The next morning, Hez walked into the office with a new purpose. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead as his eyes locked onto the most unattainable target in the room—Maya Reynolds, the 26-year-old marketing associate who barely acknowledged his existence.

  Her biodata flickered into view as he approached her desk:

  [Name: Maya Reynolds

  Age: 26

  Height: 168cm

  Weight: 60kg

  Strength: 25

  Stamina: 30

  Familiarity: 3 (Recognizes you as "that quiet guy from Accounting")]

  [Status: Eligible for Refunds]

  Maya didn’t even gnce up from her ptop as he cleared his throat.

  Hez: (forcing confidence) "Hey Maya, have you tried that new café downstairs? I hear their matcha ttes are amazing."

  She finally looked up, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised.

  Maya: (dryly) "Are you talking to me?"

  The system pinged:

  [Familiarity: 3 → 2]

  Damn. Hez backtracked quickly.

  Hez: "Uh—yeah. I was thinking of grabbing coffee for the team. My treat."

  A flicker of interest crossed her face. The system updated:

  [Familiarity: 2 → 4]

  Now we’re getting somewhere.

  Now we’re getting somewhere.

  He pulled out his phone and pced an order through the café’s app—six ttes, including Maya’s favorite (vanil oat milk, extra shot). The receipt popped up: 19.25.

  The system processed instantly:

  [Third-Party Purchase:

  19.25]

  +38.50]????[Recipient:MayaReynolds(Familiarity 4)]????[Refund:+38.50 (Current Bance: 998.50)]

  Hez shrugged, pying it cool. "Team morale boost."

  The system updated again:

  [Maya Reynolds - Familiarity: 4 → 6]

  The notification pulsed in the corner of Hez's vision as Maya sipped her tte, her skepticism softening into reluctant appreciation. The system had rewarded him perfectly—no penalties, no warnings. Just clean profit.

  A slow grin spread across his face. This is too easy.

  A thrill ran through him. The system worked fwlessly - now was the time to push further. He turned to Maya, who was typing away at her desk, her designer handbag hanging elegantly from her chair.

  Hez: "Hey Maya, that's a nice bag. Been thinking of getting something simir for... a friend." He paused meaningfully. "Maybe you could help me pick one out?"

  Maya stopped typing and swiveled her chair, eyeing him skeptically.

  Maya: "You? Buying a designer bag?" She let out a short ugh. "What's the occasion?"

  Hez: (smiling) "Let's just say I came into some money. And I'd rather spend it on something - or someone - special."

  L

  Her eyes narrowed slightly at his implication, but curiosity won out. She pulled up a luxury boutique website on her phone.

  Maya: "Well, if you're serious..." She scrolled to a particur page. "This Saint Laurent LouLou is what I've been eyeing. But it's way out of your budget."

  The price tag read 990.

  Hez didn't flinch. "Consider it yours."

  Maya's fingers froze on the screen. She looked up sharply.

  Maya: "Wait - you're joking, right?"

  Hez: "I never joke about fashion." He reached for her phone. "Here, let me order it for you right now."

  Maya hesitated, suspicion warring with desire in her expression. But the lure of the designer bag proved too strong. She handed over her phone.

  As Hez entered his payment details, the system updated:

  [Potential Purchase Detected: 990]

  [Recipient: Maya Reynolds (Familiarity 12)]

  [Refund Eligible: Yes]

  His finger hovered over the confirm button. This was nearly his entire bance - but the system promised double back. He pressed purchase.

  For three agonizing seconds, nothing happened. Then -

  [Transaction Approved]

  Then, on the floating dashboard only he could see:

  [Current Money: 1,988.50]

  A rush of triumph flooded through him. It worked.

  Maya’s phone buzzed. She stared at the screen, her lips parting in shock.

  Hez left Maya at her desk, her fingers frozen over her keyboard as she kept gncing at her phone—waiting for shipping updates. The system showed no change:

  [Maya Reynolds - Familiarity: 27]

  [Status: Anticipating Delivery]

  Then, at 4:37 PM, a notification buzzed on both their phones.

  Maya’s screen:

  [Your Saint Laurent order has been delivered to the reception desk.]

  Hez’s dashboard:

  [Package Delivered. Recipient Proximity: 20 meters.]

  Maya was out of her seat before the email finished loading. Hez followed at a casual pace, arriving just as the receptionist handed her the sleek bck box.

  Her fingers trembled slightly as she lifted the lid. The buttery leather gleamed under the office lights.

  Maya: (softly) "It’s real."

  Then she turned to Hez—really looked at him—for the first time.

  The system fshed gold:

  [Maya Reynolds - Familiarity: 27 → 35]

  [New Status: Deeply Affected]

  Maya held the pristine Saint Laurent handbag in her hands, her fingers tracing the luxurious leather as if confirming its reality. The office lights glinted off the gold hardware, casting tiny reflections in her wide eyes. She looked up at Hez, her expression a mix of disbelief and something deeper—something dangerous.

  Maya: "This is... too much."

  Hez smirked, watching the system update in his vision:

  [Maya Reynolds - Familiarity: 35 → 40]

  [Status: Emotionally Invested]

  He seized the moment.

  Hez: "Then let me make it worth it. Dinner tonight—Le Ciron. I hear their truffle risotto is life-changing."

  Maya’s breath hitched. Le Ciron was the most exclusive restaurant in the city, with a waiting list longer than their paychecks.

  Maya: "You’re serious?"

  Hez pulled out his phone, already navigating to the reservation app. "Dead serious."

  With a few taps, he booked the table—300 deposit, non-refundable. The system processed instantly:

  [Refund Processed:+600]

  [Current Money: 2,288.50]

  Maya’s phone buzzed with the reservation confirmation. She stared at it, then at Hez, her lips parting slightly.

  Maya: "You really don’t stop, do you?"

  Hez leaned in, lowering his voice. "Not when I’m this motivated."

  As the office emptied out, Maya lingered by her desk, the Saint Laurent bag hanging from her shoulder like a badge of disbelief. She gnced at Hez, who stood waiting by the elevator, his expression unreadable.

  Maya: "You’re really taking me to Le Ciron."

  It wasn’t a question.

  Hez: "Unless you’d rather go somewhere else?"

  She hesitated for only a second before falling into step beside him. The elevator doors closed, sealing them in silence.

  Outside, the city lights shimmered against the evening sky. A sleek bck taxi pulled up—Hez had pre-booked it, another third-party expense the system would refund.

  The ride was quiet, Maya stealing gnces at him while pretending to admire the passing skyline. Hez could almost hear her thoughts: Who is this guy?

  Le Ciron’s entrance was a discreet arch of polished marble, the hostess greeting them with a practiced smile.

  Hostess: "Reservation under Maya Reynolds?"

  Hez: "That’s us."

  The ma?tre d' led them to a secluded corner table at Le Ciron, where candlelight flickered against crystal gssware. Maya sat stiffly, her Saint Laurent bag pced carefully beside her like a silent witness.

  Maya: "This pce has a six-month waiting list."

  Hez: "Not when you know the right people."* He signaled the sommelier. "We'll start with the 2014 Dom Pérignon."

  The system updated as the champagne arrived:

  [Refunded+900]

  [Current Money: 3,188.50]

  Maya sipped her champagne, eyes widening at the taste. "This is... insane."

  Hez smirked and handed her the gilt-edged menu. "Order anything. I'm covering everything tonight."

  When the waiter returned, Maya hesitated before ordering: truffle risotto, wagyu beef, caviar blinis. Hez added foie gras, lobster thermidor, and a 1,200 bottle of Chateau Margaux.

  The bill came to 2,480. Hez handed over his debit card without flinching.

  [Refund Processed:+4,960]

  [Current Money: 5,668.50]

  Maya watched the transaction with dazed fascination. "You just dropped three grand like it was nothing."

  Hez: "For you? Worth every penny."

  The gold-leafed soufflé steamed between them, its delicate surface shimmering under the chandelier light. Maya took a slow bite, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before focusing back on Hez.

  Maya: "This is obscenely good."

  Hez: (smirking) "Worth blowing your diet for?"

  She ughed—a rare, unguarded sound. The system updated:

  [Maya Reynolds - Familiarity: 55 → 57]

  Hez swirled his wine gss casually. "So, a woman with taste like yours... Let me guess. Only child? Private school?"

  Maya's fork paused mid-air. "Psych major in college?"

  Hez: "Just good at reading people." He leaned in. "Was I right?"

  Maya: "Half right." She dabbed her lips with the linen napkin. "Older sister actually. And public school, thank you very much."

  Hez filed the information away. "Let me guess—your sister's the practical one, and you're the dreamer."

  Maya's wine gss froze halfway to her lips. "How the hell—"

  Hez: (grinning) "The Prada shoes with a thrift store jacket. High-low mix says 'I want luxury but respect the grind'."

  Maya studied him with new intensity. "You're observant when you want to be."

  Hez: "Only for interesting people." He signaled for another bottle. "So tell me—what does Maya Reynolds dream about?"

  Hez adjusted his approach. "Or better question—what's stopping you from being Vogue's next creative director?

  Maya: (voice dropping) "Sometimes I think... I'm just good at faking it."

  The soufflé y forgotten as Hez reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers. "The best people usually are."