Chapter 2:First Investment and New Car

Roman sat on the couch staring at his banking app. His thoughts are racing. Looking at the purple system screen he noticed a section labeled Quests. He lifts his hand to see if he can tap the screen.

A list of quests appeared on the screen.

Quest: Invest in a small business

Reward: Skill- Passive Income. The user will receive 10X his initial investment in passive income when he invests in a small business. This skill will be activated once a week.

Quest: Purchase a Real Estate investment property

Reward: User will receive 5X the purchase price for the property

Quest: Update Wardrobe

Reward: User will be granted +2 to his style stat

Quest: Purchase a car

Reward: Skill- God Driver. Skill reduces user's chance of accident to 0% when behind the wheel.

Roman couldn't help but feel like this was too good to be true.

There is only one way to find out though.

Getting up from the couch Roman made his way to bed. His sheets and pillows were nice and cool. He found himself drifting off in no time.

The sunlight broke through a small crack in the curtains. His alarm went off at 6:30am. Roman slammed his finger down on his phone screen repeatedly. The alarm stopped but the damage was done. There was no way Roman was going back to sleep.

 Since sleep was off the agenda, he decided to go for a run. His running shoes sat on the floor of his closet.

 He starts his run at 7:30am. It feels nice out. It's not too hot or too cold. The sky is clear. The city is alive. The sound of car tires meeting pavement echoed.

 On his run he sees a dispensary. Emerald Cloud is the name. It's a small building surrounded by a black fence. There is a security guard and sign that says must be 21 to purchase. Roman makes a mental note to stop in on his way back home. He jogs it 5th street and Connors.

On the way back home, he stopped at Emerald Cloud. There was a woman behind counter. Nicole is the name on her name tag. Her ears had three piercings a piece. As they spoke Roman noticed that her tongue was split. He was trying not to stare.

"It didn't hurt" Nicole said winking at Roman.

He was embarrassed even though he did his best Nicole still caught him staring.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare. Honestly, I have never seen someone with a split tongue before."

"Don't worry about it. This isn't the first time someone has stared at it. You wanna see something cool"

"Yeah sure." Roman said.

Nicole stuck out her tongue. She crossed one part over the other.

"Holy shit!" Roman shouted.

He covered his mouth in embarrassment. Nicole smiled.

"Anyway, what can I help you with?"

 "Is your manager or the owner here today?"

 "What do you know? I am here today."

 "Hi, Nicole I'm Roman King. I was jogging when I noticed your establishment. I was wondering if you were looking for investors."

 "Bruce watch register while I talk to Mr.King please."

 "Sure Nicki."

 Nicole pressed a button behind the counter. There was a buzzing sound before a door unlocked.

 "Come on back Roman. Let's talk."

 Roman proceeded through the door. Nicole led him back to an office. The office is small. It only had space for a single desk, two chairs, and mini fridge. The mini fridge is the only thing in the office that doesn't look second-hand. The desk looks like an old teacher's desk. The ones with silver legs, black body, and wooden top. The chairs resemble hospital waiting room chairs.

 Nicole offered Roman a seat and something to drink. Reaching into the mini fridge she pulls out a bottle of water. Roman takes the bottle thanks her. Nicole then cuts straight to the chase.

"Roman what were you thinking in terms of investment?" Nicole asked, tapping her nails on the desk.

"Nothing too major I'll give you a $10,000 investment. I only want 1% of the profit" Roman replied.

Nicole couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had people come in claiming that they wanted to invest. Majority of them were offering more than Roman. They also wanted bigger chunks of the profit. One woman offered Nicole $15,000 but she wanted 30% of the profit.

Roman knew his offered was too good to pass up. This was a simple test to see if the system was legitimate or not. The promise of 10X return on an investment seemed sketchy. He really doesn't care about the profit.

Nicole accepted the offer. Her eyes gleaming with hope. Honestly the dispensary wasn't in good shape. She was taking out loans just to keep the doors open.

"I'll have my lawyer reach out to you later today with a contract." Nicole said standing to shake Roman's hand.

"Okay, is there an account for me to send the transfer to?"

Reaching into her back pocket Nicole grabbed her phone. Navigating to her banking app to pull up the bank details. Once Roman had the information he transferred the funds over to Nicole. Nicole received a notification of a pending deposit.

[System Notice]

Quest- Invest in a small business

Quest Status: Completed

Reward: Skill- Passive Income

Reward: 10X invested amount

Account Balance: $120,500

Roman struggled to contain his smile. The system was legit. He could use it to not only make himself extremely wealthy, but he could also get back at the people who wronged him.

Roman left the building and started making his way home. He needs to shower and get ready to meet Isabella. The jog back home was uneventful.

Roman grabbed a pair of cargo shorts and a black shirt from his dresser. He started the shower. He smiled thinking about the money that was in his account. Washing off the sweat from his run Roman felt refreshed. Roman applied deodorant. He is looking through his cologne collection he settled on Blue Heaven. The smell wasn't too overwhelming. It has a slight hint of fruit.

Knock Knock

"Who is it?" Roman called from his bedroom.

"Isabella! Open the door."

"I don't know an Isabella. You have the wrong apartment miss." Roman said playfully.

"Shut up! Open the door smart ass!"

"Okay…Okay don't hurt me"

Roman opened the door to see Isabella and the twins.

"You play too much!" Isabella said, raising her hand like she was going to punch him.

"Yeah, I do but you love me, and you know it." Roman replied with a grin.

Isabella rolled her eyes. Roman was always teasing her from the time they met.

Teddy and Leo gave Roman a hug. Roman lifted the boys up onto his shoulders.

"Let's head out"

The park wasn't a super long walk. Roman walked on the outside so Isabella and the boys wouldn't be near the street.

The park isn't terribly crowded. The boys ran around jumping and playing. They screamed their little hearts out.

"Teddy put that stick down now!" Isabella yelled from the bench.

"A mother's job is never done huh?" Roman said with a chuckle.

She looks and smells amazing. Roman thought to himself.

"What been going on?" Roman asked.

"Well Jason hasn't paid a single child support payment. The boys are growing everyday it seems. I just bought shoes, and I might have to go get more. I have to cancel my trip because I don't have anyone to watch the boys. I've had this trip for a year. Suddenly Jason can't watch the boys."

"What happened? I thought you guys had work it out."

"We did but he and his new family are going out of town. So once again me and the boys come second. I know we are not together, but it would be nice if he considered us. I just want him to help with the kids. I didn't lay down by myself. I shouldn't have to parent by myself. What am I supposed to tell the boys when the boys ask about him?"

"Damn I'm sorry Izzy"

Tears started filling Isabella's eyes. She was doing everything by herself. Jason calls the boys once a week. He makes all types of promises. He promises to come get them all the time. The twins will be so excited only for Jason to cancel. Then Isabella is left to pick up the pieces. Isabella is the one that has to dry their tears.

"Hey Izzy if you want, I will watch them for you." Roman offered. This wouldn't be the first time he has watched the boys.

"Really? Watching them for a few days is different from watching them for a few hours."

"Yeah, I'll take care of the little ones. Go have fun you deserve it."

"So, tell me about your life. What's happening?"

"Well, I got fired yesterday. Some bastard rich guy accused me of stealing. My useless sack of shit supervisor sided with him."

"Damn Roman I'm sorry."

 "It's okay I got a backup plan"

 After an hour or so they left. Teddy and Leo were exhausted. Roman carried Teddy while Isabella carried Leo.

 Roman hugged Isabella and the boys before heading into his apartment. Isabella's trip is in a week. Roman needs to get some stuff done before then. Things like buying a car. He had his eyes on a Lincoln Aviator black with black seats and wheels. 

 He laid on the couch. Before he knew it, he was snoring.

His nap didn't last long. The lady above him in 5D was yelling again. Something about her husband cheating on her again. Last time it was a woman at his gym. This time a lady at his job.

 Roman called a couple dealerships looking for the car he wants. He finally found it. A dealership had one listed for $46,000. Roman called the dealership to make an appointment.

 The lady upstairs yelled for what felt like hours.

 Roman finally had enough. He went upstairs.

 When he knocked, he heard the husband shout. The door opened and Roman was face to face with the man.

 "The fuck to do you want?" He yelled

 "Could you guys keep it down? I'm trying to sleep."

 "Fuck off. Me and my wife are talking."

 "I know dickhead the whole building can hear. My point is how about next time you cheat don't get caught or hopefully she finally realizes she deserves better."

 Roman left to go back to his apartment.

 It was after 3:30pm and his appointment was at 4:30pm. He ordered an uber to the dealership. The uber ride was quiet. The driver didn't say much. That was okay with Roman, he wasn't feeling super talkative either.

 Copeland Luxury Vehicles the sign reads.

 From the moment he walked in all eyes were on him. Salespeople are like vultures circling a corpse. There is a man sitting at desk. He's wearing a pinstripe suit, black loafers, and navy-blue tie. The man approached Roman.

 "How can I help you?" the man said with a smile.

"I have an appointment at 4:30 with Dennis Copeland."

"Well, what do you know I'm Dennis Copeland."

The men shook hands before taking a seat at the desk. Dennis went right into his sales pitch. Roman knew exactly what he was there for. The conversation lasted 45 minutes at best. Roman paid for the car in full. He drove off the lot in one of his dream cars. The system interface appeared before him.

[System Notice]

Quest: Purchase a car

 Quest status: Complete

Reward: Skill-God Driver

Roman parked his new car. The woman from upstairs was outside on a bench. Roman got out of his car. He did his best to avoid eye contact. He noticed she was crying. Something caught his eye. There was a mark under her eye.

 He couldn't ignore it, he just wouldn't feel right. Sitting next to her on the bench Roman asked what happened. The woman opened up surprisingly quick.

 Her name is Heather. She is around Roman's age maybe a year or two older. Her hair is blonde, skin the color of snow, big gorgeous green eyes. Her body was to die for. Big double D tits, an ass the devour anything she put on it.

 Heather caught Roman stare a few times.

 As they talked Roman told her exactly what he thought. She deserves better. She doesn't deserve to be cheated repeatedly. Heather's counter argument was she had nowhere to go. Her husband makes all the money. He doesn't allow her access to their accounts. Heather only has the money he gives her. Which is only about $50 a week. Hearing her story made Roman's blood boil. If he had seen her husband at that moment Roman would have broken his nose.

A/N: I welcome any feedback. Also, the story is going to be a slow burn but stick with me it is going to be a great ride.

Also if you are enjoying it feel free to leave golden tickets or power stones