Tick-tock

About a half hour later that day, Maximus parked his power bike outside Gardenia Bistro restaurant. It was a cozy, but upscale spot known for its quiet ambiance and excellent tea.

He adjusted the collar of his shirt, making sure he looked half presentable before stepping inside.

The host greeted him with a calm smile. "Good afternoon, sir. Do you have a reservation?"

"I'm meeting someone here, Someone named Mr. Keith Hall…" Maximus replied.

The host nodded. "Right this way sir…"

Maximus followed, his nerves settling slightly as they walked toward a table near the window. Waiting there was a sharply dressed man in his late thirties, his monolid eyes complemented his fair skin tone and his posture relaxed but professional.

"Mr. Prime," Keith said, standing to shake Maximus's hand. "Good to finally meet you."

"Pleasure is mine, Mr. Hall…" Maximus replied as he extended his hand for a firm grip.

Keith gestured to the seat across from him. "Please, have a seat. My client will be joining us soon…"

Maximus nodded, taking a sitting position. A waiter approached to take their drink orders and soon enough, Keith began making small talk.

He was visibly personable, clearly experienced in his field and Maximus found himself easing into the conversation.

Minutes later, the client arrived.

A man in his mid forties, dressed in a tailored suit and exuding an air of intense confidence.

He introduced himself as Joe Hart, a businessman looking to expand his portfolio.

The discussion quickly shifted to the intended apartment complex.

"I've seen the property for myself…" Joe said. "Its clear you've put a lot of effort into the renovations. The plan layout and the location… its all very promising."

Maximus felt a surge of pride at the compliment being showered at him. "Thank you, its been a long process, but I am very glad its finally coming togethter."

Joe nodded, pulling out a tablet. "Here's what I'm proposing…"

He laid out the details— a competitive offer that exceeded Maximus's initial expectations.

By the end of the meeting, Joe pulled out a series of electronic folders. The ones that would show that he was the new owner of the place, as long as Maximus signed it.

Maximus's pupils darted towards the folder, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished surface of the restraunt table. Joe's calm smile never left his face, like he had already won.

Maximus leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "And you're sure this makes you the new owner?"

Joe glanced at Keith Hall and chuckled, tapping the folder. "Once you sign, yeah. Everything transfers. You get your payout, I get the complex. Clean, legal and fast..."

But Maximus didn't move, he tilted his head inquisitively, scanning the folder without touching it. "Fast doesn't always mean smart, you of all people should know that…Mr. Joe"

Joe blinked. "What?"

Maximus straightened up, "I've looked at the numbers, although impressive. The revenue this place generates monthly? What you're offering doesn't even scratch ten percent of the long term profit potential…"

Joe scoffed. "Come on Maximus. You're getting a sweet deal for walking away from a liability."

"A liability that just had a new surveillance system installed. A liability that is now at full occupancy after years of running in the red," Maximus countered smoothly. "You're not buying a failing property, you're buying a gold mine…my gold mine, I know it… you know it."

Joe grin faded slightly. "Alright, what exactly are you hailing for?"

"Its hard to imagine a business man like yourself buying a 'liability'"

He leaned forward, locking eyes with him. "I want fifteen percent equity. Permanent stake, plus a revised payout, double your original offer."

Joe laughed, but there was a twitch in his jaw. "Fifteen? Are you serious?"

"I'm already serious… I've been serious since I stepped through those doors…" Maximus replied. "You walked in here expecting a signature. You're walking out with a shadow partner, or nothing."

Joe rubbed the back of his neck, "Maximus, come on, that's steep. I have investors, expectations…"

"I am an investor too… you also have a timeline. You said clean, legal and fast, right?" Maximus tossed the stylus pen onto the table with a clatter.

"Tick-tok joe…"

The silence streched for a beat of a second as the three men stared at the electronic folders.

Joe exhaled, and gave a tightnod. "Fine. Ten percent and a 1.5x payout."

Maximus didn't flinch. "Twelve percent. 1.8x … final."

Joe hesitated… then extended his hand with a reluctant grin. "You drive a hard bargain, Maximus."

Maximus took the hand with a firm shake, his eyes cold with expected triumph.

The deal was made, and Joe retrieved the electronic documents in a bid to forge a new contract based on what they had agreed.

Maximus stood at the curb, watching Joe's sleek, luxurious car drive away from the restaurant parking lot.

He clutched his helmet in one hand, staring at the crisp verbal agreement tucked into his jacket pocket.

Two million dollars agreement fee.

The thought echoed in his head like a trumpet.

It was no longer a pipe dream or some inachiveable goal, it was real, sitting in his bank account, the numbers confirmed just moments ago.

He had officially crossed a milestone that most could only fantaisze about and yet, it felt strangely surreal.

Maximus climbed onto his motorcycle, the weight of the day pressing on him in an unfamiliar way.

The engine rumbled to life beneath him, a comforting and grounding sound. He adjusted his gloves, his thoughts drifting to the system.

As he drove through the evening streets, weaving past cars and illuminated storefronts, his phone vibrated incessantly. It felt almost alive, a persistent nagging presece demanding his attention.

"Not now," maximus muttered to himself, leaning slightly into a turn as the cityscape blurred around him.

The vibrations didn't let up, but he focused on the road ahead, the cool breeze brushing against his face.

When he arrived home, he pulled out the Investment God System a persistent reminder of his unusual partner in this journey.

Tti-ring!

~Investment Progress Update: Second Investment Finalized~

The notification blinked at him, followed by another notification:

~Total XP earned: 70%~

~Bonus Reward:$1,000,000 has been deposited into your account.~

Maximus's eyes widened as he processed the message.

Another million dollars.

His account balance now sat at a whoping three million dollars, a staggering figure that left him momentarily speechless.

He leaned back against the couch, letting out a low whistle. "This system really doesn't hold back," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

The notification faded, replaced by a new one.

~Congratulations on completing your second investment.~

~Your progress toward financial independence is accelerating.~

~Remember: your success is tied to tangible, meaningful investment.~

~Keep building~

He stared at the holographic screen for a moment before setting the system aside. His phone, sitting on the coffee table, buzzed loudly, drawing his attention.

It had been going off all day, but Maximus had been too preoccupied to deal with it. He picked it up relluctantly, scrolling through a long list of missed called and unread messages.

His mother, father and even his sister had called him multiple times.

Maximus shook his head, a bitter laugh excaping his lips in the process.

Where were they when he was stuggling?

When his reputation was dragged through the mud, and he was left to fend for himself? Now that he was back on top, everyone wanted a piece of him.

He threw the phone back on the table without replying to any of the messages.

"They can wait," he muttered with a firm voice.

He closed his eyes briefly, the events of the day replaying in his mind.

Tomorrow, he decided, would mark a new chapter. It was time to move forward, to leave behind the crampped apartment that he had used as his starting point.