005. Spend $15 trillion in 3 days?...

"How about you come back in three days? And I can hear your decision?" Alan suggested. I agreed, "Three days is okay.”

He reached into a drawer, retrieving his wallet, and from it, he produced a gold card, adorned with a striking 'M' insignia, resembling a crest in black. Below the emblem, the word 'Monroe' was inscribed.

He handed it to me. "Here, have this. This card is loaded with $10 trillion. Use it for your expenses until we meet again in three days."

"$10 trillion?" The words barely made it out, as my eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

"Yeah, I know it's not going to be enough, so I'll ask Mr. Wisconsin to top it up with an extra $5 trillion. How does that sound?" Alan said with a nonchalant shrug.

"That... That sounds..." Words escaped me; my mind couldn't process the enormity of what was happening. ‘$10 trillion, just for expenses, and he was considering adding another $5 trillion.’

Alan stood, gesturing for me to follow. "I believe next time we meet, you won't be shocked anymore. Wisconsin will take you back to your apartment, though I can't wait for you to start living here. But till then. It was nice seeing you, son."

I could only nod, my mind racing as I followed Wisconsin out. I took one last look at Alan, at my father. His smile was warm, genuine. A father's smile. And, as if by instinct, I found myself smiling back.

This wasn't just a change; it was a whole new world opening before me. A world where 'impossible' had a different meaning, and 'extraordinary' was just the beginning.

As I stepped back into the helicopter, the card heavy in my pocket, I realized that in three days, my life as Ethan Harrington would take a path I never imagined possible.

The sun was high in the sky when I woke up the next day. The surreal events of the previous day felt like a dream, but as I sat up and saw the golden Monroe card beside my mom's old phone on the nightstand, reality hit me.

I'm Ethan, Alan Monroe's son, the heir to a quintillion-dollar empire, and currently holding $15 trillion in my account.

It was hard to wrap my head around it.

After a quick shower, I dressed in my usual faded jeans and worn-out polo. A stroll around the neighborhood seemed like a good start before visiting the grocery store to see Alexa. Her text from this morning was still fresh in my mind.

Maybe it was an accident, or perhaps subconsciously deliberate, but I found myself standing in front of the same jewelry store I had visited two days ago, where a $150 necklace had been beyond my reach.

My hand brushed the customized debit card in my pocket, and a mischievous smirk formed on my lips as an idea took shape. With the plan firmly in mind, I stepped into the store, the familiar tinkle of the bell overhead announcing my entry.

The store, with its gleaming display cases and the subtle scent of luxury, suddenly felt less intimidating and more like a playground for my newfound wealth.

As I entered the store, the same saleswoman from my previous visit looked up. Recognition flickered in her eyes as she scanned me from head to toe before meeting my gaze.

"How may I help you today?" she asked, her voice laced with a polite tone that barely concealed her irritation.

"I'm here to look at some jewelry. Not sure what I want yet, but I’ll have a look around," I replied, noticing her skeptical glance.

"Just so you know, we don’t sell cheap jewelry here," she remarked, her tone slightly dismissive.

Her comment would have stung if this were 24 hours ago. But I wasn’t the same person anymore. I merely nodded and moved deeper into the store, my eyes wandering over the exquisite pieces on display.

Reaching the end of one aisle, I moved into a section where the most exquisite and expensive jewelry was displayed. The glint of diamonds and the shimmer of gold were mesmerizing.

Lisa, the salesperson, quickly approached me with a look of suspicion. "I'm sorry, but this section is reserved for our VIP customers. It's not for... people like you," she said, barely concealing her disdain.

I simply nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. As she turned, I gave a slight push to the last glass jewelry stand in the section.

It teetered and then toppled, hitting the next stand and setting off a disastrous chain reaction. Glass stands fell like dominoes, each crash louder than the last, as precious jewels scattered across the floor.

Lisa spun around, her face a mix of shock and disbelief as the display cases tumbled and broke.

"What... What have you done, you fool?" she gasped.

As Lisa's words echoed through the store, a heavy silence followed the noise of shattering glass. Her face, a picture of shock and disbelief, was mirrored by the other customers and staff who had stopped to stare at the chaos I'd seemingly caused.

"What have I done?" I repeated calmly, almost disinterested, as I dipped my hands into my pocket and talked in a nonchalant way. "I believe I've just made a rather expensive accident. But don't worry, I'm more than capable of paying for it.”

The store manager, alerted by the commotion, hurried over, his face turning pale at the sight of the devastation. "What happened here?" he demanded, his eyes darting between me and the ruined display.

Lisa was quick to point an accusing finger. "He just knocked over these stands. Do you have any idea how much these pieces are worth?”

"$1 billion? $10 billion? $100 billion? Name your price," I replied, unflinchingly meeting their gazes.

"This isn't a joke, young man. I'm calling the cops," the manager said, his voice tinged with frustration.

"You know what?" I interrupted him, a bold idea forming in my mind. "I won't be paying for just the damages. In fact, how much is everything in this store priced at? I'm paying for all of it." I said, pulling out the golden Monroe card.

The sight of the card seemed to stop the manager in his tracks. His eyes widened slightly, either recognizing the insignia or understanding the implication of such a uniquely customized card.

The air in the room changed instantly.

"Of course, sir. Right this way, please," the manager quickly said, his tone now dripping with maximum respect. "You're... you're going to pay for all of this?" he asked, his voice a mix of shock and awe.

"That's right," I affirmed, feeling a surreal mix of empowerment and detachment. "I'll cover the damages and buy the entire inventory.”

The manager, still reeling from the turn of events, quickly summoned one of his assistants to calculate the total value of the store's inventory.

The assistant scurried off, her eyes wide with disbelief, and I couldn't help but notice Lisa's expression had shifted from anger to something akin to awe.

Within minutes, the assistant returned, whispering a figure into the manager's ear. He looked at me, his expression a mix of disbelief and respect. "The total value of our inventory is approximately $970 billion," he stated.

I nodded, unfazed. "Alright, I'll take it all. And add the cost of the damages to the bill.” I handed him the card. "Here, take this. And add a 100% tip for the staff."

The manager processed the transaction, his hands slightly trembling. "It's been approved, sir. Thank you. Is there anything else we can assist you with?"

I thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, actually. Leave all the jewelries on display till I come back to pick them. I just need that one over there. Pack it, I'll be leaving with it."

The manager was momentarily speechless, then quickly regained his composure. "Certainly, sir. Your wish is our command. And, may I say, it's an honor to have you as our customer.”

The manager directed Lisa to fetch the necklace. As she handed it to me, her hands were steady, but her eyes couldn't hide the bewilderment.

I took the package and left the store. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, I reflected on the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Just a day ago, I was struggling to buy a simple gift, and now, here I was, casually offering to buy out an entire luxury store. It was a strange and heady feeling, but somewhere deep down, I knew this was just the beginning of a new, unfamiliar life.

And with that thought, I headed towards the grocery store to see Alexa, the necklace for her tucked safely in my pocket.

When I reached the grocery store, I saw Alexa restocking shelves. Her face lit up when she saw me, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "Hey, Ethan! I was worried about you. You didn't come by yesterday. Is everything okay?"

I smiled, feeling a bit guilty for not telling her the truth yet. "Yeah, everything's fine. Actually, better than fine." I hesitated for a moment before deciding to keep the details of my newfound wealth to myself for now.

Her eyes scanned me, searching for answers, but she didn't press further. "I'm glad to hear that. So, what brings you here by this time? Your shift doesn't start till 5."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace, handing it to her. "I... uh, I saw this and thought of you."

Alexa's eyes widened as she looked at the necklace, then back at me. "Ethan, this is beautiful, but I can't accept this. It looks expensive."

"It's a gift," I insisted. "Please, take it. It would make me happy to see you wear it."

After a moment of hesitation, she accepted the necklace, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Ethan. This means a lot."

We chatted for a bit longer before I left the store, feeling a strange mix of excitement and unease. This new life was going to take some getting used to.

As I walked back to my apartment, I couldn't help but think about my father, Alan Monroe, and the massive change he had brought into my life. In just three days, I would need to make a decision that would affect my entire future.

Back at my apartment, I spent hours going through the documents my father had given me. The extent of the wealth and the responsibilities that came with it were overwhelming.

I had to make a choice - embrace this new life of luxury and power or continue with my simple, familiar existence.

The next two days were a blur of thoughts and emotions. I visited my favorite spots in the neighborhood, wondering if this might be the last time I saw them as a regular guy.

On the third day, I found myself back at the mansion, standing before Alan Monroe. He looked at me expectantly, a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

I took a deep breath. "I've made my decision. I'm ready to be a Monroe."