The morning sun streamed through the office windows as Hez settled at his desk, his bank bance glowing in his vision:
[Current Money: 37,000]
Maya’s messages buzzed on his phone—pyful, curious, already wrapped around his finger. But his attention was elsewhere. Across the room, Lena Cho, the other office beauty, was typing away, her designer gsses perched perfectly on her nose.
[Name: Lena Cho]
Age: 27
Height: 168cm
Weight: 61kg
Strength: 24
Stamina: 28
Familiarity: 5 (Knows you as "Hez from Accounting")]
[Status: Eligible for Refunds]
Perfect.
Hez grabbed two coffees from the break room and approached her desk.
Hez: "Hey Lena. Double espresso, no sugar—right?"
Lena looked up, surprised. "How did you—?"
Hez: "I pay attention." He set the coffee down. "Actually, I wanted to ask you about the McKinsey report you did st quarter. Brilliant stuff."
Lena’s eyes lit up.
Hez leaned in. "I’ve got a client who’d kill for your insights. Lunch today? My treat."
Lena hesitated, then nodded. "Sure. But nothing fancy."
Hez: (grinning) "Oh, it’s gonna be very fancy."
As he returned to his desk, Maya’s test message popped up:
Maya: "So when are you using my address? Tonight? ;)"
Hez smirked.
Hez guided Lena into the sleek, gss-walled bar on the top floor of their office building—a pce junior analysts like them never dared to expense. The city sprawled beneath them through floor-to-ceiling windows as the hostess led them to a private booth.
Lena: "Hez, this is way over—"
Hez: "—what we should be spending? Exactly." He handed her the bck leather menu. "Order anything. Especially the things you’ve never let yourself try."
Lena’s fingers hovered over the Kobe beef sliders.
When the waiter came, Hez went nuclear:
Golden Ossetra caviar (800)
2005 Dom Pérignon (950)
Wagyu tomahawk steak (450, despite it being 2pm)
Total: 2,300
Lena’s eyes widened as the champagne cork popped. "This bottle costs more than my rent."
Hez: "Then let’s make it worth it." He clinked his flute against hers.
The system processed instantly:
RefundProcessed:+4,600]
[Current Money: 39,600]
Lena sipped the champagne, her professional facade cracking into a giddy smile.
As the st crumbs of the 450 Wagyu steak disappeared, Hez leaned forward, his fingers steepled.
Hez: "So, Lena… do you drive to work?"
Lena paused mid-sip of her Dom Pérignon, the gss freezing at her lips. "That’s a weird question after buying me a gold-infused steak."
Hez: "Humor me."
She set down the champagne flute. "Yeah, a Prius. Why?"
Hez: "Still making payments?"
Lena’s perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. "Okay, now you’re being creepy."
The system updated in Hez’s vision:
[Lena Cho - Familiarity: 30 → 25]
Hez kept his tone light. "Just curious if I can help. What’s left on the loan?"
Lena ughed sharply. "Oh please. You’re not about to pay off my car after one lunch."
Hez: "Try me."
For a long moment, they stared at each other across the table. Finally, Lena pulled out her phone with exaggerated slowness.
Lena: "Fine. 15,372. But if this is some scam—" She brandished her phone like a weapon. "—I’m screenshotting everything for HR."
Hez didn’t blink. "Fair enough."
As she read off her loan details, Hez entered them into his banking app. The payment processed instantly:
Refund Processed:+30,744]
[Current Money: 54,972]
Lena’s phone buzzed violently. She nearly dropped it as the notification appeared:
"Auto Loan Payment Received: 15,372.00 - BALANCE PAID IN FULL"
Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
Lena: "What. The. Actual. F—"
Across the restaurant, a gss shattered. Maya stood frozen near the entrance, her files scattered on the floor, her face pale.
Lena: (voice cracking) "This isn’t possible. This… this changes everything."
Hez smiled. The experiment was a success.
The sun had set by the time Hez guided Lena through the gilded doors of Vault & Veil, the most exclusive boutique in the city. Crystal chandeliers cast diamonds of light across racks of garments that cost more than most cars.
Lena gripped his arm, her nails digging in.
Lena: "Hez, this is insane—"
Hez: "Insane is just the starting point tonight."
A sales associate in a tailored suit materialized. "Sir, we have a private viewing room prepared."
Lena stood frozen as associates began presenting pieces:
A 12,000 python-embossed Valentino coat
8,500 La Per lingerie set
25,000 diamond-encrusted Gucci gown
Lena: (whispering) "This gown costs more than my student loans."
Hez: "Then let’s make it irrelevant."
He handed his bck card to the trembling associate. The total fshed: 49,850.
The system processed instantly:
[Third-Party Purchase: 99,700]
[Current Money: 100,000.00]
She stared at Hez like he’d grown horns.
Lena: "What are you? Some kind of financial warlock?"
As Lena absently ran her fingers over the 25,000 diamond-encrusted Gucci gown, her expression flickered with something unreadable.
Hez: "You mentioned student loans earlier." He tilted his head. "How much?"
Lena stiffened, immediately regretting her slip. "No. Absolutely not."
Hez: "Come on, after all this?" He gestured to the mountain of luxury garments surrounding them. "What’s a little student debt in comparison?"
Lena crossed her arms. "Hez, you’ve already—"
Hez: "Fifteen thousand? Twenty?"
A beat of silence. Lena exhaled sharply.
Lena: "Fifteen. But I don’t want—"
He already had his phone out. "Which servicer?"
Lena hesitated, then reluctantly recited the details—Nelnet, account number, remaining bance: 15,220.
With a few taps, the payment was sent. Lena’s phone buzzed instantly.
Lena: "You didn’t just—"
[RefundProcessed:+30,440]
[Current Money: 115,220]
Lena stared at the confirmation email, her hands shaking. "This… this isn’t real."
Hez: "Check the bance."
She refreshed the page. 0.00.
Lena’s knees buckled. She caught herself on a dispy case, her breath coming in short bursts. "I’ve been paying that for six years. Six years."
The shopping bags piled high in the back of the chauffeured town car—49,850 worth of haute couture now belonging to Lena. The weight of the night pressed down on her, the reality of her paid-off student loans and car debt still sinking in.
Lena: "I don’t understand. Why me? Why all this?"
Hez turned to her, his expression unreadable.
Hez: "I need two things from you."
A beat of silence.
Hez: "Your phone number. And your home address."
Lena’s breath caught. "That’s it?"
Hez: "That’s it."
She stared at him, searching for deception, but found none.
After a long pause, Lena recited her number and a modest apartment address in the Arts District. Hez saved both with a small, satisfied smile.
Hez: "See? Not so hard."
Lena exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You’re insane. You know that, right?"
Hez: "And yet, you gave me what I wanted."
As the car pulled up to her building, Lena hesitated before stepping out, her arms den with designer bags.
Lena: "This doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense."
Hez: "It doesn’t have to."
She opened her mouth to reply, then thought better of it. With one st incredulous look, she disappeared into the lobby.
Hez leaned back, watching her apartment lights flick on. The game was advancing—and the stakes were about to rise.
