Marcus was nursing his second glass of wine when he saw her.
She stood near the back of the gallery, phone in hand, angling for a selfie with one of the abstract sculptures. Even in a room full of Manhattan's elite, she commanded attention – long dark hair that fell in perfect waves past her shoulders, a body that looked professionally maintained in a tight white dress that left little to the imagination.
Her skin had that golden glow that came from expensive facials and regular spray tans. Everything about her screamed professional beauty.
Marcus watched as several men approached her throughout the evening.
Each time, she'd smile politely, accept a business card or a drink, then return to her phone within minutes. She was bored. Used to this. Completely unimpressed by the parade of suits trying to get her attention.
[TARGET IDENTIFIED: VALENTINA RODRIGUEZ]
[Status: Social media influencer]
[Instagram following: 2.7M]
[Primary value: Visibility, status signaling, access to entertainment industry]
[Warning: High difficulty. Accustomed to wealth and attention.]
Marcus took a sip of his wine, studying her. She was exactly the kind of woman who would've never looked at him twice a week ago. The kind Emma had always compared herself to with thinly veiled jealousy. The kind who existed in a different stratosphere of beauty and desirability.
He wanted to know what that was like – to be with someone that physically perfect.
Not just for the system. For himself.
But his bank account said $1,667.44. To someone like her, that was pocket change. She probably spent more than that on a handbag.
He needed to make his money look like more than it was.
Marcus surveyed the gallery, looking for an opportunity. That's when he noticed the champagne service – a woman circulating with a tray of expensive-looking flutes. He'd seen the sign earlier: Premium champagne service available for purchase.
He caught the server's attention. "How much for a bottle?"
"We have several options. Our premium selection starts at $300."
"What's the most expensive thing you have?"
She blinked. "We have a Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 2002 for $1,500."
Perfect. Absolutely insane. Exactly what he needed.
"I'll take it," Marcus said, pulling out his card before he could second-guess himself.
[INVESTMENT ALERT: $1,500]
[WARNING: High-risk expenditure]
[This only multiplies if seduction attempt succeeds]
[Current target difficulty: EXTREME]
Marcus's hand trembled slightly as he handed over his card. This was more than half his total net worth. If this didn't work, he was fucked.
"Excellent choice, sir," the server said. "Would you like it brought to a table?"
"Actually," Marcus said, loud enough that nearby people – including Valentina – could hear, "I'm not really a champagne person. Give it to whoever wants it."
The server looked confused. "I'm sorry?"
"The bottle. I'm sure there's someone who would appreciate such quality wine more than I would." He shrugged. "Life's too short to drink things you don't enjoy."
A murmur went through the nearby crowd. Several people laughed – the kind of nervous laughter that came from witnessing something unexpected. A few looked impressed. Others looked like he was insane.
Valentina had lowered her phone and was staring at him.
The server, bewildered but professional, announced to the gallery: "Ladies and gentlemen, courtesy of this gentleman, we have a complimentary bottle of Krug Clos d'Ambonnay available."
There was a small surge toward the server. Marcus turned away, heading back toward a painting like the whole thing had been an afterthought.
His heart was pounding. Fifteen hundred dollars. Gone. For a gesture that might mean nothing.
"That was generous," a voice said behind him.
Marcus turned. Valentina stood there, holding a flute of the champagne, her expression somewhere between amused and curious.
"Just a kind gesture," Marcus said.
Up close, she was even more stunning – full lips, dark eyes lined with precise makeup, cheekbones that could cut glass. Her dress hugged curves that were definitely enhanced but expertly done. Everything about her screamed professional Instagram perfection.
"Valentina," she said, not offering her hand.
"Marcus."
"So, Marcus." She sipped the champagne. "What's your deal? Tech bro who just IPO'd? Trust fund baby pretending to be philanthropic?"
"Neither."
"Then what kind of person just drops fifteen hundred dollars on champagne they're not even going to drink?"
Marcus met her eyes. "The kind who wants good champagne to be appreciated, but would rather not do it himself."
It was a gamble – pure deflection disguised as indifference. He watched her process it, saw the slight shift in her expression. She was used to men trying to impress her. She wasn't used to men who seemed unimpressed by the opportunity to impress her.
"That's a very specific kind of rich," Valentina said.
"Is it?"
"When you don't need to prove anything." She tilted her head, studying him like he was a puzzle. "You don't look that rich."
"What does rich look like?"
"Usually older. Usually trying harder to seem young." She gestured to his outfit. "You dress well, but not flashy. No watch that costs more than a car. No name-dropping."
"Oof, I guess I'm just not very good at being rich."
Valentina laughed – a real one, surprised out of her. "Okay, that's actually funny." She took another sip of champagne. "So what do you do, Marcus?"
"Currently? Nothing."
"Nothing."
"I'm between projects. Taking some time to figure out what's worth my attention."
It was technically true. And it had the added benefit of sounding like something only someone with money could afford to say.
"Must be nice," Valentina said, but there was less skepticism in her voice now. "Most guys here have been pitching me their startups or their 'connections' all night. You're the first one who seems like he genuinely doesn't care."
"Should I care?"
"I don't know. Should you?" She was testing him, trying to figure out if the indifference was real or an act.
Marcus shrugged. "You seem smart enough to know what you want. I'm not going to waste your time pretending I can give you something you can't get yourself."
Valentina was quiet for a moment, then she smiled – different from before, more genuine. "You're weird."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should." She pulled out her phone. "Give me your Instagram."
"I don't really use it."
"Bullshit. Everyone uses Instagram."
"Okay, I have one. I just don't post." Marcus pulled out his phone and showed her – his account with maybe twelve posts, all more than six months old, before everything fell apart with Emma.
Valentina scrolled through, frowning. "This is... actually boring."
"Told you."
"No thirst traps, no flexing, no club photos." She looked up at him. "Are you a serial killer?"
"Not that I know of."
"Because this is serial killer energy. Hot guy, no social media presence, casually spending thousands of dollars like it's nothing." But she was smiling. "Give me your number instead."
Marcus felt a wave of relief so intense it was almost dizzying – she called him hot and asked for his dial. He gave her his number, watching her type it into her phone.
"I'm going to text you," Valentina said. "And if you don't respond like a normal person, I'm blocking you."
"Fair."
Her phone buzzed – someone calling. She glanced at the screen and sighed. "I have to take this. My manager." She started to walk away, then turned back. "Hey, Marcus?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the champagne. Even if you didn't drink it." She winked and disappeared into the crowd, phone to her ear.
[SEDUCTION ATTEMPT: SUCCESSFUL]
[Target acquired: VALENTINA RODRIGUEZ]
[Contact information obtained]
[Investment: $1,500]
[Projected return: 2x = $2,000 in 24 hours]
[Note: Full seduction incomplete. Further investment required.]
[Strategy recognized: Wealth illusion + calculated disinterest = Effective approach for high-maintenance targets]
Marcus felt his entire body relax. Three thousand dollars. Tomorrow he'd have three thousand dollars back from tonight's insane gamble. He'd tripled his net worth in less than a week.
[TARGET COUNT: 2/3 for tonight's mission]
He still needed one more connection to complete the gallery mission, but his head was spinning from the Valentina interaction. He'd actually pulled it off – made fifteen hundred dollars look like pocket change to a woman who probably dated millionaires.
Marcus grabbed another wine and continued circulating through the gallery, making small talk with a jewelry designer who turned out to be surprisingly interesting. She gave him her card too, though the system didn't flag her as high-value.
By 11 PM, the gallery was thinning out. Marcus had made his three connections – Diana the VC, Valentina the influencer, and a theater producer named Rebecca who'd invited him to a show opening next week.
[MISSION COMPLETE: EXPANDING INFLUENCE]
[Connections made: 3/3]
[High-value targets: 2/3]
[Total investment: $2,030.50 (champagne + attire + drinks)]
[Projected returns: $4,061 in 24 hours]
[REPUTATION: +8 (now 43)]
[Status: Gallery presence noted by multiple influential attendees]
Marcus walked out into the cold Chelsea night, hands in his blazer pockets, feeling like a different person than the one who'd walked in three hours ago.
His phone buzzed.
Valentina: hey serial killer
Valentina: that champagne thing was either really smooth or really stupid
Valentina: still deciding which
Marcus smiled and typed back: Let me know when you figure it out.
Valentina: 😏
Valentina: you doing anything tomorrow night?
His fingers hovered over the keyboard. This was it – the follow-up. The next level of the illusion. He'd have three grand in his account tomorrow, but to someone like Valentina, he needed to seem like he had ten times that without trying.
Marcus: Nothing that can't be cancelled. What did you have in mind?
Valentina: there's this restaurant. Carbone. impossible to get into but my friend got us a table
Valentina: you down?
Marcus's mind raced. Carbone was legendary – the kind of place where entrees started at $70 and people waited months for reservations. With wine and everything else, he'd be looking at $400-500 minimum.
But if he played this right, that $500 would come back as $1,000. And more importantly, it would solidify the illusion that he was the kind of guy who didn't blink at these prices.
Marcus: Sounds good. What time?
Valentina: 8. I'll send you the address
Valentina: and Marcus? don't be boring
Marcus: Wouldn't dream of it.
He pocketed his phone and started walking toward the subway. Tomorrow he'd wake up with over $5,000 in his account. Tomorrow he'd take an Instagram model to one of Manhattan's hottest restaurants. Tomorrow he'd keep building the illusion that would eventually become reality.
The system had been right. Variety was the key. Sophie for the creative world connections. Diana for venture capital access. Valentina for visibility and status.
Each woman was a piece of a larger strategy. Each seduction a step toward the power he needed.
Marcus descended into the subway, already planning tomorrow's moves.
His revenge was compounding faster than he'd imagined.
And he was just getting started.