Rino lay back on his bed, with his phone in hand, and the cool air that grew from the screen illuminated his face.
He was trying to focus his attention on the decision that could change everything for him. He needed to select the perfect company to start his investment with.
As Rino Ikenna, he had spent the past few days of his life studying the landscape of digital startups, but he wondered if carrying out the knowledge he had gathered would be easier as Rino Carter.
He called upon his digital AI assistant, the system that he now relied on for stock analysis and market trends.
The soft chime from the system, in his mind informed him that the system had come to suppress his need.
Future Analysis on my Inherited Properties.
Yes, he wanted to understand future information, since the system can try to predict that as well.
Focusing on the present, won't help him go further since he won't have the notion enough to fix already existing problems in either of the businesses to help boost their economic performances for future purposes.
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«↓ Request Gotten ↑»
«↓ Processing Analysis Information ↑»
«↓ 1¡3 ... 2¡3 ... 3¡3 Properties Analysed ↑»
«↓ Information Access Granted ↑»
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"Okay, okay," Rino muttered. "Access granted..."
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«↓ Nova Nexus Tower ↑»
✓ Location: Medar, Esme
«↓ Futuristic Factors Contributing to Growth ↑»
✓ Strategic Investments:
• A Global Aluminum Company will build a $2 billion smelting facility near Medar. This is predicted to create around 1,000 direct jobs and 1,800 indirect jobs.
• A Solar Energy Company will invest $620 million to establish a thriving factory.
✓ Tech Hub Designation:
• Medar will receive a Tech Hub designation from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development, Esme.
• The Federal Government will especially make an environmental investment worth $51 million that will strengthen the region's capacity in autonomous technologies.
«↓ Proposed Development Date
~ July, 2025 | 1 month away ↑»
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Rino couldn't but mutter, "Okay, Okay" as he drew out the light pen installed in his phone to scribble some notes on his phone.
Then, he paid attention to other analyses.
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«↓ Silverstream Resort ↑»
✓ Location: Ratzh, Esme
✓ Tourism Boom:
• Ratzh is soon to become the most visited area for tourism with a start-up of 40 million visitors per year, pushing hotel occupancy to an unexpectedly high record.
• Gaming reserves will also be established with an expectant revenue of $10.9 billion.
✓ Infrastructure Development:
• A $8.5 billion multi-use development project will be established.
• Entertainment venues with a boosted economy are on their way.
«↓ Proposed Development Date
~ August, 2025 | 2 months aways ↑»
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«↓ Titan's Vault Bank ↑»
✓ Location: Lagu, Esme
✓ Market Demand:
• This city has a large and diverse population which is expected to create a substantial market for digital mortgage solutions.
• Establishment of a global financial hub that will provide access to capital and regulatory frameworks to boost digital finance innovation.
«↓ Proposed Development Date
~ August, 2025 | 2 months away ↑»
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"Well, well, well." Rino retorted. "Guess I will have to start early investment."
Then, he returned his attention to his phone.
As the system worked, Rino was busy scribbling down notes on the draft interface of his phone.
But, making the decision felt impossible to him as each number, and each opportunity seemed to overlap with each other.
He rubbed his forehead in frustration, trying to clear the growing confusion in his mind.
That was when his attention was diverted, distracted.
He heard the soft rustle of fabric, and so, raised his eyes to meet Zaria stepping into the room, wearing the oversized shirt he had given her.
The shirt hung loosely on her, brushing past her thighs. She seemed to have rolled the sleeves to reveal her delicate wrists.
Her hair, framed her face in dazzling waves, still slightly damp from the shower. And her gaze, shifted to the ground as she walked in, feigning ignorance as she approached Rino.
Rino adamantly stared at her, his eyes skimming over her as she appeared sexier than he thought she could be.
He had to admit, she was distracting.
"What are you doing?" Zaira asked, curious as she stood by the edge of his bed, taking a glance at the notes in his phone.
Rino's gaze flickered to the open draft book app in his phone, thinking hard about whether to tell this Zaira girl what he was actually doing. The decision weighed on him like a stone tied around his neck.
He sat straight up, rubbing his eyes carefully before responding with a cold, detached tone.
"Was just trying to figure out which location is best to start my investment with," he muttered, careful not to make mention of the properties.
Zaira leaned over slightly, taking note of the different locations Rino had jotted in his notes.
"And, can I ask?" Rino mumbled.
"Sure," Zaira replied, her fingers brushing against the phone screen as she scrolled up.
Good enough, Rino hadn't jotted down any of the company's names, just the locations and their predicted development.
"If Esme is our country, does it mean we are existent in no continent?" Rino asked.
"Okay, I did say this way an unexpected question from a citizen. But, is it not common knowledge that our continent is called Esmeling? Having only one existential country in it."
"Esme, Esmeling, then?" he still asked.
But the girl ignored the question, as she supposed he understood her clearly. She, however, returned her focus to the draft she was going through.
"So, you're a business young man too?" she asked, her voice teasingly low. "I thought you were just a guy with a lot of time to play on his hand. How old are you?"
Rino chuckled, his lips curling into a smirk as he looked up at her.
"Can't you tell my age by merely looking at me?"
"Uhm... I did guess you're 22," the girl said. "I'm 21 by the way."
Rino's resolve not to let her know his real age grew stronger.
"Let's keep your thoughts at bay, then," he said, shifting the phone from the girl's sight.
Zaira's chin spread to a wide smile, as she she slowly lowered herself to sit beside him on the bed.
Even though she was close enough that Rino could feel the heat radiating off her skin, he seemed to be at peace with it.
"I understand you must be acting to prevent some vital growth information for your business from getting leaked," Zaria said. "I mean that's how businessmen act, right?"
Rino didn't react to her words.
He only paid attention to her voice, which now became casual, as if carrying something deeper that made Rino's pulse quicken.
"I will go for Medar. At the least, environmental development is a great boost to business," the girl affirmed, clarifying to Rino that she had seen some information already.
Medar... Nova Nexus Tower.
Rino thought.
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«↓ 1¡3: Select one out of three inherited properties to begin your investment journey | Goal Completed ↑»
«↓ Nova Nexus Tower | Choice Recorded ↑»
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"Nice, two more goals to go," he unknowingly murmured.
"Huh?" Zaria turned sharply, to hear what Rino had said.
But before Rino could find words to either hide the truth or tell the truth, he realized Zaria had more motives for staying closer to him.
And he wasn't going to revolt anyway.
He was letting Rino Carter take over.
He froze, as Zaria slid closer to him, intently brushing her leg against his as she leaned in.
His breath caught in his throat, his thoughts scattering once again.
He was going insane now, yes, but not because of the decision he was supposed to make. This lady sitting beside him has this enveloping presence, like a heavy scent.
He turned his head to meet her face, and his eyes locked with hers.
Lost in the moment, they stared at each other, letting tension between them rise. The space between them becomes narrow, and narrower.
Zaira's hand reached up to rest on his chest, as she pressed her fingers lightly against the pajamas shirt he wore. Her hands, changed course as she began to loose his buttons.
"I didn't know you were this... intense," she murmured, her voice almost a whisper.
Rino didn't think twice, as Zaria had already crossed the line of romance. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a brief but electric kiss.
After their lips parted, next was their eyes. They met each others', their breath coming heavy, caught in the intensity of the moment.
"Rino..." Zaira whispered. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a darling?"
"Huh."
"You are not just a pretty face, are you?"
Rino, for the first time, didn't seem to have an answer to these questions.
All he wanted, all he did was to pull her closer.