Mom? Is That You?

[Assets Calculated.]

I took a deep breath, sitting up on the couch. I told you my story of visiting heaven was a story for later. Now, you know why I was given this second chance.

[Liabilities Calculated.]

Five years. Enough time to overthrow an empire.

[Debts Calculated.]

I frowned. The system was also calculating Mila's debts. That meant I should be expecting something lower than two hundred million dollars.

[Net Worth: 7 million dollars.]

[Reward: 70 million dollars.]

I sighed in… relief? It wasn't the two hundred million I had been expecting but seventy million dollars was a lot of money.

With this money, I can take my first real step to achieving my goals.

I sent a silent thank you to the Administrator for the 10x Cashback System. I can't wait to meet other stamp holders.

The blue box flickered and disappeared. I sat down for a second in expectation. Any minute now and it would come.

One second. Two seconds. Ten seconds.

Nothing happened.

I pulled out my phone and checked my account balance. Why have I still not received my credit alert yet? 

Aren't money making systems supposed to have instant deposits? What's going on? Is my system broken?

Then, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen. A number I didn't know.

I was tempted to reject the call and continue waiting for my reward to enter my bank account but I needed something to keep me distracted for now.

I picked the call. "Hello?"

"Good morning. Am I speaking with Mr. Nicholas Voss?" A deep voice asked. You know those kinds of voices that make the ladies go crazy? That was what this dude had.

I paused. Who the hell is this? "Yes you are." I answered. "And who am I speaking with?"

"My name is Michael Lincoln and I am the attorney of Miss Lauren Cooper, your mother, and the executor of her will."

"Err…" I had no idea what to say. 

"I apologize that it has taken me this long to find you, Mr. Voss." Lincoln said. "I should've contacted you a month ago when you turned twenty two but you were hard to find."

If you heard that your mother's attorney was looking for you after twenty two years, what would you do?

"Why were you looking for me?" I asked.

"Your mother's will contains a testamentary trust in which the first layer activates when you turn twenty two. It is time for your mother's will to be read."

I stood and began pacing. Maybe this is how my rewards from the system will get to me.

A source that can legally be explained, not like the magical credit alert I had been waiting for. If the IRS ever comes calling, I'll have nothing to fear.

"What do I need to do?"

"Would you like the will to be read at my office or at a place of your choosing?"

"Your office." I said. Lincoln gave me his office address and I paused. His office was also in Crownborough. How did this guy not find me for a month?

It didn't take me long to get into my Audi and in forty five minutes, I was at the Lincoln and Wesley Law Group building.

I was impressed. The law firm owned the building. Was my mother just a device the system is using to reward me or is she actually rich and mysterious enough to have a will big enough to hire these people.

I approached the reception desk, stated what I was here for and in two minutes, I was walking into Lincoln's office.

"Mr. Voss." Lincoln stood from his chair and came forward to shake my hand and let me tell you, I was disappointed.

The image I had built in my head from the voice was not what was standing in front of me. Michael Lincoln was as ordinary as any other dude. 

Early fifties. Salt and pepper brown hair and a beard. Brown eyes, average height and average features. But he was able to make up for it by his voice and his presence.

We shook hands, his grip firm and he gestured to the table and chairs at the side of the office.

"Please take a seat, Mr. Voss." 

"Thank you." I sat.

He grabbed a file from his desk and walked to the table to sit opposite me.

"Like I said on the phone, your mother's will has several clauses, the first of which activates on your twenty second birthday."

"I was previously under the impression that you still lived in your previous residence only to discover that you moved after gaining admission at the university. I apologize for my mistakes."

"There's no need to apologize, Mr. Lincoln." I smiled. "I'm here now."

"That is true." Lincoln nodded, matching my smile. "Let us begin with the reading of the will."

"Lets."

He nodded, opened the file and began to read. 

"I, Lauren Cooper, of sound mind and body, hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, revoking all former wills and codicils made by me."

He read the will which explained everything. My mother had left assets to me but I can only receive them when I achieve some milestones in life. 

Then, we got to the section I came here for. The one I had unlocked by turning twenty two.

"Upon reaching the age of twenty two, Nicholas Voss, my son shall inherit 100% ownership and control of Cooper Real Estate, including all assets, subsidiaries and financial accounts related to the company."

Wait, what?! I blinked in shock. A real estate company? What happened to my seventy million dollars?

"The executor shall manage the company until this date, ensuring its continued growth and profitability."

I opened my mouth to ask questions but decided to wait. It was not a good idea to be rude to the person who had been managing your assets before you got them.

"Upon his 22nd birthday, the beneficiary shall be informed of this inheritance and shall take over full responsibility for the company's operation."

I waited for the unsealed part of the will to be read. All I had access to at this moment was the real estate company.

Lincoln finally finished and grabbed a folder under the will's folder and handed it to me.

"Here, Mr. Voss. Your documents of ownership of Cooper Real Estate which is currently valued at seventy million dollars."

I took the document and began flipping through it. The company was really my reward.

The system hadn't really said it would give me money. It had said it would give me wealth. Wealth can take the form of a company.

And now that I think about it, this was better than getting a lump sum of seventy million.

If I had the cash, it'll take time for me to grow a company of my own or to even buy one. And seventy million wasn't enough to buy any company of significance.

With the Cooper Real Estate with me, I already have a fully mature business entity to play around with.

Just the way I like it.