She was offline.
A pang of guilt settled in his chest. He had been so caught up in his investments that he hadn't texted her back sooner.
He hesitated for a moment before typing.
[Ethan: Sorry for not replying earlier. Got caught up with some things. Hope you're doing okay.]
It wasn't much, but at least it was something.
He debated whether to add more but decided against it.
She'd see it when she woke up.
Setting the phone down on the bedside table, he exhaled deeply and stretched.
His body was starting to feel the weight of the day.
Pulling off his watch and tossing it onto the nightstand, he climbed into bed, letting his head sink into the pillow.
Tomorrow was going to be big.
And he needed to be ready for it.
Within minutes, sleep claimed him.
#####
Ethan stirred awake as a faint beeping noise reached his ears.
At first, it blended into his dreams, just another distant sound in the background, but as the beeping grew louder and sharper, reality crashed in.
His eyes fluttered open, met with the soft glow of his System Watch vibrating on the nightstand.
It was ringing — an alarm.
Since when did he set an alarm on the System?!
He groaned, reaching out sluggishly to grab it.
A quick glance at the holographic display showed the time — 8:00 AM.
"Already?" he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He sat up, stretching his arms above his head as he tried to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
The resort had already opened by now, but he wasn't going today.
He had told Zack the night before.
For a brief moment, as he sat there in the silence of his room, a thought crossed his mind.
The house was too empty.
It was large, luxurious, and meticulously kept — thanks to the maids who were already at work downstairs.
He could hear the faint sound of movement, the clinking of dishes, and the hum of a vacuum.
But despite all of that, something about the place felt too quiet.
Maybe he needed kids running around someday — a full house, a family.
It wasn't such a bad thought.
But that was for later. Right now, he had more pressing matters to focus on.
He shook off the thought, stood up, and headed for the bathroom.
A quick shower later, he was dressed in a crisp black button-up and dark jeans.
He wasn't one for excessive formalities, but today required at least a bit of effort.
Slipping on his watch, he grabbed his phone, car keys, and wallet before making his way out.
The Porsche's engine roared to life as he settled into the driver's seat.
Tapping into the GPS, he input the location — a business establishment where he was set to collect the land deeds.
He had expected something simple, maybe a law firm or an office specializing in real estate.
What popped up, however, was a store.
Four stories high.
'Strange.'
Still, business was business.
As long as the papers were legitimate, he didn't care where he had to pick them up from.
The drive was smooth, the early morning traffic already thinning out as the city settled into its daily rhythm.
Ethan kept one hand on the wheel, his thoughts drifting as he considered his next move.
Unlike his other investments, this one would require more than just money.
It needed connections. Security. A solid foundation.
He would handle that later.
For now, the land came first.
Arriving at the designated location, Ethan pulled into a parking space just across from the building.
Stepping out of the car, he took in the sight of the store.
It wasn't anything special — a clean, modern facade with a large glass entrance.
People moved in and out, the first floor appearing to be a retail space selling electronics.
So why the hell was a real estate transaction happening here?
Shaking off the thought, he stepped inside.
The air was cool, the scent of freshly polished floors lingering as he made his way toward the counter.
Behind it, a young man in a neatly pressed uniform was wiping down the surface with a small rug.
Ethan approached, resting his hands on the counter.
"Morning," he greeted. "I was told to come here to pick up the deeds to a piece of land."
The receptionist paused mid-wipe, glancing up at him.
For a second, there was hesitation. Then, as if recognizing something, he gave a quick nod.
"Yes, sir. One moment."
The man turned, moving toward a set of drawers behind the counter.
Ethan tapped his fingers against the countertop, watching as he pulled out a thick envelope.
Turning back, the receptionist placed the envelope in front of him.
"My boss isn't here at the moment," he explained, "but he's already signed everything. You'll find all the necessary documents inside."
Ethan picked up the envelope, weighing it in his hands. It felt solid — important.
"That's it?"
The receptionist gave a slight smile. "That's it."
Ethan nodded, slipping the envelope under his arm.
"Alright, thanks."
With that, he turned and walked out.
With the envelope secured in the passenger seat, Ethan tapped his phone, pulling up the GPS coordinates of the land he had just purchased.
The holographic display flickered to life, showing a detailed map of the city with a blinking blue dot marking his destination.
He locked in the route, the watch automatically syncing with his car's dashboard.
"Alright, let's see what I just bought."
The Porsche's engine hummed smoothly as he pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the road.
The location wasn't far, but it wasn't exactly prime real estate either like his other investments.
Ethan noticed the gradual shift as he left the bustling main roads behind, driving through quieter streets that had fewer businesses and more open spaces.
It was still within the city limits — not completely off-grid — but it was the kind of place where people didn't just stumble across unless they were looking for it.
Perfect for a casino.