Chapter 5: Doing Business my way

Around four in the moring, I am awakened by not only my biological clock, set over the last decade but also from a notification endlessly repeating itself until I am finally awake.

<Notification: Quest [2] available>

<+Quest [1]:

-Primary Goal= Establish your own company

-Secondary Goal= Establish your headquarters

-Rewards= 3 free facilities +Hidden>

Reading the notification I am instantly jolted awake, the fatigue, from my extensive exploration of the functions of the system last night, forgotten. -Seems like I should go and see the mayor to fill out all the necessary documents to have my company founded.- I think while moving my heavy body out of bed.

Putting some washed out gree army workout clothes on, I leave my sisters house to explore the neighborhood to get a clear head. Being back home, here in North Carolina I am freely running out away from the urban landscape along one lone road.

Feeling the cold morning air wash over me, I reach the outer edge of the swamps. Having run now for close to two hours I am not even close be being exhausted.

Finding a solid looking tree I begin making pull-ups. -Despite being good at them now I still hate them.- I think to myself concluding my second set.

Finding a relatively dry place, I crouch down to begin some push-ups, when suddenly a notification pops up.

<Notification: Claim land to establish headquarters?>

<Buy[$350.000]/Dismiss>

-This is daylight robbery! Working for 11 years risking my life and now this system turned me into a beggar. Dismiss.- I panicking decide without further consideration.

<Notification: Claiming land to establish headquarters dismissed.>

<Notification: Merchantability Negotiation (passive) [Lv.1] unlocked>

<- Negotiation (passive) [Lv.1] :

-Lv.1: Users ability to negotiate with humans has been strengthened. User can choose to intimate or flatter another person to lower or raise price, based of the others sexual orientation.

-Lv.2: [Locked]

-[Hidden]>

-Great. Now I am able to make deals my way.- I think, while going home to my sister.

__________

-To cocks I am one, contrary to public opinion...- Remembering the words she told Henry over the phone last night, Sarah is utterly embarrassed.

-Why did I tell him that?!- Questions like that had cost her most of her nights sleep, which resulted in a totally ruined night. Of course having a tight schedule starting at 6 o'clock in the morning doesn't help her mood one bit.

Going out of bad the moment her alarm clock rings, Sarah walks into the bedroom adjoined bathroom. Looking into the bathroom mirror and seeing her signature brown hair, Sarah gets the feeling that it is time for a new look.

-Good thing that I will break up my fake relationship with Robert today.-

She thinks while multitasking. She simultaneously cleans herself for the day, shuffles her schedule around a bit to get time for an appointment with her hairstylist, while subconsciously pondering about what new hair color could suit her.

+Todays schedule:

-6:15-7:00 Workout

7:15-8:15 Skypo conference with Di

8:30- 9:00 Breakfast with family

9:15-12:00 Workout

12:30-14:00 Studio work

14:30-15:00 Lunch with Robert [Public breakup]

15:15-16:00 Interview with View

17:00-19:00 Family dinner

20:00-21:00 Workout

Reading her schedule Sarah finds it difficult to pick anything out for the hairstylist when suddenly she gets an SMS from Henry saying:

Rise and shine. A day of work awaits you.

Seeing his totally childish text message from her soldier, Sarah finds it increasingly hard to stick to her bad mood. Feeling herself smile she sends him a text message of her own...

____________

Having returned home I am in a full-on work mode, searching for the mayors number, when I get Saras text message saying:

Oh, shut up sailor.😑I am thinking about changing my hair color.🤔 Which hair color would you suggest?😉

Interrupted in my search by her text I can only smile and write here:

How about blond. I can see you as a sexy blond.

-Shit. I will have to go shopping. Nobody does business with a man in an army uniform however many medals one has.- I mentally curse myself for having gotten the fact of my clothing.

Having no idea how to dress in style, I write Sarah another text message: What kind of suit would you say suits me? No pun intended.

Not getting an instant reply I decided to take a long warm shower.

-The wonders of civilisation.- I think while feeling the warmth of the water envelop me.

After finishing my shower I put on a white T-shirt, combat jeans and go meet Betsy in the kitchen.

''Morning.'' I greet her and steel an already made sandwich from her plate.

''Hey! I wanted to eat that!'' My sister cries seeing me taking a healthy bite out of it.

Speaking with a now filled mouth I tell her: ''I can give it back if you want!''

''You have changed a bit over the years and no keep it. Just stop stealing my breakfast!'' Betsy tells me smiling apparently just happy to have me back in the states.

-Oh, I have changed in ways you can't and don't want to imagine.- I think to myself, while eating my contraband before asking Bets: ''We only talked about me on our way from the airport. How is your life at the moment? Anything I should be aware of? Work? Boyfriend or any nephews and nieces I should know about little sis?''

Seeing her face take a cute rosy color I am sure that there is something along the lines of my guesses.

Keeping her head down and giggling with her knife she tells me: ''Now that you speak of it, please don't flip out!''

-Ok. Telling one to not flip out I already enough reason bo flip out.- I think to myself regulating my own heartbeat and blood pressure.

''Say it Bets?!''

''I am engaged!. With Michael!'' She confesses and my mind begins slowly to process the new information.

''Michael... You mean Michael Stavros? My high school best friend Stavros?...'' I ask her only coming up with my best friend from high school with the name Michael.

Getting only a short emphatic nod as an answer to my head explodes with memories of me and Stavros lusting after our story teacher Miss Abernathy and talking about banging the hottest chicks.

Feeling the sudden impulse to puke, I can taste the sandwich I just ate come back up.

''You are banging and engaged to Michael Stavros!'' I shout, feeling and hearing my fingers crackle from me clenching them too hard.

''Calm down Henry. What's done is done and I love him!'' Bets tell me time trying to calm me down, but I will have none of it.

''We will see about that. I hope marriage to a corpse is still illegal!'' I tell her already thinking about purchasing a colt 1911 from the system to shoot my now ex-best friend and feed his corps to the alligators in the swamp.

''Stop it! Right now!'' Bets tell me flicking a finger against my forehead to turn my thoughts away from corpses and alligators.

''Oh, I now that look. No shooting my fiance...'' Betsy tells me with a dead serious expression.

''... or anything else that makes him unable to marry me.'' She continues after seeing an evil glint in my eyes.

-Oh?! That leaves more than enough room for torture or as the CI calls it advanced interrogation methodes.- I think to myself while nodding at her.

''Does dad know about your plans? I can't believe that he would allow you to marry someone whose family owns a small greek restaurant.'' I tell her having a sudden craving for geek food when remembering the times I and Bets at the Stavros family restaurant when going to high school.

''That's what I wanted to talk to you about. You see he doesn't know.'' Bets tell me, her dead serious expression changing to one of serious worry.

''Ok. First things first. You are still working as an artist?''I ask her trying to make a case for my sister.

Casting her head down my sister confesses in a low voice, making herself look as cute as possible for a 28 year old woman. ''Not any more. I am helping out Michael down at town hall as his secretary.''

''God! Sis are you serious! Please tell me the thing between you two only already started way before you began working for him...'' I tell her, hoping they didn't, knowing how against my father is against office romances. Seeing my sister head lower even further, I can't hold back my disapproval. ''... God damm it sis. Are you really so much of a slut?! How am I supposed to help you!...''

Tears rolling down my sisters cheeks, I instantly regret my words and backtrack. ''Hm... wait Michael works at town hall?''

''Yes, he does. He works for the mayor and is task to oversee city development. He is very important.''

Hearing her answer, my head instantly hits into high gear.

''Don't judge me so smugly for what I am about to do. Betsy would marry Michael anyway and it is always better to make friend rather than enemies because friends aren't on guard against you. I can always have Michael fed to the alligators later... This is my best bet to slash down the cost to buy the land for my headquarters. If I have to sell my sister to Michael and protect both of them from my father, so be it.''