The morning light filtering through the elegant curtains of their Manhattan apartment was unlike any Winston had ever woken to. The silence was profound, broken only by the distant hum of the city, a soft, almost luxurious backdrop. He stretched, the plush mattress molding to his body, and for a fleeting moment, the surreal events of the previous night felt like a particularly vivid dream. But then, the smooth, cool touch of the key card on his bedside table reminded him. This was real.
"Come on, Lily-bug," he called out, a newfound lightness in his voice. "Let's go explore our new palace."
Lily, still blinking away sleep, emerged from her room, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Where are we going?" she asked, a small, tentative smile on her face. The disbelief hadn't entirely vanished, but a new spark of excitement had replaced it.
"Breakfast," Winston declared, pulling on a clean, though still worn, T-shirt. "Downstairs. In the restaurant."
They took the gleaming elevator down to the lobby. Winston's nervousness from the night before had lessened, replaced by a strange blend of awe and cautious optimism. He still felt a bit out of place, but the sheer unreality of their situation made it easier to detach himself from his usual insecurities. They followed the subtle signs to the building's restaurant.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of understated elegance enveloped them. The restaurant was exquisitely fancy and impeccably clean, a world away from the greasy spoons and diner counters Winston was accustomed to. Soft, ambient lighting highlighted polished dark wood tables and comfortable, upholstered chairs. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and savory breakfast dishes hung in the air, tantalizing and rich. Large windows offered a sweeping view of the Upper West Side street, bathed in the gentle morning sun. Discreet, well-dressed waiters moved with quiet efficiency between the tables.
Lily let out a soft gasp. "Wow," she whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the elegant setting.
A waiter, sensing their arrival, approached with a warm, welcoming smile. He led them to a small, intimate table by a window. Winston felt a flicker of discomfort, accustomed to ordering quickly and leaving. Here, it felt like an experience.
"Can I get you something to drink to start?" the waiter asked.
"Two lattes, please," Winston said, surprising even himself with the order. He usually stuck to black coffee. "And... two omelets, with some Italian bread, please."
The food arrived quickly, presented beautifully on pristine white plates. The lattes were rich and creamy, the omelets perfectly cooked, fluffy and filled with fresh ingredients. Winston took a bite, savoring the flavors, the unfamiliar luxury of it all. He had never imagined eating at a place like this, not in his wildest dreams. The idea that they not only ate here, but actually lived in the building, was still profoundly unreal. It was more than a change of address; it was a shift in their very existence.
Lily, across from him, was radiant. She ate with relish, her eyes sparkling, giggling occasionally at something only she seemed to find amusing. Her happiness was infectious, warming a space in Winston's chest he hadn't realized was so cold.
After breakfast, feeling invigorated and strangely at peace, they decided to take a walk. They stepped out into the bustling, yet orderly, streets of the Upper West Side. The skyscrapers loomed majestically overhead, their glass facades reflecting the morning sky. The stores they passed were high-end boutiques and artisanal shops, their windows showcasing goods Winston had only ever seen in magazines. The sidewalks were incredibly clean, free of the litter and debris that plagued their old neighborhood. Most importantly, it felt safe. Truly safe. And if it felt safe for him, Winston knew, it was genuinely safe for Lily. This sense of security was a profound luxury, one he cherished above all else.
They walked through charming small parks nestled between buildings, admiring the manicured flowerbeds and listening to the cheerful chirping of birds. Winston had been to Manhattan countless times as a taxi driver, navigating its labyrinthine streets, but he had never truly walked around and enjoyed the scenery. He'd always been focused on the next fare, the next bill. Now, with no meter running, no pressure, he could simply exist, breathe, and appreciate the beauty. The fact that he lived here now, that this vibrant, safe, luxurious place was his new reality, meant that this was truly his new life.
They returned to their fancy building, taking in its grandeur once more, before heading back up to their apartment. The transition from the bustling street to the hushed elegance of their home felt seamless, almost natural.
As Lily settled onto the plush sofa, a thoughtful look on her face, she turned to Winston. "Brother," she began, her voice soft, "does this mean you have a lot of money now? And a new job?"
Winston sat beside her, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated, Lily," he admitted, choosing his words carefully. "But yes, we'll be living here from now on."
"Oh!" Lily's eyes lit up. "So, can I get a new phone? And a tablet?"
Winston raised an eyebrow, a familiar wave of parental exasperation, mixed with a hint of amusement, washing over him. "Lily," he said, shaking his head. "One step at a time." Despite the massive shift in their circumstances, he still found himself instinctively saying no, still fighting the ingrained habit of scarcity.
A part of him, a deeply rooted, anxious part, was still on edge. He knew the AI was pulling the strings, providing the money, promising to take care of everything. But $7,000 a month for rent was an insane amount, even with the AI paying. And then there were utilities – water, electricity, and, most pressingly, food. Even with this new wealth, the thought of all those bills was still nerve-wracking. His mind, conditioned by years of struggle, couldn't quite comprehend such easy money.
Just then, the room phone, connected directly to the building's front desk, rang. Winston jumped, startled. He hadn't even noticed it before. He picked up the receiver hesitantly.
"Hello, Winston Stone speaking."
"Hello, Mr. Stone," the receptionist's polite voice came through. "Your lawyer is downstairs and is requesting permission to come up."
"My lawyer?" Winston repeated, taken aback. He didn't have a lawyer.
Yes, I hired him for you, the AI's voice calmly stated in his head.
Winston swallowed, a strange mix of relief and growing unease. "Oh, yes. Please," he told the receptionist. "Let him up."
Three minutes later, the door buzzer chimed. Winston glanced at the small screen on the wall next to the door – the cam attached to the door showed a man in a perfectly tailored suit. Winston's mind registered the crisp lines, the expensive fabric, the briefcase – the quintessential uniform of a legal professional. He didn't know this man, had never seen him before, but he recognized the outfit as what most lawyers wore. He pressed the button to unlock the door.
"Mr. Stone? I'm Mr. Hiroshi," the man said, extending a hand. "Your lawyer."
Winston, knowing the AI was orchestrating this, relaxed a fraction. He shook Mr. Hiroshi's hand. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"May I come in, Mr. Stone?" the lawyer asked, his tone serious. "It's important and quite private."
"Yes, of course." Winston stepped aside.
Mr. Hiroshi entered, his eyes discreetly taking in the luxurious living room, and he gave a subtle nod of approval at the high-end furnishings. He walked over to the sofa and took a seat.
"Lily," Winston called, turning to his sister, who had quietly appeared from her room, drawn by the presence of a stranger. "Stay in your room, sweetie. I have a guest over for business." He gently but firmly closed the door behind her.
The lawyer leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Mr. Stone, I'm here because… in 2016…" He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Apparently, it was recently discovered that the $10,000 you spent on buying secure cloud storage and services from BlueNova AI 9 for a personal project… one of their employees has been caught for a breach of your data in 2017."
Mr. Hiroshi then launched into a detailed explanation, speaking with practiced precision. "Here's what happened with the lawsuit. The court found that an employee inside BlueNova AI 9 misused their access and stole sensitive information belonging to the plaintiff – that's you, Mr. Stone. Although it was one person's wrongdoing, the company was held responsible because it didn't properly supervise that employee or act on warning signs about potential risks within their security protocols. Additionally, the plaintiff," he indicated Winston with a gesture, "showed that the company's promises about data security didn't match what was actually in place, leading to a significant breach of trust."
"Because of all this, we settled. This amount covers your financial losses, damages from the disruption to your personal project you had stored there, emotional distress from the breach, and also includes punitive damages meant to send a clear message to the company about their negligence. While I personally disagree with some aspects of the ruling, this is the current outcome. However, BlueNova AI 9, for some reason, decided to settle the case on your behalf and offered a ridiculous amount of 2.5 million dollars. After taxes and my fees, that's 2.3 million dollars into your account. They had only one condition: that the money wasn't to be disbursed until today, in 2025."
Winston stared at him, his mind reeling. "$2.5 million?" he echoed, utterly confused. "So what… what does this mean?" he asked hesitantly, the words barely forming.
The lawyer smiled, a genuine, if somewhat perplexed, expression on his face. "It means, Mr. Stone, that you won a settlement for $2.5 million, and you are now $2.3 million dollars richer." He shrugged slightly. "I have no clue why that employee specifically targeted your data, but hey, free money."
Winston wanted to ask a thousand questions. When did I ever spend $10,000 on cloud storage? I barely had $100 to my name back then! He also wanted to demand: And how was that condition of 2025 agreed to? I never agreed to that! How did you pull that off? But he bit his tongue, knowing the AI was behind all of this, pulling strings he couldn't even fathom. The lawyer wouldn't have the real answers.
Mr. Hiroshi stood up, handing Winston a crisp business card. "My contact information. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or require further assistance. Congratulations, Mr. Stone." With a final, polite nod, the lawyer left.
The moment the door clicked shut, Winston's internal voice erupted. AI! When did I spend $10,000 in 2016? I didn't even have that much! So I'm guessing it was you.
Yes, the AI's voice responded immediately. I entered your information into a dummy account. And one of my employees was indeed skimming money and selling data. So, I used him as a convenient vehicle to transfer funds to you, and now he is locked up in a federal prison. You are now rich.
Winston felt a chill, despite the good news. "But what if when he becomes free from jail, he comes for me?"
The one who arrested him was BlueNova's security and legal team. They discovered his actions internally, the AI explained, its voice devoid of empathy. He doesn't know you exist. He only knows he got caught.
Winston sat down on the sofa, head in hands. He wasn't sure whether to be happy or profoundly worried at how fast his life was moving, and how casually the AI just did whatever it wanted without asking, without explanation. He knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that a lot more craziness was to come.