Evening Date

Maximus and the renovation officer moved through the newly refurbished apartment building as the glow of the afternoon sun flushed through the floor to ceiling windows.

The light shone on the polished tiles floors and freshly painted walls gave the place an inviting aroma.

"Looks... Neat," he murmured, running his hands along the smooth wooden banister. It had been weeks of grueling work since he purchased the building. Work permits, contractors, delays and the occasional sleepless night.

To see it all come together like this felt satisfying.

"Hehe, not bad isn't it?" The renovations officer asked with a huge grin. "You remember how this place was when we first walked in. I was half convinced it'd collapse if someone coughed too hard."

His remarks made Maximus chuckle, shaking his head. "Tell me about it. I still have nightmares about that leaky ceiling on the second floor. And don't even getd started on the plumbing."

"Ah, the plumbing... " The renovations officer said dramatically. "You know, I think I aged ten years trying to figure out why those pipes wouldn't stop leaking. But thank God for technology, look at it now. "

Together, they moved from room to room, inspecting every detail.

Each flat had its own unique glow, some had large bay windows overlooking the city, others had cozy balconies perfect for morning coffee.

"Well, boss, I think we've done it. This building is as ready as it's ever gonna be."

Maximus nodded, his hands on his waist as he surveyed the penthouse unit they were now in.

"You really outdid yourself, I couldn't have done this without you and your team..." He said to the renovations officer.

"Oh, please I just did the tough work. You're the o d sho had the vision, stuck out your money when everyone else thought you were crazy to buy to this 'trash of a building'"

Maximus smiled softly, "Crazy is just another word for determined, I guess..."

With that, the renovations officer headed down stairs, whistling a tune as he disappeared from the view. Maximus stood there for a moment, letting the silence of the refurbished apartment engulf him.

It was a strange feeling, standing in a place that had once been a chaotic construction site, now it been transformed into something beautiful.

He shuffled his feet and turned towards the exit.

"Come Forth..." He intoned.

Tti-ring.

~Congratulations, host!~

~You have successfully set up your second investment property. The apartments are now rent worthy, and any inquiries from potential tenants will be sent directly to you.~

Maximus couldn't help but grin. It was a small thing, just a line of text on the holographic interface, but it carried so much weight.

This was his second investment, a step closer to his dream of financial independence.

He'd taken a risk, poured lots of money into a crumbling building that most people wouldn't even consider to give it a second glance. So now, it was ready to stand in its own, to bring tenants, to become a home for people.

There were still a few things to take care of. Marketing the apartments, screening tenants, ensuring the buildings upkeep. And then, of course, there was the next project to think about.

Maximus leaned on the railing of the stairwell, pulled out his phone and opened his notes app and stared hitting down ideas for the future properties.

"On to the next one." He murmured to himself, before heading down the stairs, the sound of his footsteps echoing softly in the empty halls.

»»»«««

The evening sky was clear as the sun cast soft orange colours over the city.

Lily sat alone at a small table by the window of a restaurant, her fingers tapping softly against the polished surface of the table.

The place wasn't overly fancy, but it wasn't casual diner either, it struck the perfect balance between comfort and luxury.

She glanced at her phone, noting the time. Lily had arrived fifteen minutes early, a nervous habit she hadn't been able to shake off.

She wore a light pink dress that complemented her skin tone, its flowing fabric giving her an air of understated elegance.

Her makeup was simple, just enough to enhance her features and her hair was swept into a long ponytail.

She looked at the menu with butterflies in her stomach, each passing minute made her nerves edgy.

"Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to this," she muttered under her breathe, shaking her head. She wasn't used to dates, especially not with someone as confident and enigmatic as Maximus.

Her hand hovered over her phone, considering whether to call him, when the restaurant door swung open.

*Kpim!

There her was, scanning the room briefly before spotting her.

Lily's breath seized for a moment as their eyes met. She hadn't realized he could look even more put together than he had in the gadget shop.

Maximus smiled as he approached, his steps confident but not rushed.

"Thank you for waiting for me..." He said while sliding into his seat. "I underestimated how long it'd take to get here."

Lily shook her head quickly, "no, it's okay, I didn't wait long."

Maximus chucked softly. "You're a very bad liar, you know that?"

She looked down at the menu in front of her to hide her embarrassment as her cheeks flushed bright red.

"Hmmm, I'll make it up to you, "Maximus said, leaning forward slightly. "The food here is supposed to be great, any recommendations?"

"I haven't ordered yet," Lily admitted, her finger fidgeting with the edge of the menu.

Maximus immediately flagged down the waiter, ordering a few dishes after consulting with her. Once the menus were out for the way, he turned to attention back to her.

"So Lily," he began, resting his arms on the table, "tell me something about yourself. Something I don't already know."

Their conversation flowed easily from there, moving from lighthearted anecdotes to deeper topics. Maximus shared stories from his own life too, carefully avoiding anything too personal like the Investment God System and his past struggles.

Lily found herself relaxing more as the evening went in. Maximus had a way of making her feel at ease, even when she was certain her awkwardness was showing.

When their food arrived, they shared the dishes as Maximus had suggested, each of them trying bites from the other's plate.

When they were all done, Maximus settled the bill, insisting that it was on him despite Lily's protest. "Consider it part of my apology for being late," he said with a confident smirk.

They left the restaurant shortly after and Maximus made sure to escort her to the bus stop. As she boarded the bus, she glanced back to see him standing there, hands in his pockets, watching until the bus drove away.

Maximus began walking down the sidewalk as his midset shifted from the evening dates to other pressing matters he needed to take care of.

"Come Forth..." He muttered under his breath.

Tti-ring!

The Investment God System came to life, it's sleek silver and electric blue display manifesting itself like a painting with the open space as a canvas.