Chapter 6: Taking action

I stepped out of the shower, hair dried my hair and brushed it. Dressed up in my new suit, made sure everything was ready and I headed out the door. The new apartment was shining. I couldn't wait until my parents were able to move in.

It was 1:30 PM and I was almost outside Deal Reds main building. Driving up to the parking lot, I was stopped. I rolled down my window.

"Identification sir."

There it was! Another person calling me sir. I could get used to this. I handed over my identification. He looked at my ID and then back up to me. After a few seconds of eye contact, he returned my ID along with a tablet made out of wood. It had a number on it.

"This parking number is your personal parking spot. Every time you are to park here in the future, just show the tablet and you will be given entrance."

I nodded and continued through the gate. It didn't take long until I found my parking spot. It was almost enough space for two cars. I stepped out of my cars and made my way to the entrance. The doors had lavish designs and the interior didn't disappoint either. I saw the receptionist looking at me so I approached her.

"How can I help you?"

"I'm here for the shareholders meeting now at 2 PM."

"Yes. Your name?"

"Ian Leitch."

"Right this way sir."

Another girls voice was right behind me. I turned around and she was pointing with her arm. She was nicely dressed in a red dress that showed her leg, up to her thigh. I followed her as she guided me to one of the elevators.

"The meeting will be taking place on floor 12."

"Alright."

The elevator closed and jazz started playing.

"Floor 12."

The elevator door opened in to a long hall with red walls and with mats covering the floor. Saying I felt out of place would be an understatement. Only one of the many doors were open which I assumed was my destination. I peeked my head through the door frame to scout the scene and only one person was there.

"Hey."

A scruffy voice came from the man. The man had wide shoulders, a beard and hair cut very short.

"Is this where the shareholders meeting will be taking place?"

His first first annoyed look changed to a teeth-grinning face.

"Yes, please. Come in. And who might you be?"

"I am Ian Leitch."

"Hello Ian. I'm Albert, the president of this company. Just how did you manage to get your position here?

Of course I knew who he was. With my backlog of information, there is no way I didn't know. He made several achievements in his lifetime. His company 'Mech Labs' invented the scanner that is used at the hunter tests. I had met him when I was younger because he is Chandler's dad.

Albert how had at first sat very laid back was now leaning forward towards me. He kept tapping his fingers on his armrest.

"I just looked at your company and the products you made and came to the conclusion I should invest as soon as possible. I just got in early, that is all."

I looked at the numbers on the table and saw the same number I had on my tablet.

"Do I sit here?"

I asked him as grabbed the chair.

"Sit wherever you want. The others don't really care about that stuff."

He sat back in his chair again. It wasn't long after when the room started filling up with people I had never seen before. An older woman in white furry clothes entered room and instantly locked eyes with me.

"What is your kid doing here?"

She asked and looked at Albert. Albert laughed in response.

"He isn't my kid. He is a shareholder who owns this company as much as you do so get off your high horse."

She scoffed and sat down in front of me. I felt uncomfortable. I could feel a few people looking at me. The room was a mixture of chatter and people looking at their phones. One of them stood in the corner talking on the phone to what I assumed was their wife. When the final person had entered the room, the meeting started.

...

The meeting had just ended and as I was standing up to leave, I was stopped by one of the people who was at the meeting.

"Young man. You should sell your shares and just live your life from now on. There is no need for you to care about this. If you sell now, you won't have to care in the future."

Did he think I was dumb? If the company is as big as it is now, how big will it become in the future? Deal Reds primarily sold VR which was newly released. I know that in the year 2022, Deal Reds will release a full immersion VR kit that allows the player to feel things through the VR kit. This device will revolutionize the VR market.

"Why would I? I already have enough money as it is. Why would I sell? I gotta go so take care."

I left the premise in my car. It was time to say hello to my old classmates.

...

"Lia, you ready?"

I pulled up outside her house. It looked very small and cozy. A definite five out of five if I had to rate it. It was sadly surrounded with other rundown houses.

"Yeah I am."

"I'm outside now waiting."

Lia got quiet.

"Ian... Didn't you say I was your only +1?"

"I did?"

What was she talking about?

"Did you steal that car?"

"What! No it's mine. Come hop in."

I ended our call. It went a few seconds and then I could see Lia opening her door. She had a wonderful dress with flowers on it. She slowly approached my car and opened the car door.

"Are you sure this is fine? Who's car is this?"

"It's mine! I bought it yesterday."

On our way there, she seemed nervous. I had to calm her down telling her that she didn't have to worry. If anything were to happen, they could just leave, I didn't mind.

A 15 minute drive later and lots of explaining to why I was taller, we arrived. The location Chandler had chosen for the class reunion was in the middle of the city, surrounded by luxurious buildings. I could see in Lias eyes that she felt uncomfortable.

"You ready?"

I asked her as I was about to open my car door.

"I think so."

I guide her to the door of the house and we knock. A few seconds later, Chandler opens the door.

"..."

"Hey Chandler. Are we late?"

"Hi... Ian?"

I'm not surprised he reacted like that. I was taller, more handsome and lets not forget rich. I was the direct opposite of what I used to be during school years.

"You're not late. A few other guests have already arrived though."

When me and Lia entered, I could hear a few whispers from the bunch that used to bully me.

The night went on as I expected. I talked to a few people but it really never lead to anything. Dinner was served and we ate.

"Hey Ian!"

Chandler seemed a bit irritated, I could hear so from the way he spoke.

"Did you take the hunter test?"

"I did actually. Lia and I did it together."

"Aaah you did? What'd you get? C rank? Haha!"

"Nah, I got F rank."

"Hahaha. Of course, there's no way someone like you'd be able to get anything higher. Be glad you actually got a rank."

I could feel Lia tugging on my suit under the table. I looked at her and she looked mad and uncomfortable. A few of my old classmates chuckled.

Yup. This was the environment I was used to. People laughing and looking down on me.

"Well. It has been lovely talking to you again but I'm afraid me and Lia will be going."

"Whaaat? You leaving right after eating? How inconsiderate. Here I was paying for your food and you show no appreciation. I guess people in the slums really don't know how to show appreciation for others."

I didn't care too much of his comments. He was the prick that ruined one of his father's corporations because he wanted to show how mature he was to a woman who later left him for another man. Lia did care though which led her to burst out in anger.

"What do you know! You are just a stuck up kid with no manners!"

"Oooh and who might you be? You have a whorish mouth for someone so cute. Did you have to sell your body for that dress? Lets see, Lia. Didn't your dad own a store on the outskirts of the city?"

Lia bit her lip. She was furious and tears starting gathering in her eyes. I stroke her on her back.

"lets go. I'll make sure nothing happens."

"And how are you going to do that? You know what! Make sure to lock your door Lia, because it's dangerous outsi-"

Lia started crying. What had just happened was out of my control and when that door closed. I was furious. I wanted to go back in there and beat Chandler up myself, but that would just end up a disaster.

I decided then to stay with Lia that night in case something were to happen. But first I wanted to make sure my family were safe. I called them and told them to quickly pack their bags so they could camp for a few nights. This was mostly to prevent questions but it didn't really help when they saw my car.

When I picked them up, Lia was still in my car which meant they had to squeeze into the backseats. The ride to our new apartment was mostly just a QnA and me convincing my parents that I can actually afford the things I've purchased. I left them with the room key and while they were getting their bags from my car, I called the reception to make sure they knew that my family would be staying there for a few days.

I was back to comforting Lia and assuring her that if something were to happen, I would help. We made sure to call her father and tell him to close the store for the day. We picked him up at the store and went to her house.

We spent the rest of the day just talking. While Chandler may have just thrown an empty threat to scare Lia, we couldn't be too sure since we're talking about Chandler. When it was time to go to bed, I was first going to spend the night on their sofa in the living room. But Lia couldn't sleep alone since she was scared that the possible intruders would do something to her in her sleep.

"psst, Ian! Are you awake?"

I sat up scratching my eye.

"Yeah?"

She was hugging a pillow with only a shirt and panties on. Her skin glowing in the moonlight. Her hair running down her shoulders. She was stunning.

"Could you sleep in my room?"

My heart froze but I didn't hesitate.

"Sure."

I was only wearing a t-shirt with boxers but she didn't seem to mind. I followed her in to her room. Both her desk and floor was full of pink stuffed animals. She crawled into bed and disappeared under the covers.

"Come here."

She held the cover open for me to get under. I quickly did and I soon felt her warmth on my back. My heart felt like it would explode. I had never had this kind of contact with someone in my past life. I turned to her. She was flushing. While we held eye contact, she reached her hand under my t-shirt and caressed my stomach. We slowly got closer to each other and we could soon feel each others breaths. I put my hand on her hip and slowly let my hand travel up her t-shirt. Lia looked down and smiled when she saw my erect penis poking out through my boxer.

"This is the house."

Just when we were about to kiss, a mans voice could be heard outside her window. We both quickly sat up. I rushed to the living room to put on my pants. Lia followed me.

"Go wake your dad up!"

Lia ran in to her dads room and woke him up. When I had put on my clothes again, I went to the kitchen to look for a weapon. I found an abnormally large in one of the drawers. The old mans room was the perfect room to use as a base because his room had no windows which meant that the intruder could only come from one direction. I closed the old mans door while Lia and the old man hid in the closet.

I tried readying myself. This wasn't goblins, these were people. Neither was I using my sword, but a knife. I could hear the front door being smashed open and lots of men yelling. I could hear them opening Lias door.

"This room's empty."

The door opened and a man, a little shorter than me, stepped in with a knife in his right hand.

"Haste."

I quickly jumped out of where I was hiding and struck him in the neck, by the time he realized I was there, the blade was already halfway through his neck. I threw him by the collar on to the floor and in a single motion, closed the door and stabbed him another time as close to his heart I could.

"Haste."

A light green orb appeared, hovering over the corpse. 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈𝓉. The green orb shot in to my chest. I felt something flow through my entire body but before I could register what was actually happening, the door flung open hitting me in the shoulder. I jumped over the body and started assessing the situation. Three men, two with knifes and one with a bat. The room was pitch black and tiny which gave me an advantage.

"This fucker killed Ted."

"Fuck him up!"

One of the guys with a knife rushed towards me, jumping on top of the bed and throwing himself at me.

"Haste."

His blade cutting my left arm open. I started bleeding heavily but managed to strike the offender in the back. This made him reflexively crouch which gave me a golden opportunity to finish him off by cutting in to his neck. Another orb appeared but before I could properly choose my next move, I got hit in the head by the bat. The larger man had gotten closer than I anticipated. I fell to the ground. My vision was blurry. A panel popped up.

"Quest: Another go"

"Oh no, you are in quite the predicament. Accept this quest to regain consciousness."

Objective: Kill the remaining enemies

Reward: Talent: Deterioration (F)

Failure: Death

"Will you accept."

"Yes/No."