Spending money while making money

Before Alex could react, she enveloped him in a tight hug. He stood there awkwardly, arms pinned to his sides, feeling like a deer caught in very emotional headlights.

The woman pulled back, removing her glasses to wipe at her eyes. "God, I thought we'd lost you this time," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Uh... thanks?" Alex replied, eloquent as ever.

The woman laughed, a sound tinged with both joy and exasperation. "Oh, Jason. Only you could come back from the dead and still be this awkward." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Sarah Blackwood, your PA. Though I'm pretty sure I've earned a promotion to 'miracle worker' at this point."

Alex shook her hand, his mind racing. A PA. Of course, Jason Rivers would have a personal assistant. Probably several.

"Nice to... uh, meet you, Sarah," he said, hoping his hesitation came across as post-coma confusion rather than 'I have no idea who you are or what's going on.'

Sarah's expression softened. "The doctors said you might have some memory issues. Don't worry, we'll get you back up to speed in no time." She pulled out a tablet, all business now. "I've already started rescheduling your appointments and notifying your agent. We'll need to do some damage control – rumors of your death have been greatly exaggerated, as it turns out."

Alex nodded, trying to look like he understood any of what she was saying. "Right, yeah. That sounds... good?"

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're feeling alright, Jason? Usually, you'd be chomping at the bit to get back to work. Remember that time you tried to film a scene with a broken arm?"

"Did I?" Alex asked, genuinely curious. It sounded like something an adult film star might do.

Sarah laughed. "Oh, honey. We have got a lot of work to do." She patted his arm. "But first, you need to rest. Doctor's orders. I'll be back tomorrow with some contracts for you to look over."

With another quick hug, Sarah left, leaving Alex alone once again. He collapsed back onto the bed, his head spinning.

Three months. He'd been out for three months, but it felt like he'd just closed his eyes for a second. The world had moved on without him – or rather, without Alex Turner. But it had been holding its breath for Jason Rivers.

As he lay there, trying to process everything, a memory niggled at the back of his mind. A screen. He'd seen a screen earlier, hadn't he? Or had that been a dream?

Suddenly, as if triggered by his thoughts, a translucent screen materialized in front of him. Alex yelped, nearly falling out of the bed.

The screen flickered, then stabilized, displaying what looked like a video game character sheet:

```

Name: Alex Turner (in body of Jason Rivers)

Age: 28 (Alex) / 35 (Jason)

Status: Alive (Surprisingly)

Occupation: Adult Film Star (New) / Former Accountant (Defunct)

Attributes:

Strength: 14

Endurance: 8

Constitution: 15

Intelligence: 16

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 8

Special traits :

- Coma Survivor (New!)

- Body Snatcher (Accidental)

- Adult Film Prowess (Untested)

Current Quests:

1. Figure out what the hell is going on

2. Don't blow your cover

3. Learn to act (in more ways than one)

4. Survive the entertainment industry

Warning: Cashback System initializing. Prepare for financial adventures!

```

Alex stared at the screen, his mouth hanging open. "What. The. Actual. Fuck," he whispered.

The screen blinked once, then added a new line:

```

Eloquence: 3 (Needs Improvement)

```

Alex groaned, letting his head fall back onto the pillow.

Alex stared at the floating screen, his mind already cataloging and analyzing the information. "Okay, this is... different," he muttered.

Suddenly, text appeared on the screen:

[To interact with the system, simply think your commands or questions. For assistance, think 'System Help']

Alex raised an eyebrow. 'System Help,' he thought tentatively.

The screen shifted, displaying a menu of options. Alex's eyes narrowed as he focused on "Cashback System Overview."

A detailed explanation appeared:

[The Cashback System allows you to earn a percentage of money back on all expenditures. This cashback can be used to purchase skills, unlock memories, or improve attributes. Higher risk or morally ambiguous transactions offer better cashback rates]

'Interesting,' Alex thought. 'So how do I check my current cashback balance?'

[Current Cashback Balance: $0. No transactions have been made since system activation]

Alex nodded, his mind already whirring with possibilities. 'And how do I earn cashback?'

[Cashback is earned through any financial transaction. Rates vary based on the nature and risk of the transaction. Examples:

- Standard purchases: 1-3%

- Luxury items: 5-10%

- Business investments: 15-20%

- High-risk ventures: 25-30%

- Morally questionable transactions: 40-50%]

Alex whistled low. "That's quite a scale," he murmured. His accountant's brain was already calculating potential earnings and risks.

'What can I use the cashback for?' he inquired.

[Cashback can be used for:

1. Skill Acquisition: Improve existing skills or learn new ones.

2. Memory Unlocks: Access Jason Rivers' memories at certain milestones.

3. Attribute Enhancement: Boost physical or mental attributes.

4. Special Abilities: Unlock unique talents or powers]

Alex leaned back, processing the information. This system seemed to gamify his entire existence. As an accountant, he appreciated the structured approach, but the implications were staggering.

'How did I get this system? And how is a body swap even possible?' he asked.

The screen remained blank for a moment before displaying: [Information unavailable]

Alex frowned. 'Convenient,' he thought sarcastically.

Deciding to focus on what he could control, Alex dug deeper. 'Show me the skill tree.'

A complex web of interconnected skills appeared, ranging from "Basic Acting" to "Advanced Financial Management" and even "Tantric Mastery."

'And how do memory unlocks work?' he queried.

[Memory unlocks occur at specific cashback earning milestones. Each unlock provides access to a set of Jason Rivers' memories, potentially revealing crucial information about his life, career, and relationships]

Alex nodded, his mind already formulating strategies. The accountant in him saw the potential for optimization, while another part of him grappled with the ethical implications.

'Last question for now,' he thought. 'What happens if someone finds out I'm not really Jason Rivers?'

The system's response was simple but chilling: [Quest Failed. Game Over]

Alex swallowed hard. The stakes were clear. He was playing a game he never asked to join, with his life as the ultimate prize.

As the screen faded, Alex took a deep breath. He had a lot to figure out.