System Revenge: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 3

The membership card was heavy in Nate's hand, black titanium with his name embossed in silver. Jennifer had explained everything: full access to the hotel's presidential suites, private restaurants, spa services, concierge team, and business facilities. He was now officially a Platinum member of the most exclusive hotel in Seattle.

Blake was still on the phone with his father, pacing near the lobby entrance. His voice carried across the marble floor.

"Dad, I'm telling you, something's wrong. He's a delivery driver. There's no way he has this kind of money legitimately. You need to call Richard Harrison on the board and what? No, I'm not overreacting!"

Nate walked past him toward the elevators, and Blake's eyes followed him with pure hatred.

"Where do you think you're going?" Blake demanded, covering his phone.

"To see what my membership includes," Nate said calmly. "Isn't that what members do?"

He pressed the elevator button. The doors opened immediately, revealing an interior of polished brass and mirrors. As he stepped inside, he caught Blake's reflection—red-faced, furious, still arguing with his father.

The doors closed, cutting off the view.

[WELL DONE, HOST]

The system's voice returned.

[SPENDING: $267,500]

[REMAINING BALANCE: $232,500]

[TIME REMAINING: 23:04:33]

[SUGGESTION: CONTINUE SPENDING TO COMPLETE MISSION]

Nate leaned against the elevator wall, he was so exhausted. The adrenaline from confronting Blake was fading, leaving him shaky. Twenty-three hours to spend another two hundred thousand dollars. What was he supposed to buy?

The elevator opened on the lobby level, and Nate stepped out. A concierge desk stood near the main entrance, staffed by a middle-aged man in an impeccable suit.

"Excuse me," Nate approached the desk. "I just became a member. Can you tell me what services are available?"

The concierge looked up, and his professional smile didn't waver despite Nate's appearance. "Of course, Mr...?"

"Worte. Nate Worte."

The man's fingers flew across his computer keyboard. His eyebrows rose slightly. "Ah, Mr. Worte. Welcome to the Pinnacle. I'm James Lyro, head concierge. I see you've just acquired our Platinum membership. Congratulations."

"Thank you. What can I do with it?"

James pulled out a leather-bound folder. "Platinum members have access to our entire range of services. You can book any suite in the hotel at member rates, which are forty percent below standard pricing. You have unlimited access to our spa, fitness center, and three restaurants. You can use our business facilities, including private meeting rooms and office space. We also offer personal shopping services, private car service, event planning essentially, Mr. Worte, if you need something, we can arrange it."

Nate's mind was racing. "What about clothes? I need new clothes."

"Absolutely. We have several luxury boutiques in our shopping gallery on the second floor. Armani, Brioni, Tom Ford, Hermès. I can arrange for a personal shopper to meet you there immediately if you'd like."

"Yes. Please."

James picked up his phone and made a quick call. "Someone will meet you at the gallery entrance in five minutes. Is there anything else you need, Mr. Worte?"

Nate looked down at himself, wrinkled shirt, stained jeans, worn shoes. "A suite. I would like to book a suite for tonight."

"Excellent choice. We have our Ambassador Suite available, or if you prefer something larger, the Executive Suite, or even the Presidential—"

"Presidential," Nate said. He didn't even know what it cost, but the system had told him to spend money. "For one week."

James's professional mask slipped for just a moment. "The Presidential Suite for one week. That would be... let me see... at your member rate, twenty thousand per night, so $140,000 for seven nights."

[EXCELLENT SPENDING CHOICE]

[REMAINING BALANCE AFTER BOOKING: $92,500]

[TIME REMAINING: 23:01:15]

"Book it," Nate said.

"Very good, sir. I'll have your key prepared immediately. The suite is currently available, so housekeeping can have it ready within the hour. Will you be checking in today?"

"Yes. As soon as possible."

James made another call, then handed Nate a sleek black key card. "Your temporary access, Mr. Worte. The Presidential Suite is on the fifty-second floor. I'll have your official key sent up once you're settled. Is there anything else?"

"Just directions to the shopping gallery."

"Take the elevators to the second floor. You'll see the entrance immediately."

Nate thanked him and headed back to the elevators. As he waited, he caught sight of Blake still in the lobby, now surrounded by two other men in expensive suits. They were all staring at him. Blake said something, and the other men laughed.

Let them laugh, Nate thought. Let them think whatever they want.

The shopping gallery was unlike anything Nate had experienced. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, store windows displaying clothes that could pay his rent for months. A young woman in a black dress approached him immediately.

"Mr. Worte? I'm Caroline. James called me and said you needed assistance with your wardrobe selection."

She didn't even blink at his appearance.

"I need everything," Nate said. "Suits, casual clothes, shoes. Everything."

"Wonderful. Let's start with the basics, and we'll build from there. Do you have any preference for style or designers?"

"Honestly I have no idea, I just need to look like I belong here."

Caroline smiled warmly. "I understand completely. Let me take care of you."

For the next two hours, Nate was measured, fitted, and dressed in clothes he'd only seen in magazines. Caroline moved between stores with practiced efficiency, selecting items and having them tailored on the spot.

Five suits—two navy, one charcoal, one black, one light gray. Dress shirts in white, blue, and subtle patterns. Italian leather shoes, belts, and a watch that cost more than his car. Casual wear—designer jeans, cashmere sweaters, leather jackets. Even workout clothes and swimwear.

"How much is all this?" Nate asked as Caroline added another shirt to the growing pile.

She consulted her tablet. "So far, we're at $84,300. But we still need to complete your accessory collection;?cufflinks, tie clips, a proper briefcase or messenger bag."

[CURRENT SPENDING: $351,800]

[REMAINING BALANCE: $148,200]

[TIME REMAINING: 20:47:22]

Nate nodded. "Keep going. I want the full collection."

By the time they finished, he had spent another $23,000 on accessories, luggage, and what Caroline called "essential grooming products" which turned out to be cologne, skincare items, and a complete shaving kit that cost more than his monthly car payment.

"Everything will be delivered to your suite within three hours," Caroline said, handing him a receipt. "The suits need minor alterations, but those will be completed by tomorrow afternoon. Do you need anything else?"

Nate looked at himself in the full-length mirror. Caroline had insisted he change into one of the immediately available outfits—dark jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a navy blazer. Italian loafers that felt like walking on clouds. He barely recognized himself.

"No, this is perfect. Thank you."

"My pleasure, Mr. Worte. Welcome to the Pinnacle."

Nate rode the elevator to the fifty-second floor, his new key card in hand. The hallway was silent, thickly carpeted, with only two doors. The Presidential Suite occupied half the entire floor.

He slid the key card into the lock, and the door opened.

The suite was massive. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of Seattle—the Space Needle, Mount Rainier in the distance, Puget Sound glittering in the afternoon sun. The living room alone was bigger than his entire apartment. There was a dining room with a table for twelve, a full kitchen, a private gym, a home theater, and three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

Nate walked through the space in a daze. Twelve hours ago, he had been a delivery driver getting thrown out of a hotel by security. Now he was standing in a suite that cost twenty thousand dollars a night.

His phone buzzed. A text message from an unknown number.

"This is Valerie. Blake told me what you did. I don't know what scam you're running, but it's not going to work. My family has connections. We'll find out where you got that money, and when we do, you're going to jail. Enjoy it while it lasts, you pathetic fraud."

Nate stared at the message for a long moment. Then he took a screenshot and deleted it.

[MISSION UPDATE]

[SPENDING: $374,800]

[REMAINING BALANCE: $125,200]

[TIME REMAINING: 20:15:47]

[WARNING: MISSION COMPLETION REQUIRES SPENDING THE FULL $500,000]

[CONTINUE SPENDING OR MISSION WILL FAIL]

Nate walked to the windows and looked out at the city. Somewhere out there, Valerie and Devan were probably still at the Meridian Hotel. Blake was probably still in the lobby downstairs, plotting with his father. The entire Duncan family was probably gathered around, trying to figure out how to take him down.

Let them try.

He pulled out his phone and called the concierge desk.

"James? It's Nate Worte. I need to spend about a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in the next twenty hours. What do you suggest?"

There was a brief pause. Then James's voice came back, smooth and helpful.

"Mr. Worte, I have several excellent suggestions. Would you be interested in our private chef service? Or perhaps our premium spa packages? We also offer a luxury car rental service with vehicles ranging from Mercedes to Ferrari. And if you're looking for a larger purchase, our sister property in Vancouver is offering a yacht charter experience, week-long excursions in the San Juan Islands, fully staffed."

Nate smiled. "Tell me more about everything. I want to hear all my options."

As James began describing the available services, Nate caught his reflection in the window. For the first time in months, maybe years he looked like someone who mattered.

Tomorrow, he would figure out what the system really wanted from him. Tomorrow, he'd start planning his real revenge against everyone who'd thrown him away.

But tonight, he was going to enjoy being rich.