Victoria gave him another sharp, professional smile. "Of course, Mr. Blake. Just one moment. I need to retrieve the master keys and the final contract pages from the office."
"Take your time," Ethan replied smoothly.
As Victoria turned and walked back toward the security shack, Ethan watched her. And thatâs when he noticed it. The System was right. When she first walked up, she had been cool, almost apathetic despite his BMW. But now, she walked with a noticeable, deliberate swing in her hips, like she wanted to draw his attention. Even without seeing her face, he was sure that cool, business smile had become a genuine, eager grin.
[Told you so! Polite? My digital circuits! These women only care about one thing, and itâs money,] The System scoffed internally.
"I canât believe sheâs about to make nearly thirty million dollars on this one sale, Ethan thought, stunned by the implication."
[Did your brain just melt? I said one or two percent, not ten to twenty percent! Sheâll earn between one and three million dollars. Still a hefty sum, though, donât you think?]
"And you can say that again," Ethan mentally replied. "You gave me one million, and I felt like I was on cloud nine. Now youâre telling me sheâs going to make more, and itâs just one sale?"
The System laughed harder. [You have no idea how rare these transactions are. Do you know how often she sells one of these? This entire residential area probably holds no more than a hundred houses, and theyâre the most exclusive properties in the entire country, let alone the state. Normally, agents like her sell million- or two-million-dollar homes. Plus, they pay for their own advertising; they invest hundreds of thousands a month just to get clients to look their way. Donât think everything is as easy as it was for you, getting a tax-free million dropped into your lap.]
Ethan shook his head, a mix of awe and disgust forming on his face. This was a completely different world.
Victoria returned, slipping into the passenger seat of Ethanâs car as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She pointed ahead.
"Your residence is located in the mid-upper section, Mr. Blake," she explained, her voice professional but now clearly tinged with excitement. "Itâs number eighty-nine."
Ethan looked where she pointed. He wasnât looking at a penthouse; he was looking at a massive mansion.
Victoria caught his expressionâa mix of confusion and awe. She chuckled lightly. "I assume this was a gift from your parents for getting into MIT?"
Of course. That explained everything: why he didnât know the property, why he had the paperwork but no knowledge of the house itself. It was a complete surprise.
[Victoriaâs Thoughts]
I canât believe this is happening, she thought fiercely. Just hours ago, her manager had called, ecstatic, confirming the sale of House 89. She had tried every angle to sell this place. She even opened her legs for one notorious billionaire and still hadnât closed the deal.
One hundred and fifty million. It was an outrageous price, but the zone and the sheer size made it justifiable. Still, it was practically impossible to sell.
Her boss had called her the best seller, congratulating her over and over. They had decided to give her a five percent commission instead of her usual 1.8%. Why? Because the firm was ready to drop the price to $110 millionâlike the surrounding homesâjust to liquidate the $150 million asset that had been sitting stagnant.
Seven and a half million dollars! Her bonus alone was enormous, but she had saved the firm forty million.
She had been waiting for the powerful businessman who purchased it, only for this clearly under-ripe kid to show up. But the sheer efficiency! She thought.
Then, she looked at the paper she held: The contract was signed. The funds were verified. She almost screamed. She had nearly offended the most important client sheâd ever encountered! If she had ruined the handover, sheâd be fired at best. The owners of this residential area were not known for clean business; making her disappear would be childâs play for them.
Thank the heavens I didnât act like an idiot, she prayed silently. It has to be the MIT admission gift. This young man is my ticket to early retirement.
It doesnât matter how the sale happened, she reassured herself. She didnât need to know and honestly, she didnât care. The only thing that mattered was the seven and a half million dollars hitting her bank account.
Ethan drove the BMW smoothly, following her directions. Victoria pressed a button on a small remote, and the massive, wrought-iron gates swung open silently, welcoming them into the compound.
Ethan drove through and parked directly in front of the main entrance. The house was pure luxury. Huge pine trees, at least ten feet tall, decorated the entire perimeter, forming a uniform, natural wall. They had clearly invested heavily in absolute privacy. The property was massiveâa true mansion of nearly 28,000 square feet, featuring three levels, eight bedrooms, a huge pool, a gym, and both tennis and basketball courts.
Victoria began the exterior tour with practiced grace, stepping out of the car. "Iâll start with the exterior amenities, Mr. Blake."
She led him toward the vast, glittering swimming pool. "The pool area is exceptionally large, as you can see. The whole area was designed with families in mind, perfect for entertaining many children."
The System instantly went into action, its voice full of mischievous suggestion in Ethanâs mind. [Children? Forget that noise. Imagine having sex right here. Out in the open, under the sun, completely exposed. That would be delicious. Go on, ask her if itâs rated for obscene activity.]
Ethan fought to keep a straight face, nodding seriously at Victoria. "The pool looks pristine."
"It is," she confirmed, missing his internal struggle. "A maintenance technician will visit every three months to change filters, but otherwise, you donât need to do a thing. It has a fully automated cleaning system running twenty-four-seven to ensure itâs always ready for use."
They moved toward the enclosed sports courts. "This area houses the full tennis and basketball courts."
[Boring! You should turn that basketball court into a threesome arena. A soft, plush rug with mood lighting. Who needs hoops when you have that much vertical space? Get creative, Blake!]
Ethan cleared his throat to hide a sudden laugh, adjusting his jacket. "Excellent space. Very well maintained."
"And finally, the garden area," Victoria said, leading him to a perfectly manicured lawn surrounded by towering hedges. "Itâs surprisingly extensive for a property this close to the city center."
[This is where you bury the bodies. Or, better yet, just have a massive orgy. Nothing says âI own this placeâ like public degeneracy in a $150 million garden.]
Ethan finally couldnât hold back a tiny, controlled smile. "I see. It provides excellent privacy."
Victoria beamed, mistaking his amusement for satisfaction. "Precisely. Now, if you are ready, letâs move inside. Thatâs where the true luxury begins."