After another hour of waiting, August leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh.
The initial excitent he felt had soured, replaced by an increasing sense of regret. He drumd his fingers on the table, glancing at his watch.
'Should have gone through with the sale to the other buyer,' he thought.
Finally, he pushed his chair back and stood up, ready to leave. Just as he turned toward the door, his phone buzzed in his pocket. An unknown number flashed across the screen.
Curious and a little wary, August answered, "Hello?"
A warm, professional voice greeted him. "Hello, is this Aleman? I'm Mr. Floozk's personal assistant. My na is Celia."
August raised an eyebrow, taking a few cautious steps back to his table. "Yes, this is Aleman… What's going on?"
Celia's tone softened apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Aleman. Mr. Floozk had an unexpected ergency and was unable to et you at the restaurant as planned. He asked to reach out and extend his sincerest apologies."
August sighed but kept his tone steady. "Well, that explains the wait. I would have appreciated so kind of notice sooner, though."
"I understand completely, and I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience," Celia replied. "This situation was unforeseen. Mr. Floozk specifically asked to reschedule the eting for tomorrow. He assures he'll be there personally, no delays."
August considered this for a mont, weighing his options. He wanted this sale done, but if Mr. Floozk genuinely had an ergency… Well, he didn't want to lose his cool over sothing that wasn't entirely in the man's control.
"Alright," he replied, letting a bit of the tension out of his voice. "I can make it tomorrow. Luckily, I've got the day off. But you can tell him he owes a coffee," he added with a slight chuckle.
Celia laughed politely. "Understood, Mr. Aleman. I'll make sure he knows. And thank you for your understanding. You have his word that tomorrow, he'll be there on ti."
August nodded to himself, a little relieved. "I appreciate the call, Celia. I'll see him tomorrow then."
"Thank you, and again, our sincerest apologies. Have a good evening, Mr. Aleman."
"Good evening, Celia."
August ended the call, pocketed his phone, and made his way out of the restaurant. At least tomorrow was his day off, and he still had just enough ti to complete the transaction before Damon's deadline.
...
As August made his way ho, he glanced up at the towering billboards and advertisents that lit up the evening streets.
Enders Light dominated nearly every screen, displaying colorful images of different realms, players wielding magnificent weapons, and guild banners fluttering in digital winds. People around him stopped to watch.
One large screen caught August's attention, displaying a beautiful woman with smooth, buttery skin and piercing blue eyes.
Her platinum hair cascaded over her shoulders in elegant waves, framing a face that was both fierce and graceful.
She wore a smooth silver-blue bodysuit that shimred in the light, hugging her curves and exuding both power and beauty. The screen flashed her in-ga title in bold: Ice Queen, Vice Leader of the Phoenix Celestial guild. Below, her real na was displayed—Elena Frost.
She was addressing the viewers with a calm yet commanding tone, drawing everyone's attention. "The Phoenix Celestial guild has accomplished many feats. We're at the forefront of Enders Light, leading with strength, unity, and vision. We're always on the lookout for players with talent, skill, and the dedication to rise with us."
Her icy gaze swept over the cara as she paused, captivating everyone watching. "We're recruiting more exceptional players each day, and it's not just about in-ga rewards. Top recruits will receive real-life perks and compensation. If you've got what it takes, Phoenix Celestial is where you belong."
A soft murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd around August, and he could hear people comnting.
"Look at her… she's stunning!"
"She's not just a top player; she's a celebrity now. I heard she has made millions from this."
"And they say she's a supernatural player too... wonder if that's true?"
August rolled his eyes slightly, half-listening to the chatter around him. He couldn't deny that she was striking.
Her beauty was undeniable, and her confidence commanded attention. There was a certain pull he felt, an attraction that crept up on him, but he quickly shook himself out of it.
'Focus, August,' he reminded himself while taking a deep breath.
Getting hung up over soone he hadn't even t was beneath him.
He couldn't deny that he was a womanizer and would have wanted nothing more than to strip her naked if this was his previous world but right now he had more important things to worry about.
Womanizing would have to co later.
---
By the ti he reached ho, the sun was dipping below the horizon. August and Sophia shared a warm dinner, and she animatedly recounted her day, filling the room with laughter.
Later that evening after Sophia went to bed, August also decided to turn in for the night.
After a couple of weeks, he needed to sleep at least once without logging into the ga.
As he lay in bed, he thought of the challenges he had faced and the ones still ahead. Tomorrow was a free day, and he'd log into the ga once he got up.
For tonight, he would allow himself a rare luxury—a full, uninterrupted night's sleep.
...
August woke up the next morning, refreshed and ready to dive into Enders Light. He had the whole morning free, with his eting with Mr. Floozk scheduled for late afternoon.
If everything went smoothly, he would secure the funds he needed to handle Damon's debt. But for now, he could spend a good chunk of ti in-ga, using Enders Light as a welco escape and a chance to gain so levels.
He stretched, glancing at the pod with anticipation. Since ti moved faster in Enders Light, he could get in a full day of grinding within just a couple of hours.
With a grin, August got himself set, thinking of all the new skills and loot he'd been building up, preparing for the quests that would get him closer to the higher-ranking players.
Just as he was about to enter the ga, however, he heard an abrupt commotion from the living room.
He froze as the sound of muffled voices reached his ears, followed by the unmistakable sound of Sophia's raised voice.
"Let go!!"
August jolted out of his room the mont he heard Sophia's scream echo through the hallway.
He dashed into the living room, taking in the sight before him.
Damon stood there, arms crossed with a smug grin on his face. One of his muscular goons had Sophia in his grip, holding her while she struggled to break free.
"What the hell is going on?" August demanded while clenching his fists tightly in annoyance.
Damon smirked, tilting his head with a feigned look of surprise. "Oh, good morning, August. Thought we'd stop by to settle your debt." He nodded toward Sophia as a cruel glint appeared in his eye. "As agreed, if you don't have my money, she's coming with ."
August's voice turned tense at this mont. "We agreed on one month, Damon. I still have until tomorrow."
Damon chuckled while shaking his head. "See, that's where you're wrong." He took a step closer as his voice slowly dropped. "I told you one month. Now, depending on my mood, that month could an 30 days… or 31. Today's the 30th day, so here we are."
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