren stands to leave, the brunette slips him a piece of paper with her number.
Brunette (softly): "Call me."
Ren (grinning): "You can count on it."
He walks out of the restaurant, his mood soaring. The whispers behind him, the envious and admiring looks, only fuel his confidence as he steps back into the world, ready to indulge in his next splurge.