Ethan was sitting peacefully at the coffee shop, savoring the rich aroma of his brew. The warm ambiance and the comforting taste of the coffee helped him unwind after the eventful day.
He had ordered lunch for his siblings, and he went out right after having lunch with them.
"A coffee after completing a mission feels good, huh?" he said to himself.
Besides, Ethan could not help but feel a rush of excitement when Jessica mentioned he might get the keys to the house in just a day or two.
'A day or two,' he thought, a smile playing on his lips. 'I can't wait to show my family our new home.'
As he stirred his coffee absentmindedly, his mind drifted to the tasks ahead. The house was nearly sorted, meaning one of his missions was well on its way to completion.
That left the others—the team and the office.
Ethan's thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his phone. It was David calling with an update. He answered immediately.
"Hey, David," Ethan said. "How's it going?"
"Good news," David replied, his tone brisk and professional. "Everything on my end is complete. I've sorted the applications. We're going to interview the candidates this week."
He paused before adding, "And we're ready to move to the next steps."
"That's great!" Ethan said, feeling a surge of excitement. "So, what's next on the plan?"
David paused the sound of rustling papers audible in the background. "I've drafted a plan. The top priority is to get our team of developers to kickstart the app project. We need a functional prototype as soon as possible."
Ethan chuckled before saying, "Well, about the prototype, I think you don't need to worry anymore."
"What do you mean?" David asked.
His tone clearly showed how puzzled he was by Ethan's statement.
"I've done it," Ethan replied. "The prototype is ready."
"What? What do you mean by ready, Ethan?" David asked in disbelief. "It is not even a week, and you're saying it's ready already? Impossible Ethan. Impossible."
"Yeah. I think it is impossible, too," Ethan said with a chuckle. "I'm going to send the app and a bit of a tutorial on how to use it later. You can check for yourself."
David was silent for a moment. He was not being negative. He was truly impressed with what Ethan was capable of. 'This kid. He has the money. He has the skill. He has... everything.'
"Sounds good to me, Ethan. But please don't get me wrong. I was shocked to hear that, but I believe if it is you, anything is possible," said David.
"I know. I know. No worries, David," Ethan said before it was followed by a light laugh.
"Just let me know if you need anything," Ethan added.
"Alright. Will do," replied David. The call ended.
After ending the call, Ethan leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling.
"I'll leave the launch stuff to them," he muttered. "They need something to do anyway."
His mind drifted to the bigger picture—the company.
He grabbed his phone and started searching for online information on basic organizational charts, scrolling through diagrams and titles that all sounded too formal.
"Okay... COO, CTO, marketing lead, HR..."
He frowned. "Man, I barely know what half of these even do."
A beat passed.
"System," he said with a lopsided grin, "you got a shortcut for business genius or what?"
No response, of course.
Still, the thought lingered. He couldn't do all of this alone forever. He'd need someone. A manager, maybe. Someone to handle the boring stuff while he focused on the big picture.
He smirked at the thought.
"Look at me. Talking like I'm some hotshot CEO already."
Other departments—marketing, operations, and finance—would need strong leadership as well. 'This is starting to feel like a lot,' Ethan thought, running a hand through his hair.
What he really needed was someone he could trust—a reliable point of contact who could act as his intermediary, coordinate with department heads, and compile reports.
'Someone sharp, organized, and good with people,' he thought.
His mind quickly turned to Jordan. His best friend, who he had met just a few days ago, lived right here in Novan City.
While Jordan didn't have formal qualifications, his natural charm, adaptability, and knack for managing situations made him a strong candidate for the role.
'He might be perfect for this,' Ethan thought. 'Though I'll have to make it clear that David will be monitoring him to ensure everything stays professional.'
Ethan pulled out his phone and typed a quick message.
Ethan: [Thinking of offering a friend of mine for one of the manager roles. Just a heads-up. You'll still be overseeing everything, of course.]
A reply came almost instantly.
David: [No problem. If you think he's the right fit, I'll back your decision.]
Ethan smiled, reassured. He scrolled through his contacts, quickly finding Jordan's number. He tapped the call icon and waited, the thought of helping his old friend bringing a small smile to his face.
The phone rang a few times before Jordan picked up, his voice slightly breathless. "Yo, Ethan. What's up?"
Ethan chuckled at the sound of his friend's strained tone. "What are you doing? Are you in some kind of marathon?"
Jordan huffed a mix of amusement and exhaustion in his reply. "Close enough. I've been hitting the gym since early this morning."
"Oh, really?" Ethan teased. "Trying to impress someone, or are you suddenly planning to become a fitness guru?"
"Hey, I've got to keep in shape," Jordan shot back, though his voice carried a grin. "So, what's up? You don't usually call."
"Which gym are you at?" Ethan asked, his tone casual.
"Uhh… Super Core Fitness, near the Green Avenue block," Jordan replied. "Why?"
Ethan's face lit up. It was nearby, just a short distance from where he was.
"Perfect. Come meet me at the Brada Coffee on Green Avenue. I'm here now."
There was a brief pause before Jordan spoke again, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Why? What's going on?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Ethan said, keeping his voice light. "Just hurry up. I never call you for nothing."
Jordan let out a resigned sigh. However, Ethan could still hear his playful tone.
"Don't be mad, buddy. Give me about twenty minutes. I'll be there shortly."
"Great," Ethan said with a grin. "See you soon."
Ethan ended the call and leaned back in his chair, feeling excited. He believed nobody would be more perfect than Jordan for this role that he had in his mind.
It took Jordan less than ten minutes to arrive at the coffee shop. Without a doubt, he looked fit and better in his gym clothes. He carried a gym bag over his shoulder.
When he saw Ethan, he waved and smiled sheepishly.
Ethan raised an eyebrow when Jordan sat down across from him.
"Dude, what's this dead animal smell?" Ethan asked, wrinkling his nose playfully.
Jordan laughed and held up his hands. "You wanted me to hurry up. I forgot to shower."
Without wasting a second, Jordan quickly took a small bottle from his bag. It was cologne, and he started to spray it on himself. His sudden action made the strong scent of cologne filled the air.
Ethan could not help but cough and wave his hands in front of his face. Jordan was doing the same. He sprayed too much, actually.
"You're lucky that we're sitting outside," Ethan said with a chuckle. The outdoor seating area was calm and empty.
"Alright, what's the hurry?" Jordan asked, leaning back in his chair. "You never call me out like this since high school."
"Chill," Ethan replied with a chuckle, motioning toward the menu on the table. "Order anything you want. If you're hungry, get something to eat too. It's my treat today."
Jordan's eyes lit up as he scanned the menu.
"Are you serious? Then I'm going with that one," he said, his hand already pointing to the most popular—or rather, the most expensive— option on the menu.
Ethan chuckled. He knew Jordan well, and he had expected that outcome. "Go for it. It's on me."
There was no need for a second invitation for Jordan. "Well, it was you who offered," he said with a playful smile.
Without wasting even a second, he quickly called a waiter. Well, Jordan did not only order the steak sandwich. He flashed a grin at Ethan and ordered a few other dishes as well.
Ethan chuckled before nodding quickly. He even made a gesture as if saying, "You can order everything on the menu."
He did not mind because he had no limit on spending, whether for himself or anyone.
Jordan leaned in as they waited for the food. He looked at Ethan before asking, "Okay, now I want you to tell me what's going on. You never take me out like this unless something important is happening."
Ethan took a sip of his coffee, his expression calm but amused. "I started a company," he said simply.
Jordan blinked. "A company?"
"With David Turner," Ethan added, gauging his friend's reaction.
Jordan's eyes grew wide, and he almost choked on his water. "Wait a minute… You mean David Turner?" he asked, quickly pulling out his phone and typing quickly.
A moment later, he showed Ethan a picture of the famous entrepreneur and philanthropist on his screen.
Ethan laughed. "Yeah, that David Turner."
Listening to Ethan's reply, it was impossible for Jordan to not be stunned. Not only that, he was struggling to ask the right question.
"What? How? Why?" he said, clearly overwhelmed. "You can't just say something like that without explaining!"
"I'll explain," Ethan said, still laughing. "Just calm down."
Jordan leaned back in his chair, eyes still locked on Ethan. He shook his head slowly, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth—half disbelief, half awe.
"Man," he muttered, "I still can't believe this is real."
Ethan let out a soft chuckle and gave a modest shrug. "Yeah, I'm still wrapping my head around it too."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "But it's happening. And if I'm going to build something real—something that lasts—I need a team I can count on."
Jordan nodded, his expression turning serious as he listened.
Ethan continued, outlining his vision for Nova Tech. The company. The app. The future roadmap. His words were focused, grounded, yet full of ambition. Jordan listened without interrupting, taking it all in with genuine interest.
When Ethan finally paused, the air between them felt heavier with purpose.
"I need someone who gets it," Ethan said, meeting Jordan's eyes. "Someone I trust to help run things."
He didn't hesitate.
"For Nova Tech," Ethan said, his voice steady, "I want you to be the manager."
Jordan's eyes grew wide, and he fell silent for a moment. Then he leaned in, surprised.
"Wait… You want me to be the manager? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious," Ethan replied. "You have the skills and personality, and I trust you. David Turner will oversee things to keep everything professional, but I believe you're the right person for this."
Jordan leaned back and rubbed his neck as he thought about the offer.
"Wow... I don't even know what to say," he said quietly. "This is big, Ethan."
"Take your time and think it over," Ethan said warmly.
Jordan leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes dramatically.
"Give me a moment to think," he said, his tone overly serious.
Ethan smirked, watching as his friend furrowed his brow in mock contemplation.
A second later, Jordan opened his eyes and grinned. "I'm in."
Ethan burst out laughing. "You didn't even think about it!"
"Chill, dude," Jordan said. He could not help but chuckle. "I can't say no to this, Ethan. Besides, this is the change that I need right now."
Jordan leaned forward, his grin softening into a thoughtful smile. "You know, I've been working with my dad ever since high school. The local moving company—it's fine and all, but I've been feeling stuck. Every now and then, I'd just up and leave to travel, trying to find something that felt… meaningful."
He sighed, his expression wistful. "I want to find a purpose in life, man. Something bigger than just moving boxes or wandering aimlessly."
Ethan smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for his friend's honesty. "I get it," he said softly.
But as he sat there, watching Jordan's excitement, Ethan couldn't help but inwardly ask himself the same question. 'What's my purpose in life?'
Now, with the Unlimited System at his disposal, the possibilities seemed endless. He had never considered the idea of this. Not only did he open up a broader opportunity for himself.
He could even make an impact on others now.
'Well, things are not going to be focusing on me anymore,' he thought.
Without him noticing, his lips started to form a small smile.
'Maybe I can do something that matters for more than just my own goals.'
Author's Note:
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