The Billionaire's Final Venture

O n e

 I felt the warm, morning sun seeping through the curtains of the full-length windows. My eyes trudged open, trying to get used to the sudden light. I sat up from the bed and felt a presence beside me. I turned my head, seeing a baby-faced man-boy with messy hair and a mouth wide open it can suck almost everything.

 Well, that was what he did last night.

 I grinned at the impure thought and chuckled quietly. Another venture conquered, another venture explored. I slowly get off the bed, stretching every  sinew of my body chiseled body. Everyone wanted a piece of this eight-pack thirty-year old body that matched Adonis. This guy should consider himself lucky as he got a taste of greatness. But, from the wise words of an important person told me.

 “Humility is a virtue.” I whispered to myself as I looked around the room for my slacks which was sinfully sprawled on the dresser, above the lamp shade. I chuckled from the events of last night, he was so quick to tear my clothes away that I could only do the same to him. But, he was sloppy, nothing new, mediocre, just like any other.

 As I closed the zipper of my pants, I felt a little ballsy. I checked my white and gold watch, it was 6:49 AM. It was still early, so I thought to myself to walk out of here with no shirt on, and a wide grin on my face. I cupped the pockets of my pants and felt my phone there. I had nothing left on the room so I exited through the door. Passing by the white foyer with tons of displayed paintings, then reaching the end of the golden elevator.

 I pressed the call button and it immediately opened. I went inside, and as the doors closed, I let out a chuckle. As the first thing that man-boy was going to taste was my underwear. I know it’s childish, but I know he would thank me in the future for this. I gazed to the ceiling to find a blinking red light from a CCTV. I shook my head as I wait for the doors to swing open.

 After awhile, the metal doors slid open with a ding. Once again, I saw the lobby of the hotel. It was awfully quiet, with only a faint dulcet tone of a piano.

 Ahh, classical music, lovely

 I hummed along the familiar tune with closed eyes as I walked through the cold lobby, but it was nothing. An orchestra of gasps escaped through the mouths of the other guests and employees. Even with closed eyes, I can feel their admiring gaze.

 Go ahead, bask in my greatness.

 I head to the reception desk. The manager from last night still here, but was busy with something as his eyes weren’t on mine.

 “Excuse me.” I grumbled, my low voice making him jump as I scowled at him. I saw him gulp and a sweat trailed down his temple. He nodded quickly and went back to the computer. While he was busy, I fished my phone out and held it up my ear.

 “Eradicate” I whispered to the phone. A quiet chime followed by a neon green message saying ‘Successful’ made me grin. I put back my phone to my pocket and looked at the bumbling manager.

 “Ah…sir?”

 I rolled my eyes, “what is it?”

 “You…you don’t have a…shirt–”

 I chuckled, “like what you see?”

 I saw him blush as he quickly averted his gaze. Ah, the effect I have on people. It was beneficial to my line of work. Badgering investors and the government to give their money to fund the technologies this country needed.

 If only he could see me now…

 I shook the thought away as the manager nodded. I turned my heel and head outside, still met with the ogles of the other people in the vicinity. I walked down the stairs and a sleek Tesla pulled up to the front

 I may act cruel to others, but not to those poor little trees

 I mentally laughed from that speech I gave to those kindergartners about saving the environment. As if they can still do anything, we’ve done more damage than ways to fix it.

 Atkins climbed out the car and opened the door for me, “Atkins, on time as usual.”

 He nodded, “the suitcase of clothes are ready for you sir.”

 I climbed inside and saw the suitcase he talked about. Pressing the opening mechanism in one soft click, my coat, my shirt, and my gold tie. Atkins followed after and we went on our way. This was the routine. I’d get up from some hotel with no top on at exactly 7 AM. Then, we go to the peak of this mountain known as ‘Puting Bato’. Not to admire the city below, but to admire the power I have over them. If they could just know the amount of personal data I had on them. From where they lived, to where they were 3 seconds ago.

 The car slowly ascended the mountain, the trees blocking the view of the city below. Since it was still early, the trees darkened everything around us. I finally clipped the final cuff link with initials ‘TH’. I looked around the array of trees. A heavy weight started to form on my shoulder, I felt uneasy.

 Not again.

 From the darkness inside the realm of trees, a man in a blood red shirt clawing his way outside the forest, mumbling incoherent words as a trail of blood followed.

 “Tris…tan…” A ghoul-like groan made me shudder, closing my eyes in the process. But once I opened my eyes, it was gone. I clutched my chest and shook my head. Wiping a cold sweat from my forehead, and clearing a lump on my throat. I went back to my signature scowl, a nonchalant expression on my face.

 Finally, we were here. Atkins opened my door and handed me an open gold eyeglass case, which held a transparent-framed glasses.

 “Sir, your SPECS.”

 I nodded as I wore the glasses.

 “Good morning, Mr. Hearst.” A mechanical, womanly voice chimed in. “Enabling SHROUD.”

 A flutter of white streaks temporarily clouded my vision. I turned to the direction of the empty space of the mountain peak. Once the white streaks vanished, a navy blue glass building appeared, and there it stood the R&D Facility of Oculus Inc. Resistant to imitation as no one can even see what we were doing. The people inside working viciously in front of large computer screens with thousands of information at their disposal. Sure there could be tons of misguided actions that can arose from this setup, but there are ‘countermeasures’ for it and I made sure everyone is well-aware of it.  

 Atkins rushed to the door and opened it for me, I nodded at him and proceeded inside. The lobby was like a foodcourt filled with bustling brainiacs like me on their laptops, typing away strings of codes. All of them wearing the same glasses as mine. These are the people I treat equal. They don’t shudder at my gaze nor leave the facility. They simply nod and I nod back at them.

 “Good day, Mr. Hearst.” The flirtatious tone instantly made me think it was Hazell.

 I turned around to see it was her, with a scarlet hand bag hanging from the pit of her elbows.

 “Hazell.” I acknowledged her. Atkins gestured to me and he left at once, leaving the Tesla outside.

 “Mr. Declan Bryan would like to present his proposition once more since you didn’t give him much of a chance last time.”

 “And what did you say?”

 “I simply dropped the call.”

 “Heartless.” I grinned at her as we continued into the lobby. “Anything worth my time?”

 “Mr. Chu of METAL Corporation wish to propose to you a new form of technology, but it needs your equipment for it to proceed.” Hazell gestured me to sit down at one of the velvet chairs where two coffees were waiting.

 “Mr. Chu?” I took a sip of the coffee, bitter and black, how I like it.

 “Yes, and he wishes to speak to you at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.”

 “The city huh, might as well, have you booked me a suite?”

 “Suite 1A, at the very top, as you like it.”

 I nodded at her, I’m never the one to give my gratitude out loud, it felt pitiful.

 “When will it happen?”

 “Three days from now.”

 I nodded and took a sip of my coffee.

 The city left a bad aftertaste on my mouth as he remembered where he was going to go. The pollution, the noise, and don’t get me started on the smell. I wonder why Mr. Chu instead of here. It’s much cleaner here, and less noise, and it smells great. The scent of trees entered my nostrils, it was the signature aroma of every Oculus Inc. building of product.

 After finishing my cup, I stood up and head outside.

 “The GPS is already set, have a safe trip sir.” She smiled as she crossed her arms.

 I nodded and pressed a button, the doors slid open with a swift biometric scan in the process. I climbed inside and removed my glasses. The facility vanished along with Hazell. I gripped the steering wheel, looking into the panel which shows the way to the Century Park Hotel. The sun finally catching up with the time, the darkness of the forest disappeared. I let out a relieved sigh as I head on to another business venture.