Suddenly, I Am Rich

Chloe hugged him tightly. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, and her head had buried itself against the side of his neck.

It caught Gray completely off guard.

He froze in place for a moment, his arms slightly hovering like he didn’t know what to do with them. Then, slowly, he rested his hand against her back. It was not quite a full embrace, but enough that she wouldn’t fall over.

Chloe was warm and light.

As they hugged, Gray could feel Chloe shaking a little from how hard she was feeling happy.

”I really passed...” Chloe mumbled again, her voice soft and muffled. ”I didn’t think I could do it...”

Gray opened his mouth to say something. But instead, a familiar chime echoed in his head.

[Ding!]

[Mission Cleared!]

Gray blinked.

[+2 Influence Gained.]

[You Have Been Awarded A One Fully-Furnished Condo Unit with a City View.]

’Oh... shit,’ Gray blinked slowly, his brain lagging behind.

A condo unit.

A literal condo unit.

It’s finally done!

Before he could recover, another message followed.

[Please call the System once you are ready to receive your reward, Host.]

His hand twitched slightly against Chloe’s back.

’Holy crap... I actually cleared it,’ he thought.

Internally, Gray was already screaming and punching the air. On the outside? His face barely twitched. He was trying to calm his composure,

”Play it cool,” he told himself. ”There’s a human being hugging you. Don’t start smiling like an idiot right now.”

”I passed...” Chloe whispered again, her arms squeezing him tighter for a moment before she finally let go.

Gray exhaled quietly as she stepped back, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling with relief.

She looked like she was about to cry, but from joy this time. However, when she realized what she had done, Chloe’s eyes widened. Her cheeks reddened even more.

Suddenly, Chloe was embarrassed.

”Sorry,” Chloe said with her head lowered down. Her one hand suddenly rose, landing on the end of her hair. She played with it lightly as she sat back down.

”I was just filled with emotion. I wasn’t expecting it. I thought my hard work for the last month would just be in vain. I didn’t know that I would actually get a good grade. One of my highest, after years.”

”It’s fine, Chloe,” Gray said with a shrug. Instead of making her feel bad, he, instead, smiled at her. ”I’m also happy about it, See? I told you that you would pull it off.”

Chloe looked at him, her brows twitching together slightly.

”You really weren’t worried, were you?”

”I was,” he admitted, tapping his fingers against the side of the chair. ”But not because I didn’t think you’d pass.”

”Then what?”

”...Because you’d be insufferable if you didn’t,” he said jokingly.

Chloe gave him a deadpan look.

Gray tilted his head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

”...And also because I wanted you to succeed. Genuinely,” he added.

Chloe blinked at him then turned away quickly.

”You’re such a pain sometimes...” she uttered, but she smiled.

Gray leaned back again, glancing out toward the sunlit garden.

Somehow, the day felt lighter now. And not just because of the system notification or the condo unit he’d just secured out of nowhere.

But because Chloe really did it.

The two of them worked hard and it paid off.

”Congratulations,” Gray said again, softer this time.

Chloe looked at him again.

”Thanks.”

Chloe leaned back in her seat, finally letting out a long and shaky breath. Her shoulders dropped, and her fingers lightly drummed against the side of her teacup again. This time it was not from anxiety, but because she couldn’t stop smiling.

”I should treat you next time,” she said suddenly, looking over at Gray. ”For helping me. I mean it.”

Gray blinked, then smirked.

”A free meal?”

”Yes,” she rolled her eyes with a small grin. ”That’s how people say thank you, Gray.”

”Well,” he shrugged, resting an arm on the side of the chair, ”who am I to say no to that?”

Chloe gave a small laugh, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

They sat in the garden for a few more minutes, the breeze rustling quietly through the leaves around them. Neither of them said much. There wasn’t really a need to. The silence was... nice. It was very comfortable.

But eventually, Gray checked his watch.

It was nearing noon. Which meant he needed to go back to the company soon because John’s decision would soon be revealed to them.

”By the way Chloe, I should get going already,” Gray said as he stood, brushing off his pants. ”I’ve still got some work waiting for me in the company.”

Chloe’s expression fell just a little, but she gave him a nod. After a few seconds, she smiled widely.

”Right. You’re not just Gray anymore.”

”Yeah...” Gray chuckled at it.

As he reached for his bag, he glanced over his shoulder to see her one last time.

”See you next week then?”

Chloe stood as well. Her smile widened even more as she nodded.

”Yup... for our last session.”

”Yeah.” Gray gave a short nod, a half-smile lingering on his lips. ”Let’s make it count.”

Chloe didn’t answer right away. She simply looked at him. There was an unreadable expression on her eyes that flickered for a moment.

”I’ll look forward to it.” Then she smiled again.

”I’ll get going now then.”

”Goodbye,” Chloe said softly, her voice quieter now.

Gray gave her a small nod.

”Take care, Chloe.”

Then, without another word, he turned and walked down the garden path. The same maid from earlier was already waiting near the front. She gave Gray a polite bow and held the door open as he exited the estate.

Just outside the gate, Daniel stood by the car, checking his watch. When he spotted Gray, he straightened up and run to him quickly,

”Sir,” Daniel called out as Gray approached. His voice sounded a little urgent. ”I got a call from Sir Marcus.”

”What is it?” Gray raised an eyebrow as he stepped into the passenger seat.

”Mr. John has already decided. They’re waiting for you at the company now to inform you about his decision.”

Oh shit...

=====

A/N:

It’s finally the second week of june!

I would like to say thank you to all the readers who have dropped Golden Tickets and Gifts into the novel for the past few days,

Brandon_Brisco, SnusDax, oliver1901, Reading_Dao_Peak, Brasinger, Simon_Fletcher, Jessie_Risola, ben_ca, FluffOG, Sapith, fattynomore, Gray_Hastings_0217, Mark_4727, Kitsune1127, Ghouls13_37, LizodlDK, Chaos_Alpha_Omega, FraulC, Istan.

I really appreciate it!