Rebate System

Oliver Turner had always been a quiet presence at the Royal Crest Hotel. Orphaned at a young age, he had learned to navigate life alone. After turning eighteen, he took up a job at the hotel, where he had spent the last two years working tirelessly to make ends meet. Despite the long hours and meager pay, he kept his head down, avoiding trouble and maintaining a reputation as a reliable, albeit invisible, employee. At nearly twenty, he had little to show for his life—just a few hundred dollars in savings, a job that barely paid the bills, and the lingering weight of solitude.

As he walked over to one of the hotel rooms, he noticed the brass plaque on the door: "Room 2B." Using his key, he entered the room, greeted by the familiar sight of neatly arranged furniture. Aside from the rumpled bed, everything seemed in order. Oliver dragged his cleaning equipment into the room and set to work, smoothing the sheets and straightening the pillows until the bed looked pristine.

He moved to the small desk, shifting the laptop aside to organize the clutter of papers that lay scattered about. Not wanting to discard anything that might be important, he carefully sorted through the documents before relocating the lamp to a corner of the table. Just as he completed the task, a loud thud caught his attention. His heart dropped as he turned to see a ring rolling on the floor.

"FUCK," he thought, panic rising in his chest. He knew well enough that many guests at the hotel were wealthy, often flaunting extravagant accessories. He quickly bent down to retrieve the ring, noticing that the green gem at its center had cracked and fallen to the floor. He frantically tried to fit it back into place, but it was futile.

With trembling fingers, he took a picture of the ring and pulled up a search on his phone. Relief washed over him when he discovered the price—it was steep at $500, a sum that constituted half of his savings, but still within reach. He pocketed the ring, steeling himself for the confrontation to come when the owner returned.

After finishing his cleaning, Oliver couldn't shake the fear that the ring might hold sentimental value. What if its owner was attached to it? With the hotel's strict security policies, there was no way to escape the consequences; they would know he had cleaned this room. He left the room and stowed his cleaning supplies in the janitor's closet. Making his way to the front desk, he asked the secretary to inform him when the occupant of Room 2B returned. She raised an eyebrow but nodded, likely intrigued by his unusual request. He then took a fifteen-minute break to gather his thoughts.

Wandering the hotel's dimly lit corridors, Oliver felt the weight of despair. In two years of grueling labor, he had saved only about $900. Life seemed an unending cycle of hardships, and the prospect of losing his job felt like another cruel blow.

Returning from his break, he was greeted by a commotion in the lobby. A woman's voice rang out, laced with frustration. Curiosity piqued, he approached the source of the noise and quickly recognized the woman from Room 2B—an elegant figure with striking features, her face a mask of anger as she confronted the manager about her lost ring.

Gathering his courage, Oliver stepped forward, drawing her attention. "I'm really sorry," he said, holding out the ring. "I accidentally damaged it while cleaning."

The woman's expression shifted from anger to disappointment as she examined the ring. "What happened?" she asked, her voice softening.

"I—I dropped it," he stammered. "I didn't mean to. I'll pay for it."

Just as he expected, the manager stepped in, looking irritated. "According to company policy, you'll need to compensate her," he said, his tone brokering no argument.

The woman looked at the manager incredulously. "What? No, that's not necessary!"

Oliver felt the heat rise in his chest. He could see the look on the manager's face: a silent ultimatum. "Give her the money, or you're fired." The unyielding nature of his boss pushed Oliver to his breaking point.

"I'll pay," he said, cutting the woman off before she could protest further. With trembling hands, he collected her bank details, his heart pounding as he sent $500 to her account. She nodded, her eyes softened with gratitude, but the pain in Oliver's chest only grew.

As soon as she left, the manager turned to him. "You're fired."

"What?" Oliver was stunned, his mind racing. "Please, I can—"

"Leave now," the manager snapped, dismissing him with a wave.

With tears threatening to spill, Oliver fought to keep his composure. Other staff members looked on, some with sympathy, others with indifference. He turned away from their gazes, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. His mind raced as he prepared to pack his things, grief mixing with disbelief.

But then, just as he was about to step out, a notification flashed on his phone:

[BINDING SYSTEM]

[You have spent $500 and have earned x10 rebate]

[You have earned $5000]

His heart raced as he read the message. Stunned, he stood rooted to the spot, realization dawning on him. The money was already transferred to his account. He couldn't contain his excitement and let out a loud, childish scream, drawing bewildered stares from the staff around him.

In that moment, Oliver felt a spark of hope ignite within him, a glimpse of something new. Forgetting his recent heartbreak, he quickly gathered his belongings and left the hotel behind, a smile breaking through the haze of despair. Life was about to change.