Victoria moved with the key ring and contract, her mind still racing over the money.
I don't care how this happened. I don't care if it was magic, she thought. Those seven point five million dollars were real, and that's all that mattered.
"Let's go inside, Mr. Blake," Victoria said, leading him to the massive front door. She pressed a button on a keypad, and the doors glided open, revealing a three-story atrium.
The interior was a testament to unapologetic, modern opulence.
Victoria began the tour with the central area. "The main floor, Mr. Blake. You'll find the immense formal living space here, and the dining room."
She then led him directly into the kitchen. "The Gourmet Kitchen is fully stocked," she announced proudly. The granite counters gleamed under soft lighting. The high-end, commercial-grade stainless steel appliances were polished to a mirror shine, clearly brand new. The enormous refrigerator was already full: fresh, meticulously arranged produce, prime cuts of meat, and high-quality beverages lined the shelves.
"The fridge is fully stocked with essentials, including food we purchased just this morning for your convenience," she emphasized.
Next, she pointed to an entertainment nook in the corner of the living area. A huge 100-inch television dominated the wall. Beneath it sat not only the latest generation gaming console but also several others.
"This is the dedicated entertainment zone," Victoria explained. "And here..." She gestured to a discreet, custom-built desk. "The system is custom-built. It features an NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card, the fastest available, coupled with the latest generation processor. It's the most advanced consumer computer available on the market."
[She is not lying. That machine could run two dozen simultaneous MMOs at maximum settings while simulating the entire stock market. Go play Doom, loser,] The System quipped dismissively.
Ethan, however, was impressed despite himself. "This is unbelievable. It's like they anticipated every need I didn't even know I had."
After showing him the immense living area and the formal dining room, Victoria led him to the lower level.
"Here we have the amenities floor," she announced, walking past a state-of-the-art home theater. She pointed to a glass-walled room. "The indoor fitness center is fully equipped with commercial-grade equipment."
[Turn that treadmill into a sex machine. I'm serious. Who even works out? You need to be worked out on,] The System suggested, his voice layered with pure digital sin.
Ethan had to press his lips together hard to stop a grin from breaking out. He merely nodded. "Excellent room volume."
Next was the spa area, centered around a huge, deep-set Jacuzzi.
"And here is the main relaxation area," Victoria continued. "This Jacuzzi is perfect for unwinding after a stressful week."
[Don't talk about stressful! Ask her if she wants to unwind right now! Tell her you need to "test the hydraulics" with her. Look at her butt; she's asking for it! Just look at that garter belt peeking out—it's a direct invitation!]
Ethan did look. Victoria's form-fitting skirt and the hint of lace were dangerously distracting. He glanced at her full lips. It wouldn't be a bad idea, he conceded mentally.
"It looks... very inviting," Ethan said, his voice a little deeper than usual.
Victoria just gave a practiced, knowing smile and moved on, leading him up to the top floor's balcony. The view was staggering: the city spread out below them, and in the distance, the iconic dome of the MIT campus was clearly visible across the river.
That's the MIT dome, Ethan thought, the sight bringing an immediate flood of old memories. Is that part of your plan? That I enroll at MIT?
The System laughed. [Bingo! You guessed it. In fact, watch this.]
A notification instantly popped up in Ethan's HUD.
[MISSION UPDATE: Enroll at MIT before the next school year begins.] [REWARD: 20 Lux Points]
"Excellent. Right on time," the System said, sounding delighted.
You've got to be kidding. I wanted Harvard, Ethan thought, his stomach twisting.
[I know you better than that, Blake. I don't think you'd ever step foot on Harvard's campus, even if I handed you the acceptance letter myself.]
Ethan remembered the pompous way he had been treated at his old school, the corruption, and the knowledge that his money would now go to fuel that same machine. His stomach churned. You're right. I would never go, even if they accepted me.
The System's voice became sharper, more persuasive. [I know you better than you know yourself. That's why I brought you here. Imagine this: You achieve incredible things at MIT—prizes, innovations—which, with my help, are ridiculously easy. Then, the bastards who excluded you find out about your success. It would be a phenomenal revenge to see them fired and utterly humiliated, wouldn't it?]
Ethan could easily picture the smug, bald, fat administrator groveling. He sighed. You win. I'll do it.
Victoria, noticing the long silence, turned. "Is something wrong with the balcony, Mr. Blake? Do you require any structural remodeling, or is there something you dislike about the view?"
"Oh, no," Ethan quickly assured her. "It's perfect. It's just... I ran into some personal issues and had to leave the city. I haven't taken the entrance exam yet."
Victoria looked him up and down, still smiling. "That's a minor hurdle. I know the Dean of Admissions. I could call her right now and explain your situation. I'm sure she'll make an exception, though I don't know how problematic it will be."
Ethan understood what she meant by "problematic"—money. He approached her, closing the distance until they were mere centimeters apart, his voice dropping low.
"Nothing is problematic, Ms. Sterling, as long as the desire is strong enough."
The System screamed with delight. [THAT'S MY CHAMPION! You're finally understanding the game! Go for it, Tiger!]
Victoria didn't blush. She was completely unfazed. She just reached up, gently touched his shoulder, and gave him a single, professional wink. "I understand. Give me a few minutes."
Watching her reaction, Ethan confirmed the System's earlier assertion: she was definitely used to this kind of attention. He smiled and conceded internally: You win, System. She is definitely easy.
[I told you! She has 'Harlot' written on her ass. Look closely, you can probably see a tail and little ears poking out! Hahaha!] the System roared.
"I hate how bad I am at interpreting this stuff and being so non-assertive," Ethan muttered to himself. "Do you have some kind of miraculous trick?"