Becoming Super Rich

Chapter 4: Starry Night

The exhibition hall was located on the second floor, accessible only by elevator. An invisible sense of wealth and exclusivity permeated the space.

Anne, the mature sales associate, whose name tag simply read "Anne," pressed the elevator button and motioned for Liam Thorne and Chloe Chen to enter first before following them in. She smiled politely and asked, "I didn't quite catch your colleague's name?"

Liam replied, "My surname is Thorne."

Inside the elevator, a faint, expensive perfume lingered.

Liam could distinctly smell the different high-end fragrances worn by Chloe and Anne. He couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic for his old life.

These two women were far more polished and attractive than the women in his small, previous office.

Before, when he addressed the few "golden girls" at his small company, he had to worry about whether they would even grant him a moment of their time.

Now, he had two beautiful, professionally focused women by his side.

He was a 27-year-old single guy, suddenly filled with the freedom to pursue beautiful women. Now, all he had to do was go out and spend money, and he would naturally encounter all sorts of attractive women, instead of having to rack his brain just to figure out how to strike up a conversation.

This was the harsh reality of society! Money might not buy happiness, but it certainly bought privileged access.

A fleeting thought crossed Liam's mind. Just then, the elevator arrived on the second floor with a silent ding.

Anne led the way, saying, "Mr. Thorne, this way please."

In the second-floor showroom, each luxury watch rested in its own display case, radiating an aura of opulence and intricate elegance.

Liam was full of quiet confidence. He followed Anne at a comfortable pace, stating, "I need a watch in the vicinity of two hundred thousand dollars, something I can walk out with today. Miss Anne, do you have any good recommendations?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Thorne. Right this way."

Anne’s face brightened with a brilliant, professional smile. She led Liam to a central display and introduced, "Mr. Thorne, this is the Celestia Grand Complication 6102R-001. It’s priced at $207,830. We have several other complications at similar price points that would suit your needs. Would you like to try this one first, or review the entire selection before deciding?"

In the case, the elegant rose gold watch rested quietly.

Liam had nearly flinched at the price, but maintained his composure. Two hundred thousand dollars. The equivalent of five years of his old salary.

Chloe, noticing his momentary pause, leaned in subtly and whispered, "They say Patek Philippe isn't just a watch, it's a legacy you pass down."

Liam chuckled. What a flattering line! It felt surprisingly good to be treated with such deference. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm hardly a 'legacy.' I'm just an employee of a small company."

Chloe rolled her eyes playfully, then revealed a sweet, practiced smile, and dutifully said, "Oh, of course." Her expression clearly conveyed, "The customer is always right, no matter how much he downplays his status."

Just then, the waiter brought over a tray with sparkling water and a small glass of artisanal pressed juice.

Liam smiled, took a sip of the juice, and checked a few unopened w******p messages on his phone.

He knew he was behaving a bit crudely—a tad frivolous. This would be a massive turn-off if he were actually dating a girl. Luckily, his relationship with Chloe was strictly business: customer and high-end salesperson.

The road to becoming a truly sophisticated super-rich person was still very long.

Anne was exceptionally efficient and quickly returned with a watch box. It was a handcrafted, rectangular box made of black walnut, exuding immense value.

Anne opened the box, placed it beside the solid wood coffee table, and said warmly, "Mr. Thorne, may I help you try it on so you can see how it fits?"

As a Patek Philippe saleswoman, maintaining impeccable politeness was a fundamental requirement for every client. Even when Liam first entered dressed in his less-than-designer clothes, he had been welcomed. But for high-intent clients, she offered dedicated service.

"Sure."

Liam extended his left hand. Anne's soft, trained fingers slid momentarily across his wrist, releasing a delicate floral scent. After fastening the strap, he raised his hand to examine the watch.

Bathed in the bright, directional lighting of the mid-morning showroom, the celestial map on the watch face—the Celestia—was reflected on the black crystal, making the tiny stars appear to double in number, creating a hazy, beautiful depth.

A luxury brand with centuries of heritage truly had an intangible quality. A strong, visceral urge welled up within Liam: he needed to own it.

Patek Philippe truly lived up to its legendary reputation.

"That's the one. Where do I pay?"

Anne’s prepared list of additional features and models was crushed by these few decisive words, but she was ecstatic. She smiled even more sweetly. "Mr. Thorne, we'll finalize the payment on the first floor."

She added smoothly, "Due to current exchange rate fluctuations, our prices are slightly above those in Geneva. We apologize for the inconvenience. However, I assure you, Patek Philippe timepieces always appreciate in value!"

"I understand."

Next, he paid by card at the counter on the first floor. Liam used the Black Card associated with the Starlight Financial System. He entered his unique PIN, signed, and the transaction was seamless.

The cashier, with a sincere smile, handed the card back with both hands. "Sir, please keep your card secure."

Liam accepted it, filled out his personal information, registered as a member, applied for a VIP status, and signed the final documents. He listened as Anne explained the after-sales service and daily maintenance instructions.

Liam interrupted politely, "I have another urgent appointment. Leave me your contact details and send all this information to me digitally. I'll review it later."

Anne, dressed in a sharp black suit, medium height with a graceful, capable figure, nodded crisply. "Then I'll add you on w******p and send you the digital care guide right away."

"Sounds good." Liam thought the interaction was over, but then a waiter approached with a neatly wrapped gift box.

Anne said softly, "Mr. Thorne, this leather cardholder is a small gift from our boutique. We hope you enjoy it."

Patek Philippe had a wide variety of promotional gifts. She had noticed Liam's lack of a proper wallet/cardholder, so she decided on this one.

Liam smiled and accepted the gift. "Thank you."

Wearing the two-hundred-thousand-dollar watch on his wrist, and carrying the Patek Philippe paper bag, Liam led Chloe out of the boutique amid Anne's enthusiastic farewell.

The early October sky was a brilliant blue, scattered with drifting white clouds. The unique urban tranquility of a weekday morning filled the air. Liam glanced at his new watch: 10:10 AM.

It had been an entirely pleasant shopping experience. He felt he had learned something and, at the very least, his "experience" score had increased!

Chloe followed beside Liam, wearing her white trousers and three-inch high heels, which made her legs look even longer. She spoke in a sweet, focused voice, "Mr. Thorne, where are we heading next? I'll drive you."

She was now absolutely certain: this man could afford the deposit for The Grand Vista and potentially the full cash price.

Her initial "hope" for Liam's performance had been wildly exceeded by him buying a $200,000 watch without batting an eye.

This was one of her biggest clients yet!

When Liam heard she had a car, he abandoned his plan to call an Uber and accepted. "Thank you. I need to go to Vanguard Tower."

With the necessary "prop" now se

curely on his wrist, it was time to get down to business.