Jackson stared at the ceiling, trying to process this turn of events. He'd gone from broke and broken-hearted to filthy rich and still a bit broken-hearted, but with a very pleasant recent memory to soften the blow.
"So, what now?" he asked, partly to himself and partly to the voice that had upended his life. "Now, my dear boy, we shop!" "Shop? I just became a millionaire, and your first thought is... shopping?" "We can't have you wandering around looking like a lost time traveler, can we? Besides, every self-respecting millionaire needs the right... accessories." "Accessories? What am I, a Barbie doll?" "More like Ken, I'd say. But a Ken who desperately needs an upgrade." "Hey!" He protested, glancing down at his simple t-shirt and jeans. "I'll have you know these are perfectly respectable clothes." "For a college student, maybe. But for a man of your new status? We need to aim higher, darling." "Do we have to? Can't I just enjoy being rThe rain pelted down relentlessly, turning the city into a dark, watery hellscape. Streetlights struggled to pierce the gloom, their feeble beams reflected in puddles that looked more like pools of blood in the eerie glow. It was the kind of night that made sensible folks huddle indoors, leaving the streets to the desperate and the deranged. In a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of town, a man sat tied to a chair, his once-crisp white shirt now a canvas of crimson. He looked like he'd taken a swim in a vat of marinara sauce, except marinara sauce usually smelled better and didn't come with a side of broken bones. Victor sauntered into the warehouse, his polished Oxfords clicking against the concrete floor, each step echoing through the cavernous space like a twisted doorbell. His tailored suit, immaculate and pristine, seemed almost laughably out of place in the grimy surroundings. In his mid-thirties, Victor carried an air of confidence, a stark contrast to the bl
Jackson pulled up to the apartment building, the car's engine purring to a stop. He took a deep breath, adjusting his tie for the umpteenth time. The suit felt like a costume, and he half-expected someone to point and yell, "Imposter!" As he exited the car, he caught his reflection in the window. "Well, hello there, Mr. Fancy Pants," he muttered, straightening his jacket. A portly man with a receding hairline and an eager smile was already hurrying towards him. "Mr. Jackson! Welcome, welcome! I'm Harold Pimms, the building manager. We've been expecting you!" Jackson put on his best 'I totally belong here' smile. "Mr. Pimms, it's a pleasure to meet you." "Oh, the pleasure is all mine, sir! Shall we?" Harold gestured towards the entrance with a flourish that would have made a royal butler proud. As they walked through the lobby, Jackson felt like he was in a movie. Everything gleamed, from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers. He half-expected to see movie stars lounging on
She flashed a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with recognition. "Jackson? Is that really you?" He nodded, still struggling to connect the dots. "Yeah, that's me. I'm sorry, but I'm having a bit of trouble..." The woman's smile widened. "Oh, don't worry! I wasn't sure myself at first. I saw you in the lobby earlier and thought, 'No way, that can't be Jackson.' But then I couldn't shake the feeling, you know? So I decided to see if it was you. Crazy coincidence, huh?" "Yeah, talk about a small world. I'm sure I've seen you before, but I'm drawing a complete blank on where. It's like my brain decided to take a coffee break at the worst possible moment." The woman laughed. "Oh, don't beat yourself up about it. It has been a while. I'm Isabella. We used to work together at Delta Corp, remember? It was about ten years ago now. I left the job not long after we met." Suddenly, the fog in Jackson's mind cleared. Images flashed through his head: a bustling office, the smell of stale coffee,
Jackson's mind raced as he processed Isabella's words. Thanks to his bizarre journey through parallel worlds, he was still 28, but he should be 37 to her. Yet here she was, commenting on how young he looked. He felt like he was walking a tightrope over a pit of temporal confusion. "Yep, late thirties," he lied smoothly, praying she wouldn't ask for specifics. "But you know what they say - age is just a number, right?" "Whatever you're doing, it's working. You barely look a day over 30." "Clean living and a deal with the devil," Jackson joked, hoping his nervous laughter didn't give him away. She leaned forward. "So, tell me, Jackson. Are you still as... adventurous as you used to be?" "Adventurous?" "Oh, come on. Don't play coy. I remember the stories that used to float around the office. The legendary Jackson and his... escapades." "Escapades? That makes me sound like a pirate." "You did have a reputation," she teased. "So, tell me, do you still have that stamina? Or have you
Natalia eased her car into a parking spot outside the luxury hotel, its gleaming facade a stark contrast to the dimming evening sky. She killed the engine and took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was sure to be an interesting dinner. "We're here," she announced, turning to Evelyn. "Ooh, fancy! So, did your mystery actor invite you up to his room?" Evelyn wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "For the hundredth time, this is a business dinner. We're meeting in the private restaurant downstairs." "Boooring," Evelyn sing-songed as she stepped out of the car, her stilettos clicking on the pavement. "You know, I came to this hotel once with my boyfriend." "That's nice," Natalia replied absently, locking the car and smoothing down her blazer. Evelyn's face lit up with mischief. "Want to know what we did?" "No, I really don't need that much information about your boyfriend or your private life," Natalia said quickly, heading toward the hotel entrance. Evelyn trotted aft
Jackson stood in front of apartment 809, his hand hovering over the doorbell. He took a deep breath, smoothed his shirt, and pressed the button. The muffled chime echoed from within. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Isabella. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she wore a casual outfit that looked comfortable and stylish. Isabella stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Come on in, Mr. Penthouse. Let's see how the other half lives." He stepped inside and surveyed the apartment. It was sleek and modern, with tasteful decor and a view of the city that, while not as breathtaking as his penthouse, was still impressive. "So," she said, closing the door behind him, "what do you think? Not quite up to your new standards, but it's home." Jackson nodded appreciatively. "It's nice. Really nice, actually." He thought back to his old apartment - the one from before this whole bizarre adventure began. Compared to that, Isabella's place was practically a palace. But he kept t
They settled onto a pair of barstools. The bartender, a burly man with a salt-and-pepper beard, approached with a friendly nod. "What'll it be?" he asked, wiping down the bar in front of them. Isabella leaned forward, her eyes scanning the rows of bottles behind the bar. "I'll have a gin and tonic, please. Extra lime." Jackson hesitated, suddenly aware that he hadn't been to a bar in what felt like ages. "Uh, I'll have... a whiskey. Neat." The bartender nodded and set about preparing their drinks. Isabella turned to Jackson, smirking. "Whiskey, huh? Trying to impress me with your manly drink choice?" He felt his cheeks flush slightly. "What? No, I just... I like whiskey." "Sure you do," she teased, nudging him with her elbow. "I bet you're more of a fruity cocktail guy. Maybe something with an umbrella?" He laughed, feeling more at ease. "Hey, don't knock the umbrella drinks. They're delicious and festive." The bartender returned with their drinks, sliding them across the pol
He burst out of the bar, the cool night air hitting him like a slap. His eyes darted left and right, searching for any sign of the brunette. But the sidewalk was a sea of unfamiliar faces, none belonging to the woman who'd captured his attention. Jackson jogged a few steps in one direction, then the other, feeling like a lost puppy. He even considered yelling, "Wait!" but managed to stop before he could complete that humiliation. Just then, the door of the bar swung open, and Isabella emerged, looking both amused and concerned. "Did Prince Charming find his Cinderella?" she asked, joining him. He shook his head. "Nope. Looks like the clock struck midnight, and all I'm left with is a pumpkin." She patted his shoulder sympathetically. "There, there. I'm sure there are plenty of other beautiful women in the city who'd love to be stalked by a mysterious millionaire." He shot her a look. "Thanks for the pep talk. Really, you should consider a career in motivation