System Revenge: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 4

Nate woke to sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For a moment, he didn't recognize where he was. Then it all came rushing back—the system, the money, the Presidential Suite.

He sat up in the king-sized bed, and immediately the translucent screen appeared before him.

[MISSION STATUS]

[TIME REMAINING: 14:23:09]

[SPENT: $374,800]

[REMAINING: $125,200]

[WARNING: FAILURE TO COMPLETE MISSION WILL RESULT IN SYSTEM DISCONNECT]

Fourteen hours left. Nate rubbed his face and checked his phone. It was eight in the morning. After talking with James yesterday, he'd ordered an absurdly expensive dinner from the hotel restaurant; wagyu beef, lobster, and wine that cost fifteen hundred dollars a bottle. He'd barely tasted any of it, too overwhelmed by everything happening.

The phone showed seventeen missed calls. Most were from Valerie. Three from Blake. Two from numbers he didn't recognize. And one voicemail from Valerie's father, Robert Duncan.

Nate played the voicemail on speaker.

"Nate, this is Robert Duncan. I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but it ends now. Valerie has told me everything about your... situation. We're prepared to be reasonable. If you've gotten yourself involved in something illegal—fraud, theft, whatever it is we can help you fix it before it gets worse. Call me back immediately. This is your only chance to make this right."

Nate deleted the message. The Duncans thought he'd stolen the money. Of course they did. In their world, someone like him couldn't possibly have earned it legitimately.

[NEW MISSION AVAILABLE]

The system's voice interrupted his thoughts.

[SIDE MISSION: CONFRONT YOUR PAST]

[REWARD: 5 WEALTH POINTS + SKILL UNLOCK]

[VISIT YOUR FATHER'S ESTATE TODAY]

Nate's stomach tightened. His father. Richard Worte, the man who'd gotten his mother pregnant and paid her to disappear. The man who'd never acknowledged Nate's existence, even after his mother died.

"Why?" Nate asked aloud. "What's the point?"

[THE SYSTEM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES]

[HOW YOU USE THEM IS YOUR CHOICE]

[MISSION IS OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED]

Nate stood and walked to the bathroom. It was larger than his entire apartment bedroom, with a marble shower, a separate soaking tub, and a mirror that somehow didn't fog. He showered quickly, then dressed in one of his new outfits—dark jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a black leather jacket that had cost six thousand dollars.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he barely recognized the person staring back. He looked like someone who belonged in this suite, in this hotel, in this life.

His phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Worte? This is Detective Sarah Jones with Seattle PD. I would like to ask you a few questions about some recent financial activity on your account. Would you be available to come down to the station this afternoon?"

Nate's heart rate spiked. "Am I being accused of something?"

"Not at all, sir. We just received a complaint from a concerned party regarding unusual deposits. It's purely routine. We're required to follow up on these things."

"A concerned party named Duncan?"

There was a pause. "I'm not at liberty to discuss who filed the complaint. But I assure you, this is standard procedure. Can you come in today around two PM?"

Nate thought quickly. "I'll come in, but I want to bring a lawyer."

"That's absolutely your right, Mr. Worte. Would two-thirty work better? Give you time to arrange representation?"

"Two-thirty is fine."

He hung up and immediately called the concierge desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Worte," James answered. "How can I assist you today?"

"I need a lawyer. The best one available. Money is no object."

"I understand. May I ask what kind of legal matter this involves?"

"The police want to question me about my finances. Someone filed a complaint."

"I see. In that case, you'll want Martin Reeves. He's the top financial defense attorney in Seattle. His retainer is typically fifty thousand dollars, and his hourly rate is eight hundred."

[EXCELLENT CHOICE]

[THIS SPENDING WILL COUNT TOWARD YOUR MISSION]

"Call him," Nate said. "Tell him I need to meet before two-thirty today. I'll pay whatever he wants."

"Right away, Mr. Worte."

Twenty minutes later, Nate's phone rang again. A smooth, confident voice spoke.

"Mr. Worte? Martin Reeves. James Lyro explained your situation. I can meet you at your hotel in one hour. My retainer is fifty thousand, non-refundable, and I'll need it wired before our meeting."

"Done. What do you need?"

Reeves rattled off his banking information. Nate transferred the money immediately, watching his balance drop. The system chimed happily.

[SPENDING: $424,800]

[REMAINING: $75,200]

[TIME REMAINING: 13:47:22]

Martin Reeves arrived exactly one hour later. He was in his mid-fifties, with silver hair and a suit that probably cost more than Nate's entire new wardrobe. They met in the Presidential Suite's living room.

"Tell me everything," Reeves said, pulling out a legal pad.

Nate explained the situation, leaving out the system. He said he'd received an unexpected inheritance from a distant relative—not exactly a lie, depending on how you looked at it. He had used the money to buy a hotel membership and new clothes. Now his ex-wife's family was claiming he'd stolen it.

Reeves listened carefully, taking notes. "Do you have documentation for the source of these funds?"

"Not exactly. It just appeared in my account."

"That's going to be a problem. But not an insurmountable one. The burden of proof is on them to show you committed a crime. Simply having money isn't illegal. Do you have any idea why they'd target you specifically?"

Nate told him about Valerie, the affair, and the confrontation at the hotel.

Reeves smiled grimly. "Ah. So this is revenge, not actual concern about criminal activity. That makes it easier. The Duncans are a prominent family, but they're not above the law. If they're using police resources to harass you over a domestic dispute, we can make that very uncomfortable for them."

"What should I do?"

"We go to the meeting. You answer only the questions I tell you to answer. You volunteer nothing. And we make it very clear that any further harassment will result in legal action on our part. I assume you can afford a civil suit if necessary?"

Nate nodded.

"Good. Then let's prepare for this meeting. I want to know everything about your relationship with the Duncans, every interaction you've had with them, every threat they've made."

They spent the next two hours going over everything. Reeves was thorough, professional, and clearly worth every penny of his ridiculous fee.

At two-thirty, they walked into the Seattle Police Department together. Detective Jones met them in the lobby, a woman in her forties with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor.

"Mr. Worte, thank you for coming in. Mr. Reeves, I wasn't aware you'd be joining us."

"My client has retained me to ensure his rights are protected," Reeves said smoothly. "I trust that won't be a problem?"

"Of course not. Follow me."

She led them to a small interview room. Another detective was already inside, a heavyset man who introduced himself as Detective Morris.

"Mr. Worte," Jones began, "we've received a complaint from Robert Duncan stating that you've recently come into a large sum of money under suspicious circumstances. He claims you've been making threats against his family and that he has reason to believe the money was obtained illegally."

"That's absolutely false," Nate said before Reeves could stop him.

Reeves put a hand on his arm. "Detective, my client denies making any threats. As for the source of his funds, that's his private business. Unless you have evidence of criminal activity, I don't see how this is a police matter."

Morris leaned forward. "Half a million dollars appearing overnight in the account of a delivery driver? You don't think that's worth investigating?"

"My client's previous employment status is irrelevant. Many people come into money through inheritance, gifts, settlements, or other legal means. Do you have any evidence, any at all that Mr. Worte committed a crime?"

Jones and Morris exchanged glances.

"Mr. Worte, can you provide any documentation showing the source of these funds?"

Reeves answered for him. "Not at this time. But my client is happy to cooperate with any legitimate investigation. If you would like to petition a judge for access to his financial records, you're welcome to do so. I assume you have probable cause for such a request?"

It was a challenge, and everyone in the room knew it. Without evidence of actual criminal activity, no judge would grant that kind of access.

Morris stood up abruptly. "This is bullshit. The Duncans are respected members of this community. If they say something's wrong—"

"Then they're welcome to file a civil suit," Reeves interrupted. "But using police resources to pursue a personal vendetta? That's inappropriate at best, and potentially actionable. Detective Jones, unless you have actual questions based on actual evidence, I think we're done here."

Jones looked tired. "Mr. Worte, are you involved in any illegal activity?"

"No."

"Have you threatened anyone in the Duncan family?"

"No."

"Do you know of any reason why someone would fraudulently deposit money into your account?"

"No."

She closed her notebook. "Then I think we're finished. Mr. Worte, if you do receive any information about the source of these funds, please contact us."

"Of course," Reeves said, standing. "Thank you for your time, Detectives."

They walked out together. Once they were in the parking lot, Reeves turned to Nate.

"That went well. They have nothing. The Duncans are fishing, hoping to find something they can use against you. My advice? Stay visible, stay legitimate, and document everything. If they continue this harassment, we'll file a countersuit for defamation and abuse of process."

"Thank you," Nate said.

"You're welcome. Call me if you need anything else. Oh, and Nate?" Reeves smiled. "Whatever really happened with that money, I don't actually care. But be smart about it. People like the Duncans don't give up easily."

He walked to his car, leaving Nate standing alone.

[SIDE MISSION REMINDER]

[VISIT YOUR FATHER'S ESTATE]

[REWARD AVAILABLE UPON COMPLETION]

Nate checked the time. Four PM. He still had seventy-five thousand dollars to spend and ten hours to do it.

And apparently, a father to confront.