The soft morning light filtered through the heavy drapes of the luxury hotel suite, a stark contrast to the perpetual gloom of Kyle's South Side apartment. He lay there, the silken sheets a foreign sensation against his skin, the lingering scent of expensive perfume and something else, something primal and intoxicating, filling his nostrils. Beside him, the 'goddess' from last night, a woman named Seraphina, stirred slightly, her long dark hair fanning across the pristine white pillow. She was, as promised, breathtakingly beautiful, and worth every single one of his last thousand dollars.
But that wasn't what had him wide awake, heart hammering against his ribs. It was the glowing blue text that still shimmered in his vision, a phantom afterimage of the impossible. `$10,000. Funds deposited to Account XXX-XXX-XXX`. And the lottery ticket. He'd hit 'YES' on instinct, a desperate, irrational hope overriding his usual cynicism.
He fumbled for his phone, his fingers trembling slightly. He opened his banking app. His eyes widened. The balance, which had been a pathetic three-digit number yesterday, now proudly displayed five figures. Ten thousand dollars. Just like that. It wasn't a dream. It was real.
A soft groan from beside him brought him back to the present. Seraphina stretched languidly, her curves accentuated by the movement. She opened her eyes, a sleepy, alluring gaze meeting his. "Morning, handsome," she purred, her voice husky. "That was… quite a night."
Kyle managed a weak smile. "Yeah. It was." He still couldn't wrap his head around it. He'd spent his last grand on a single night of pleasure, and in return, he'd been handed a fortune. It defied logic, reason, everything he'd ever known.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Seraphina chuckled, propping herself up on an elbow. "Regretting it already?"
"No," Kyle said, perhaps a little too quickly. "No, not at all. Just… surprised." He couldn't tell her about the system. Not yet. Maybe not ever. This was his secret, his impossible lifeline.
He decided to test the waters, subtly. "So, Seraphina," he began, trying to sound casual, "what's your rate for… a full day? Or maybe a weekend?"
Her eyebrows arched, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Feeling flush, are we? My agency has a tiered system. A full day would be… five thousand. A weekend, depending on the activities, could go up to fifteen."
Kyle's mind raced. Five thousand. Fifteen thousand. The numbers didn't scare him anymore. They excited him. He had ten thousand. He could spend five, get a massive cashback, and still have five left. Or he could go all in for the weekend, if the system truly worked as he suspected.
"Five thousand for the day," Kyle said, a newfound confidence entering his voice. "Let's do it. And I want to experience the best this city has to offer. Michelin-star restaurants, exclusive boutiques, anything you recommend."
Seraphina's smile widened, a genuine sparkle in her eyes. "Now that's the spirit. You're a man after my own heart, Kyle Carter."
As she got up to make a call to her agency, Kyle felt a familiar *Ding!* in his mind.
> [Ding!] Cashback System Activated! Spent $5,000. Critical Hit x5! You earned $25,000. Funds deposited to Account XXX-XXX-XXX]
> [Spent on Beautiful Woman: 1 Skill Unlock Awarded. Use it now?]
> [YES] [NO]
Kyle's jaw dropped. Twenty-five thousand dollars. Just for spending five. And a skill unlock. He quickly hit YES.
> [Skill Unlocked: Basic Charisma. Your ability to charm and influence others has increased. You will find it easier to make a positive impression and persuade individuals.]
He felt a subtle shift within him, a lightness in his demeanor, a newfound ease in his thoughts. It wasn't a dramatic transformation, but a quiet confidence that settled deep in his bones. He looked at himself in the mirror, and for the first time in a long time, he didn't see a loser. He saw potential. He saw a king.
"Alright, Kyle," Seraphina said, returning to the room, a playful glint in her eyes. "First stop, breakfast at The Peninsula. Then, we hit Michigan Avenue. Prepare to be spoiled."
Kyle grinned. Spoiled? He was just getting started.