The transfer went through the normal way.
Leo sat in a quiet office at the bank, listening to the low murmur of printers and keyboards. His usual card limits weren't enough, so the relationship manager handled it personally—forms printed, signatures taken, confirmations checked twice. It wasn't dramatic. It was just thorough.
When she finally looked up and said, "Your account has been credited," Leo nodded.
His phone buzzed a second later.
Bank Alert
A/c ending 5524 has been credited USD 10,000,000.00
Available Balance: USD 10,000,100.00
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and walked out into the afternoon.
New York felt louder than usual. Or maybe he was listening more closely. Traffic rolled past, horns layered over conversation, sunlight flashing off glass and metal. He didn't have anywhere to be. Not yet.
"Let's go to a mall," he said once he was in the car.
"Which one, sir?"
"Doesn't matter. A good one."
The car pulled up at The Shops at Columbus Circle, its wide glass entrance swallowing people in steady waves. Inside, everything smelled expensive—new leather, polished wood, coffee that cost more than it needed to.
Leo walked slowly.
People passed him carrying shopping bags, laughing, checking mirrors, trying things on. Stores glowed on both sides, mannequins dressed like they belonged to a different version of the city.
Then he saw the glass cube.
Light poured straight down through it, clean and bright, like the building had opened itself on purpose. He didn't hesitate. He went straight for the stairs.
Inside the Apple flagship, the air felt cooler, quieter. Long tables lined up perfectly, devices laid out like invitations. His phone buzzed in his pocket—his old one, nearly two years old now, the battery unreliable, the screen faintly scratched.
He set it down on the table and smiled.
"I'll take the new ones," he said. "The biggest ones."
No rush. No questions.
Two iPhone 6s Plus, 128GB.
Two 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, fully loaded.
One iPad Pro, the big one.
One Apple Watch, stainless steel.
He didn't compare. He didn't calculate. He just nodded when the total came up.
USD 9,424.00
He paid.
As he stepped back into the mall, his phone vibrated.
Bank Alert
A/c ending 5524 has been debited USD 9,424.00
Description: Apple Retail – New York
Available Balance: USD 9,990,676.00
Leo stopped walking for a moment.
Nine thousand dollars gone in seconds—and it barely touched the number. He laughed quietly to himself, then kept moving.
"Hotel," he said once he was back in the car. "The most expensive one."
The driver smiled slightly and nodded.
The The Plaza Hotel stood at the edge of Central Park like it had always been there. Doors opened without anyone asking his name. Inside, chandeliers shimmered softly, voices lowered without instruction.
Check-in didn't happen at the desk. It happened somewhere else, somewhere quieter. One month. The presidential suite. Everything arranged.
The elevator carried him up without a sound.
The suite was larger than any place he had ever lived. Windows stretched wide, the park laid out beneath them like a private view. The city felt distant from up here, controlled, framed.
His phone vibrated again.
Bank Alert
A/c ending 5524 has been debited USD 1,200,000.00
Description: Hotel Stay – Advance Booking
Available Balance: USD 8,790,676.00
That one made him pause.
Not because of the amount—but because it felt unreal.
Boxes arrived minutes later, neatly stacked. A man stepped forward.
"Daniel, sir. I'll be assisting you during your stay."
Young. Calm. Professional.
Leo nodded, already distracted by the view.
As evening settled over the city and lights flickered on one by one, he opened one of the boxes and powered on a brand-new phone. The screen lit up instantly—bright, perfect, untouched.
For the first time in a long while, nothing felt outdated.
For the first time, he didn't feel behind.
For now, this was enough.