HIDDEN TRILLIONAIRE
Chapter 3
Richard stared at the words on the holographic panel in front of him. He could not make sense of what was happening to him right now.
"Hahahahahaha! I get it, those thugs must have hit me so hard that I'm seeing things right now." As he was about to stand up, the words and the holographic panel dissolved as if they were never there.
"Yep! I knew I was hallucinating." Richard stood up, he could see his clothes didn't look anything presentable. He couldn't walk around the street of the estate looking like he committed a genocide.
«Ding!
System Integration Complete.»
The holographic panel was back again. "Seriously!?"
«Startup package awarded.
Bonding reward (Lvl 1): For every hour Host has the Trillionaire System, $500 will be awarded to host.»
Richard was stunned. He was thinking of taking off his bloodied T-shirt and then jog back to the Warren mansion, but now, he's considering staying put, for at least an hour.
"Not like I've got anything to lose. Might as well check if this system of a thing is real, or simply something my banged up brain conjured."
ONE HOUR LATER!
Richard had found a clean place to sit. He had also taken off the bloodied T-shirt as it had begun to stink.
Just then, his phone vibrated. Richard reached his pocket and brought out his outdated Apple iPhone. On the screen was a message he was waiting for but still didn't believe it will come.
'Credit Alert:
United Bank of Alvarez:
$500 has been transferred to your account.
Sender: xxxxxxxxx'
"Hehehehe. Now this is something I never expected to see." Richard chuckled. There was no way he won't believe in the system stuff now. Seeing the transfer alert on his phone, he knew it was real.
"Five hundred dollars for every hour, huh?" Richard muttered and did the math.. "That's twelve grand everyday!!!" Richard's eyes went as wide as a Martian saucer, "HOLY FRIGGIN COW! In a month!!!?? That's $360,000! And that's just for level one.. what happens when it levels up!" A crazy grin found its way to his lips. He was a pauper no more.. but then his mind went back to what had happened earlier. He was targeted because he was poor and without backing.. he was a nobody.. and worse he didn't even know who sent those thugs.
"Someone certainly wants me death for some reason, and I haven't offended anyone. Hmm, for the meantime, no one must know of what I posses, not even Diane." Richard muttered, "Well, first things first, let me get a clean set of clothes."
*
Richard walked into a cafe. He had left the Valerian Estate and decided to get some coffee and clear his head a bit. He had bought a plain T-shirt at a Mall inside the Estate.. but just like the Estate itself, the commodities in the mall were expensive.. the cheapest was $500. Having about $750 in his account, Richard had bought the cheapest T-shirt for $500. Now in a clean plain T-shirt and a dirtied trouser, Richard walked into a cafe a few minutes walk from the estate.
"What can I get you, Sir?" A sweet voice asked him. The waitress smiled at him, but he could see the smile wasn't genuine, just a mask. Not like he was complaining, his dressing gave off the impression of a homeless man.
"Cappuccino, and Brownies." Richard replied. The lady's smile didn't fade until she turned and went to get his order.
Just then, a lady in her early twenties walked in. The chiming of the bell at the door drew Richard's attention, but the moment he saw the face of the lady he walked in, he wished he hadn't looked up.
"Oh, if it isn't Richard Tucker. Didn't fancy seeing you here." The lady spoke, but her tone was laced with disdain. "Are you running an errand for your inlaws or you're here on break?" She then chuckled at her own words.
"Hello Jenna." Richard greeted her, the lack of enthusiasm in his voice made it apparent he didn't want her near him.. but she still took a seat at his table and sat in front of him.
Jenna Parker, Richard's former college classmate, and crush. She had once told him back in college, that unless he had a million dollar in his account before graduation, she will never accept him as her boyfriend. When the scandal between Richard and Diane was released, she was the one who spread the news on the school forum, which made Richard to leave the group.. and now she was here of all places.
"Found a job yet?" She asked with feigned concern on her face. Richard didn't respond.
"Honestly, I didn't know I'll meet you here.. will you mind buying me a cup of coffee, for old time sake." Her eyes fluttered and her face had a pleading expression, but Richard didn't fall for it. She knew he was penniless.
"Oh my!" She softly exclaimed with feigned surprised. "Oh goodness me! I forgot you have no money on you! My bad." She smiled.
Richard simply stared at her with a bored expression on his face, 'Great, I have just returned from a physical death, and now I'm about to be psychologically murdered.. hopefully I get another system.'
Just then, the waitress brought the cup of cappuccino and a plate of brownies to Richard. Richard thanked her and quietly sipped his cappuccino.
"Tsk! A cup of cappuccino and brownies, I can't believe this is what you've been reduced to. Its a good thing I didn't accept you then, if I did, who knew what part of the slums I'd have found myself living in by now." She gestured to the waitress to come.
"Latte, single-origin coffee, and a gourmet sandwich." Jenna said an air of authority. The waitress flashed a genuine smile and scurried off to get the order. Her attitude inflated Jenna's ego, and she turned back to Richard who quietly munching on the brownie.
"Unlike your penniless self, I happen earn annual salary of $60,000." Jenna said with pride.
Richard almost burst out laughing.. did she just say annual? That's a fraction of what he now makes monthly. Right then his phone vibrated again, Richard knew the system had sent him another $500. Richard checked the time and realized it was getting late. He should get back to the mansion.
"My birthday is in a week from now. If you do show up, I will consider filling your belly, but in return you'll serve my guests." She said as if she was certain Richard will be at her birthday party. She opened her purse, took a piece of paper and pen and scribbled on the paper, then slid it towards Richard.
"That's my address, I'll have food ready for you, and perhaps a few hundred dollars, but you'll get it only after the party is over." She didn't even look up at Richard while saying this, but rather went back to her sandwich.
Richard didn't even glance at the paper, he simply stood up, walked to the counter and made a transfer to pay for the coffee and brownies, then walked out of the cafe. To him, Jenna no longer mattered, she was now beneath him, just as the Richardsons will soon be beneath him.
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