[Author's note: Sort of Info Dump for the app, but it is necessary for the story. Don't skip it for a full experience.]
I didn't move for a long time after the door was shut. The room felt the same. It was cramped, quiet, and slightly suffocating.
But something had definitely changed, and I could feel it in the air.
'I definitely didn't install that,' I thought, looking down at the app.
It vibrated again. The app opened completely on its own.
[Initialising...]
A dark interface spread across the screen.
It looked clean and minimal, almost too polished for something that had just hacked its way onto my phone out of nowhere.
Then, text began to fill the screen.
Name: Leon Raven
Status: Verified
Rating: 72
Tier: Bronze
Balance: $0
I frowned at the low numbers on the screen.
'72? Out of what exactly?'
As if the app was listening to my thoughts, a small pop-up appeared.
[Rating Scale: 1 to 100]
'Well, then it is not too bad, I guess,' I muttered to myself.
Then I paused and rubbed my face with worry.
'Wait, why am I not questioning this more? A strange woman just broke into my phone and measured me.'
Before I could put together everything that had happened, another notification slid down from the top.
[New Message Received]
The sender didn't have a phone number attached, only a name as its tag.
Kiara.
'Oh, so that was her name.'
I tapped the notification to open the chat.
"Your verification is complete," the message read. I leaned back against the cracked wall of my room.
'Of course it is.'
Another message popped up right after.
"From this point forward, I will be managing your account."
I let out a slow breath and started typing back.
"So you are an actual person."
A little typing bubble appeared for a second.
"Yes."
"So is this the right time for you to explain this whole thing?" I typed.
There was a pause for a few seconds before her reply came through.
"It is a premium selection platform where clients browse the available options. The system matches them with profiles. Now your profile has been updated, so it will be visible to clients, and if someone likes it, you will be assigned to them."
I stared at the words for a long minute.
'Assigned?'
"You are not here to pursue anyone but merely an option to be chosen among the crowd," Kiara sent.
Something about that specific line sat heavily in my chest.
'Will someone even choose me?'
"And I get paid for this, right?" I shamelessly typed back.
"Yes. Compensation varies based on the client tier and your overall performance."
An automated screen opened on my app right after she sent that.
[Client Tier System]
Silver: Standard high-income clients
Gold: Elite professionals and public figures
Diamond: High-risk and high-influence individuals
My eyes narrowed slightly at the screen.
'High-risk?'
As if she anticipated my question, Kiara sent another text.
"Higher-tier clients require extreme discretion where secrecy is the key. Failure to comply with the rules results in penalties."
'Penalties?' I muttered out loud, didn't even want to know what that meant.
She didn't elaborate on that. Instead, a new tab opened on the app interface.
[Performance Metrics]
Physical Satisfaction: 0
Emotional Engagement: 0
Repeat Probability: 0
Dependency Index: 0
I stared at the last category on the list.
'Dependency?'
"Client retention is the foundation of your growth on this platform," Kiara typed.
My phone buzzed again, vibrating against my palm.
[New Feature Unlocked: Client Preview]
I tapped the button.
A profile appeared on the screen with a blurry picture and some limited data points.
Client ID:
Hidden Tier: Silver
Age Range: 30 to 40
Status: Married
Emotional State: Isolated
Primary Need: Validation
I blinked in surprise.
'It shows all this information right upfront?'
"You are expected to use all available data effectively to ensure satisfaction," Kiara somehow replied to his thoughts.
"So these are basically cheat codes for dealing with them," I replied.
She didn't reply to that.
I exhaled slowly and ran a hand through my messy hair.
This whole situation was completely insane.
An app installs itself on my device, a woman in a business suit shows up at my door to judge my body and now I am apparently being selected by rich women who feel isolated.
'This is definitely illegal,' I thought.
"Do you wish to withdraw from the platform?" Kiara asked.
The message appeared instantly, like she was watching me think.
I paused and looked around my room.
It was so depressing and sad how simple it looked.
"No," I typed back.
The reply came much faster this time.
"Acknowledged."
Then the screen flashed with a ding.
[Incoming Request]
My heartbeat picked up slightly as I read the details.
Client Tier: Silver
Request Type: Private Session
Status: Pending Acceptance
I stared at the screen, 'That was really fast.'
"Your profile has received immediate attention from the network," Kiara explained.
"Why me?"
"Because you are compatible with her current needs."
That wasn't really helpful at all.
But then another notification popped up below the request.
[Reward Preview]
Base Payment: $25,000
Bonus: Performance-Based
Rating Impact: Moderate
My eyes widened so much they almost popped out of my head. 'Twenty-five thousand dollars?'
That was more money than I made in an entire month at my stupid cafe job.
My thumb stopped over the screen where two buttons blinked.
[Accept/Decline]
"I suggest you accept that. Not many people get a request this fast," Kiara texted.
Of course, she would say that.
But still, I thought for a few minutes, realising I have nothing to lose anymore.
"Alright," I said out loud.
[Request Confirmed]
Then a red warning box popped up.
[Warning: This client has high emotional sensitivity.]
[Improper engagement may reduce your overall rating.]
'Great. No pressure at all,' I thought sarcastically.
Another message from Kiara appeared at the bottom of the screen.
"The location and details will be sent to you shortly. Prepare yourself, Leon."
The screen flickered one last time before going dark, but then a small notification bubble popped up in the corner.
[Additional Notice]
[Multiple profile views detected.]
[Your visibility is currently increasing.]
'Wait, what does that mean?'
Then another alert chimed.
[Alert: You have been bookmarked by 2 additional clients.]
My grip tightened slightly around the edges of the phone.
'Already? I haven't even done anything yet.'