RICHARD’S POV I walked briskly down the crowded sidewalk, dodging people with the ease of long practice. The city’s evening rush hour, as usual, was filled with car horns and agitated voices, but I was in too good a mood to let it bother me today. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a notification from the Ultra system.“You have 24 hours to spend another $3 million,” the message read.I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. A few people glanced at me like I was crazy, but I didn't care. This is going to be fun. I started mentally listing the most outrageous things I could buy. A yacht? A private island? Maybe I’ll just buy a fleet of sports cars and give them away to strangers.As I turned the corner onto my street, my thoughts faded. I spotted my mother standing outside our apartment building, surrounded by a depressing assortment of our belongings. My heart sank. This can’t be good.“Mom?” I called out as I jogged over to her. “What’s going on?”She looked up, he
RICHARD'S POV Suddenly, Samantha stammered through her apology, her eyes darting around like a deer caught in headlights. "I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Richard. I didn’t mean to—"I cut her off, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, you didn't mean to? Well, isn't that just peachy. I didn't mean to be insulted or have my time wasted, but here we are."A small crowd had gathered, their whispers growing louder with every passing second. Some of them had their phones out, probably recording the scene. Great, I thought, just what I need—my face plastered all over social media because of an incompetent sales agent."Maybe you should get someone who knows what they're doing," I suggested, my tone as biting as a winter wind.The look of sheer panic on Samantha's face was almost enough to make me feel a twinge of guilt. Almost.At that moment I noticed the manager, a tall man with a sharp suit and a sharper gaze. He walked towards us, like a hawk approaching his prey. His name tag read, ‘Michael’. He
Richard's POVThe system notification pinged, and I glanced at the screen. "Congratulations, Richard! You have completed your task and have earned two ultra billionaire points." I chuckled, shaking my head. Another Ultra billionaire points? If only everything else in life were that simple.****The next day, I woke up with a mission. The Carter family—big names in the business world. If I could secure a partnership with them, it would be a game-changer. It wasn't just about business, though. This was personal. I had tried calling to set up an appointment, but they insisted I come in person to verify my identity as a member of the consortium. Fair enough, I thought. A personal touch goes a long way.I picked out my sharpest suit, a dark navy number with a crisp white shirt and a red tie. "Lookin' sharp, Richard," I said to my reflection, giving myself a wink. The mirror didn't respond, of course, but it didn't need to. I knew I looked good.The drive to Carter Enterprises was a breeze
RICHARD'S POV leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of the room shift as Brenda's eyes met mine. There was a spark there, a glimmer of curiosity and perhaps a bit of skepticism."So, Richard," she began, her tone light but her gaze piercing, "you’re really part of the business consortium?"I leaned forward, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Yes, Brenda. I recently obtained membership."Her eyebrows shot up, and for a moment, she looked genuinely impressed. "Well, color me surprised. I thought they only allowed a select few, the crème de la crème."I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know, it’s not as exclusive as they make it out to be. But yes, they do have their standards."Brenda’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Standards, huh? I was beginning to think they just let in anyone with a decent suit and a charming smile."I laughed, the sound filling the room. "Well, I do have a pretty decent suit. And my smile? It’s legendary."She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her gr
RICHARD'S POV"Brenda, you won't regret this," I said, giving her my best reassuring smile. "The benefits of our partnership are going to be enormous. Just wait and see."Brenda nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I know, Richard. I trust you. I'll contact you soon for more details."I left her office, feeling a mixture of triumph and relief. The deal was sealed, and things were looking up. As I walked out into the bustling street, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Mr. Dennis, the Chairman of the business consortium in District 2, the same man whose daughter I had healed."Richard, there's a private banquet tonight at 7, to celebrate my daughter's recovery. Your presence would mean a lot to us."A banquet, huh? I thought. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to network and celebrate a little victory. Plus, the Chairman's gratitude could be a significant asset in the future.I stared at the screen for a moment, a smile playing on my lips. Dennis
RICHARD'S POV “John,” Mr. Dennis’ voice boomed, cutting through the room like a hot knife through butter. Everyone froze. “Seems you conveniently forgot to mention that Richard saved my Cathy when those high-priced hospital hacks were ready to ship her off to the morgue.” John, momentarily stunned, recovered quickly, plastering on a smile that was as fake as a three-dollar bill. "Ah, yes, Mr. Dennis, my apologies. You see how easily I’m swayed by emotion? But perhaps our esteemed guest, Richard, could enlighten us further. A little demonstration of these… exceptional medical skills, maybe?” He looked at me, his eyes gleaming with a challenge. “I for one would be very interested to witness such talent firsthand. And offer my most sincere praise, of course.”I could practically smell the trap he was setting, but his blatant attempt at sarcasm was almost amusing. He wanted a show, did he? Fine. Two could play at this game. Before I could respond, a groan ripped through the room. A
RICHARD’S POV “Impossible,” John muttered, his voice barely audible above the excited chatter. “Absolutely impossible.”I just smiled. He wanted a show? He got one."So, you thought I was all talk, huh?" I chuckled, watching the defeated look etched on John's face. Sweat beaded on his forehead, probably regretting every word he said just moments ago. He'd been all puffed up, trying to expose me as a fraud in front of Mr. Dennis and everyone else. Now? He looked like a deflated balloon, his face paler than a sheet. A small crowd had started to form, buzzing with whispers about the 'miracle cure' they'd just witnessed. Everyone seemed to have some ailment they wanted addressed. "Look, Richard," Mr. Dennis, ever the composed businessman, raised his voice slightly above the murmurs. "I understand everyone is eager, but we’re in the middle of a banquet.” He paused, his eyes scanning the expectant faces. "Let’s continue this after dinner, shall we?"The crowd, although disappointed,
RICHARD’S POV"So, you're telling me your family is holding off on marrying you off like some prized pony, all for a shot at this consortium?" I asked, stirring the ice in my scotch.Amelia nodded earnestly, her brow furrowed with concern. "It's not exactly like that," she said, a slight blush creeping up her neck. "They just think it would be a good opportunity for the family business." I chuckled. "Right, and I'm sure they wouldn't dream of picking a suitable bachelor with excellent connections if you fail." She shot me a playful glare. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?""A lot," I admitted, taking a sip of my drink. "But hey, maybe I can offer some advice. You never know, I might even have a few connections myself."Amelia's eyes widened. "You're serious? You could actually help?" I leaned back, enjoying her sudden surge of hope. "Well, I am a member of this illustrious Business Consortium you speak of."The look on her face was priceless. Pure, unrefined hock. "You're kidd