Ethan stepped into his room and closed the door with a quiet click.
The large space, bathed in soft moonlight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, felt both vast and oddly empty.
He loosened his shirt, tossing it over the chair near his desk before sinking into the plush leather seat.
His fingers instinctively reached for the small remote that controlled the lights, dimming them just enough to ease the strain from his eyes.
He was tired.. that much was certain.
With a sigh, he leaned forward and tapped the sleek surface of his watch.
At once, a shimring blue holographic interface flickered to life before him — the System.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
Navigating through the options with practiced ease, he selected "Docunts" and then "Permit Applications."
The System's efficient algorithms instantly began compiling a professional and polished request for his casino construction permit.
This wasn't Ethan's first ti dealing with city hall.
His business ventures — particularly in real estate — had required him to establish relationships with various officials.
Buying nearly ruined apartnt buildings, renovating them into high-end or affordable housing, and selling them for profit had given him both the experience and the contacts he needed.
This ti, instead of flipping properties, he was using his connections to push forward a much bigger project: his casino.
As the System compiled the necessary details, Ethan leaned back and ran a hand through his hair.
He was tired, but there was still a lot to do. The casino wasn't just another business move; it was a major undertaking, and he wanted everything to be perfect.
A soft chi signaled that the docunt was ready.
The holographic screen displayed the final draft, crisp and formal, detailing the request for land usage, construction specifics, environntal compliance, and financial projections.
"Not bad," Ethan muttered as he skimd through the paragraphs.
The System had even included a few persuasive argunts about the economic benefits his casino would bring to the city.
With a satisfied nod, he tapped the "Download" option, and a second later, his phone vibrated.
The docunt was now saved as a file, ready to be sent.
He scrolled through his contacts and selected a familiar na — one of his more reliable connections at city hall.
[Ethan: Got a new permit request. Sending it now. Let know how fast we can push this through.]
Within seconds, the ssage was marked as "Read."
A few dots appeared as the person on the other end began typing.
[Mr. Kean: Send it over. I'll take a look. Might be able to speed things up if everything's in order.]
Ethan attached the file and hit send.
Now, all he could do was wait.
He exhaled slowly and shut off the hologram interface.
His gaze drifted toward the massive bed on the other side of the room, but he didn't feel like sleeping just yet.
Instead, he grabbed a glass of water from the nightstand and took a sip, staring at the cityscape beyond his window.
A casino was a risky business.
But success wasn't built in a day. It was built by taking risks.
Setting the glass down, he pulled out his phone and checked his schedule for the next day.
As he swiped through the notifications, another ssage popped up.
[Mr. Kean: Got it. I'll give you an update tomorrow. Shouldn't take too long.]
Now, he could finally call it a night.
With one last glance at the city outside, he stood, stretched, and walked over to his bed.
As he lay down, he closed his eyes, letting the hum of distant traffic lull him into much-needed rest.
The following week, Ethan stood at the edge of the empty lot, his breath curling in the cold morning air.
He pulled his hoodie tighter around him, shielding himself from the biting wind as his eyes scanned the land where his casino would soon rise.
The sky, heavy with dark clouds just monts ago, was beginning to clear, revealing hints of blue peeking through.
It seed the predicted rainstorm wouldn't co after all. A relief — bad weather would have only slowed the construction team down.
The lot itself was a vast, open space, a blank slate waiting to be transford.
Stakes and markers were already in place, outlining the future foundation of the building. The crew had assembled early, so stretching and shaking off the morning chill, others already discussing the logistics of the day's work.
The low hum of idle conversation and the occasional barked instructions filled the air, creating a strange sense of anticipation.
Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets, exhaling slowly. He wasn't the type to get sentintal, but standing here now, watching the workers move with purpose, it felt… real.
His gaze flickered over the workers, noting their efficiency. A few n were unloading equipnt from a truck, while others were setting up survey tools to double-check the ground asurents.
The foreman, a stocky man in his forties with a permanent scowl, was speaking with an engineer over a set of blueprints. Everything was in motion.
Then, a familiar face caught his attention.
Among the workers, that girl — the one he had bumped into back in the city office — was waving at him.
For a mont, Ethan hesitated. He hadn't expected to see her here. Last ti, she had been carrying a folder full of paperwork, clearly swamped with administrative work.
Now, she wore a construction vest over a hoodie, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She looked like she belonged here just as much as anyone else.
He gave a small nod in return, acknowledging her without making a big deal out of it. She didn't seem to mind his reserved response, her grin unfazed as she turned back to the work at hand.
"Didn't expect you to be the type to get your hands dirty," Ethan comnted as he approached, keeping his voice low enough to not disturb the others.
She glanced up, her expression amused. "And I didn't expect you to actually show up at a construction site in person. Most people just send soone to check progress."
Ethan smirked. "I like to see where my money's going."
"Good policy," she admitted. "Na's Riley, by the way."
He hadn't asked, but he nodded anyway. "Ethan."
"I know," she said, tilting her head. "You own this whole thing, right?"
"Sothing like that."
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