Claire took the phone and quickly entered her number before handing it back. "There you go. But don't go getting yourself shot just to see me again."
Jackson pocketed the phone, feeling a surge of triumph. "I'll do my best to avoid any more bullets." "Good plan," she said, stepping closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But if you need anything else... don't hesitate to call." Jackson's breath caught as she leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear. "Anything else?" "Anything," she whispered back, her lips lingering dangerously close to his. His heart pounded as he turned his head slightly, their faces now inches apart. He could feel the heat radiating off her skin and smell her faint perfume. Without thinking, he closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his. The kiss started slow and tentative but quickly became more intense. Claire's hands tangled in his hair as she pressed against him, deepening the kiss. His mind sp
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The Accidental Wealth Chapter 55
Jackson stepped out of the examination room, his mind still reeling from his encounter with Dr. Claire and already looking forward to his follow-up appointment. He barely registered his surroundings until a familiar voice snapped him back to reality. "Jackson! Are you alright?" Olivia rushed towards him, her face etched with concern. He blinked, suddenly remembering that Olivia had been waiting for him this whole time. Guilt mingled with the lingering arousal from his kiss with Claire. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a flesh wound, as they say." "It will take a few days to cure," she said, concerned. "Come on, I'll drop you off at your home." He nodded, his mind still fuzzy from the pain meds and the unexpected make-out session with Dr. Claire. He followed Olivia out of the hospital, his feet feeling like they were made of lead. Olivia slid into the driver's seat. He eased himself into the passenger side, trying not to jostle his injured shoulder. As they pulled out of the parking lo
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 56
Olivia whistled as she pulled up to the curb. "Damn, Jackson. You've been holding out on me. This place is swanky as hell." He smiled nervously. "Yeah, I recently came into some... unexpected good fortune." She raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, she hurried around to his side of the car, ready to help him. Jackson hesitated, realizing he no longer needed the assistance but unsure how to explain his sudden recovery. "I've got you," Olivia said, wrapping an arm around his waist. Jackson leaned into her, partly to maintain the charade and partly because, well, who wouldn't want to be pressed against a beautiful woman? They made their way to the elevator, Olivia supporting more of his weight than was strictly necessary. Olivia's jaw dropped as the elevator doors slid open on the top floor. "Holy shit, Jackson. This is your place?" The penthouse sprawled before them, all gleaming surfaces and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the twinklin
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 1
Jackson struggled to adjust his tie, the smooth fabric eluding his grasp like a defiant serpent. He glanced at his reflection, wincing at the crooked knot that resembled a half-strangled pretzel. Mornings were never his strong suit. At twenty-eight years old, he still struggled with the simple task."Babe, you haven't said anything about the money I asked for." Veronica's voice floated from the bed, a mix of honey and vinegar.He froze, tie dangling forgotten. "Money?" The word tumbled out of his mouth like a stray pebble."For the cocktail dress? Remember? Mia's birthday party?"His brain scrambled to catch up. Right. The party. The dress. The money. He'd hoped she'd forgotten about that particular request."Ah, yeah. About that..." He turned, meeting Veronica's expectant gaze. She lounged on the bed, still in her pajamas, looking like a cat waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse. He was definitely the mouse in this scenario."Well?" She arched an eyebrow, a move that could make
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 2
Jackson stood up, straightening his discount suit jacket. It was time to visit IT and sort this out. As he walked towards the tech support desk, a thought struck him. Maybe his manager, Mr. Thompson, would know what was going on. He knocked on Mr. Thompson's door, trying to ignore the knot forming in his stomach. "Come in," a voice called from inside. He entered, finding Mr. Thompson engrossed in his phone. The manager looked up, his face as expressive as a block of wood. "Ah, Jackson. What can I do for you?" "Sir, I'm having trouble logging into my account. It says my username doesn't exist." Mr. Thompson's eyebrows rose slightly, the most emotion Jackson had ever seen on his face. "Haven't you checked your email?" "My email?" He echoed, feeling like he'd walked into the middle of a conversation he didn't know he was having. "Yes, your email. You were fired yesterday." The words hit Jackson like a sledgehammer to the gut. "Fired? But... why? How?" "Due to no work improvemen
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 3
As he walked down the street, his mind reeled. Fired and cheated on, all in the span of a few hours. If this was a movie, he'd be demanding a rewrite. The universe had a twisted sense of humor. He wandered aimlessly, his feet carrying him through the city with no real destination. The bustling streets felt surreal as if he were watching a movie about someone else's life. How could the world just keep going when he had come crashing down? He didn't even know where he was walking. The sun beat down on him, but he barely noticed. His feet moved on autopilot, carrying him past bustling cafes and honking taxis. He was so lost in thought that he didn't see the bus until it was too late. One moment, he was stepping off the curb; the next, he was airborne. It was almost comical, really. Fired, cheated on, and now hit by a bus. The universe really had it out for him today. As he sailed through the air, time seemed to slow down. In that brief moment of clarity, Jackson had an epiphany. He'd
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He stared at the ceiling, wondering if he'd finally lost his marbles. Maybe the stress of losing his job and catching Veronica cheating had finally pushed him over the edge. Or perhaps the bus had scrambled his brains more than he thought."Oh, stop being so dramatic," the voice chimed in. "You haven't lost your mind. Well, not completely, anyway."He groaned. "Great, now I'm arguing with myself. Fantastic.""I told you, darling, I'm not you. I'm a separate entity. A system, if you will. Now, why don't you suggest a name for me? I'll even give you a small reward for your trouble."He snorted. "What kind of reward? A one-way ticket to the loony bin?"The voice tsked. "So pessimistic. Just try a name and you'll find out."He sighed, deciding to humor his apparent mental breakdown. "Fine. How about... 'A Strange System'?""Oh, honey, you can do better than that," the voice replied, disappointed. "How about 'Life Guide System'? Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?""Whatever," Jackson
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 5
A few moments later, the door swung open, and the impossibly glamorous nurse sashayed in. He noticed how her uniform hugged her curves, and his face flushed."You called, Mr. Jackson?" she asked, her voice as smooth as honey."I, uh... yes," he stammered, suddenly forgetting every smooth line he'd ever heard. "I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of me.""Oh? Well, that's very sweet of you, Mr. Jackson. It's not often patients express gratitude for my... care."Was it his imagination, or did she emphasize that last word? He felt his face grow hot."Well, you know what they say," he blurted out. "Laughter is the best medicine. And your smile... it's definitely working wonders."Quantum Quill groaned in his head. "Oh, darling, that was painful. You can do better than that!"The nurse, however, seemed charmed. Her lips curved into an amused smile. "My, my, Mr. Jackson. Are you flirting with me?"His brain short-circuited. "I... uh... is it working?"She laughed. "Well, ar
The Accidental Wealth Chapter 6
Once dressed, he had to admit he felt more human. The clothes fit surprisingly well, though he couldn't shake the feeling that he was wearing evidence of his spectacular fall from grace."Well, look at you," QQ piped up. "From hospital chic to suburban dad in ten minutes flat. Bravo.""You know, for a so-called 'Life Guide System', you're not very supportive," He grumbled."Oh, darling, I'm plenty supportive. I just have high standards. Now, shall we go face the music at reception?"With a deep breath, Jackson headed out of the room and down the hallway. The hospital's opulence continued to astound him – he half expected to see a valet parking Ferraris in the lobby.At the reception desk, a woman with a smile as plastic as her nametag greeted him. "Checking out, sir?""That's the plan," He replied."Wonderful! Let's just pull up your bill, shall we?" Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and He braced himself for impact."Alright, Mr. Jackson. Your total comes to... $45,500.""I'm sorry