Victoria gave him another sharp, professional smile. "Of course, Mr. Blake. Just one moment. I need to retrieve the master keys and the final contract pages from the office."
"Take your time," Ethan replied smoothly.
As Victoria turned and walked back toward the security shack, Ethan watched her. And that's when he noticed it. The System was right. When she first walked up, she had been cool, almost apathetic despite his BMW. But now, she walked with a noticeable, deliberate swing in her hips, like she wanted to draw his attention. Even without seeing her face, he was sure that cool, business smile had become a genuine, eager grin.
[Told you so! Polite? My digital circuits! These women only care about one thing, and it's money,] The System scoffed internally.
"I can't believe she's about to make nearly thirty million dollars on this one sale, Ethan thought, stunned by the implication."
[Did your brain just melt? I said one or two percent, not ten to twenty percent! She'll earn between one and three million dollars. Still a hefty sum, though, don't you think?]
"And you can say that again," Ethan mentally replied. "You gave me one million, and I felt like I was on cloud nine. Now you're telling me she's going to make more, and it's just one sale?"
The System laughed harder. [You have no idea how rare these transactions are. Do you know how often she sells one of these? This entire residential area probably holds no more than a hundred houses, and they're the most exclusive properties in the entire country, let alone the state. Normally, agents like her sell million- or two-million-dollar homes. Plus, they pay for their own advertising; they invest hundreds of thousands a month just to get clients to look their way. Don't think everything is as easy as it was for you, getting a tax-free million dropped into your lap.]
Ethan shook his head, a mix of awe and disgust forming on his face. This was a completely different world.
Victoria returned, slipping into the passenger seat of Ethan's car as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She pointed ahead.
"Your residence is located in the mid-upper section, Mr. Blake," she explained, her voice professional but now clearly tinged with excitement. "It's number eighty-nine."
Ethan looked where she pointed. He wasn't looking at a penthouse; he was looking at a massive mansion.
Victoria caught his expression—a mix of confusion and awe. She chuckled lightly. "I assume this was a gift from your parents for getting into MIT?"
Of course. That explained everything: why he didn't know the property, why he had the paperwork but no knowledge of the house itself. It was a complete surprise.
[Victoria's Thoughts]
I can't believe this is happening, she thought fiercely. Just hours ago, her manager had called, ecstatic, confirming the sale of House 89. She had tried every angle to sell this place. She even opened her legs for one notorious billionaire and still hadn't closed the deal.
One hundred and fifty million. It was an outrageous price, but the zone and the sheer size made it justifiable. Still, it was practically impossible to sell.
Her boss had called her the best seller, congratulating her over and over. They had decided to give her a five percent commission instead of her usual 1.8%. Why? Because the firm was ready to drop the price to $110 million—like the surrounding homes—just to liquidate the $150 million asset that had been sitting stagnant.
Seven and a half million dollars! Her bonus alone was enormous, but she had saved the firm forty million.
She had been waiting for the powerful businessman who purchased it, only for this clearly under-ripe kid to show up. But the sheer efficiency! She thought.
Then, she looked at the paper she held: The contract was signed. The funds were verified. She almost screamed. She had nearly offended the most important client she'd ever encountered! If she had ruined the handover, she'd be fired at best. The owners of this residential area were not known for clean business; making her disappear would be child's play for them.
Thank the heavens I didn't act like an idiot, she prayed silently. It has to be the MIT admission gift. This young man is my ticket to early retirement.
It doesn't matter how the sale happened, she reassured herself. She didn't need to know and honestly, she didn't care. The only thing that mattered was the seven and a half million dollars hitting her bank account.
Ethan drove the BMW smoothly, following her directions. Victoria pressed a button on a small remote, and the massive, wrought-iron gates swung open silently, welcoming them into the compound.
Ethan drove through and parked directly in front of the main entrance. The house was pure luxury. Huge pine trees, at least ten feet tall, decorated the entire perimeter, forming a uniform, natural wall. They had clearly invested heavily in absolute privacy. The property was massive—a true mansion of nearly 28,000 square feet, featuring three levels, eight bedrooms, a huge pool, a gym, and both tennis and basketball courts.
Victoria began the exterior tour with practiced grace, stepping out of the car. "I'll start with the exterior amenities, Mr. Blake."
She led him toward the vast, glittering swimming pool. "The pool area is exceptionally large, as you can see. The whole area was designed with families in mind, perfect for entertaining many children."
The System instantly went into action, its voice full of mischievous suggestion in Ethan's mind. [Children? Forget that noise. Imagine having sex right here. Out in the open, under the sun, completely exposed. That would be delicious. Go on, ask her if it's rated for obscene activity.]
Ethan fought to keep a straight face, nodding seriously at Victoria. "The pool looks pristine."
"It is," she confirmed, missing his internal struggle. "A maintenance technician will visit every three months to change filters, but otherwise, you don't need to do a thing. It has a fully automated cleaning system running twenty-four-seven to ensure it's always ready for use."
They moved toward the enclosed sports courts. "This area houses the full tennis and basketball courts."
[Boring! You should turn that basketball court into a threesome arena. A soft, plush rug with mood lighting. Who needs hoops when you have that much vertical space? Get creative, Blake!]
Ethan cleared his throat to hide a sudden laugh, adjusting his jacket. "Excellent space. Very well maintained."
"And finally, the garden area," Victoria said, leading him to a perfectly manicured lawn surrounded by towering hedges. "It's surprisingly extensive for a property this close to the city center."
[This is where you bury the bodies. Or, better yet, just have a massive orgy. Nothing says 'I own this place' like public degeneracy in a $150 million garden.]
Ethan finally couldn't hold back a tiny, controlled smile. "I see. It provides excellent privacy."
Victoria beamed, mistaking his amusement for satisfaction. "Precisely. Now, if you are ready, let's move inside. That's where the true luxury begins."