super rich

The office was suffocating. The stale air, the dim glow of flickering fluorescent lights, and the constant hum of keyboards clicking away filled the cramped space. Ethan Carter sat at his desk, staring at the glowing numbers on his screen. He had been working overtime—again—without extra pay, without recognition, and without a shred of appreciation. He tightened his grip on the mouse. Five years. He had given five years of his life to this company, always believing that hard work would eventually pay off. His boss, Raymond Steele, had promised him a promotion this year. That was the only thing keeping him going. A soft ping broke his focus. A new email. His heartbeat quickened. Maybe it was the promotion announcement. Maybe, finally, his suffering was over. Click. "Termination Notice – Effective Immediately" The words on the screen blurred. Ethan sat frozen, his hands trembling. Dear Mr. Carter, We regret to inform you that your position at TitanCorp has been terminated due to company restructuring. Please clear your desk by end of day. No mention of his years of work. No appreciation. Just a cold dismissal. Ethan shot up from his chair, his breath shallow. This had to be a mistake. He stormed toward Raymond’s office, ignoring the curious stares from his coworkers. He didn’t bother knocking. “What the hell is this?” he demanded, slamming his resignation email onto the desk. Raymond barely glanced up from his sleek leather chair. He was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a smug smile that made Ethan’s blood boil. “It’s exactly what it says, Carter,” Raymond said, leaning back. “Your services are no longer required.” Ethan clenched his fists. “You promised me a promotion. I’ve been working my a*s off for this company!” Raymond chuckled. “And you did a fine job, really. But business is business.” A soft laugh came from the side of the office. Ethan turned—and his blood ran cold. Lena White. His girlfriend of three years. Or rather, his ex-girlfriend now. She stood beside Raymond, her arms crossed, her lips curled into a smirk. “What the hell is this?” Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Lena flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder. “Ethan, don’t be dramatic. Raymond made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. A better salary, better position… and, well, someone who actually has a future.” Ethan felt like the floor had been ripped from under him. “You… you betrayed me for him?” She scoffed. “I upgraded. You should try it sometime.” Something inside Ethan shattered. Five years of dedication. Three years of love. All of it, gone in a single moment. Raymond grinned. “Now, be a good boy and leave quietly. Security is already on their way.” Ethan’s fingers twitched at his sides. He could punch Raymond’s smug face. He could scream, curse, break something— But what was the point? The damage was done. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out. [System Activation…] A sudden voice echoed in his mind, robotic and cold. [Welcome to the Dominion System.] [Objective: Take Over Everything.] [Initial Compensation: $500,000.] Ethan stopped dead in his tracks. His vision blurred for a moment, and then— A bank notification appeared on his phone. Balance: $500,000.00 His pulse pounded in his ears. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. But if it was… He curled his fingers around his phone, a slow smirk forming on his lips. Fine. If they wanted him gone, he’d make sure they regretted it. This was just the beginning.