Frozen Apocalypse: My System Gives Me Infinite Supplies

Chapter 8: The Counterfeit Jade and the Honey Trap

Calder took out his black bank card and paid the $180,000 bill without hesitation. The payment terminal beeped, and the receipt printed a moment later.

Garrick’s smile vanished. Philippa stared at Calder, unable to hide her surprise.

“Pack the clothes that fit President Anderson and send them to her,” Calder told the sales assistant. “Everything else goes to Depot Nine on Fourth Street. The delivery address is on the receipt.”

“Yes, Mr. Reid. We’ll take care of it immediately.”

Calder turned to Laurel. “Consider the clothes a small thank-you for your help back in college.”

Laurel glanced at the expensive coats, then smiled. “You haven’t changed, Calder. We should catch up properly sometime.”

“Of course.”

Calder left without giving Garrick or Philippa another look. He had more important things to do than waste time arguing with people who would soon regret underestimating him.

After leaving the shopping district, he took a taxi to the old antiquities quarter. There, between several narrow storefronts, he found a small jade workshop run by an elderly craftsman.

“Welcome. Are you looking to buy something or have an item appraised?” the craftsman asked.

Calder untied the jadeite pendant from around his neck and placed it on the counter. The green stone had belonged to his late mother, and in his previous life, it had given Tamsin the spatial ability that helped her survive the apocalypse.

This time, things were different. The Doomsday Shelter system had already bound itself to Calder, so even if someone took the pendant from him, it would no longer grant them its power. Still, he had no intention of letting Tamsin get her hands on his mother's keepsake.

“I want an exact copy,” he said. “The same shape, color, and weight. It doesn't need to be genuine jadeite, but it must look convincing.”

The craftsman examined the pendant carefully. “I can make a convincing imitation with treated stone or resin. It will take several hours.”

“I'll pay you a thousand dollars if you finish it within four hours.”

The old man considered the offer before nodding. “All right. Come back this afternoon.”

Calder left the pendant with him and found a nearby teahouse where he could wait. As he sat down, his phone vibrated with a message from an unfamiliar number.

Calder, it's Sian. I saw what happened at Highcrest Terraces. Burl is such a useless man. He can't even handle his own problems without running to his mother. Are you staying somewhere private? I'd like to see you.

Calder read the message twice, then let out a quiet laugh.

In his previous life, Burl had never treated him like family. Whenever Calder returned from scavenging for food, Burl would snatch whatever he had found and eat it without offering him so much as a thank-you. Sian had joined in the humiliation, mocking him whenever he came back empty-handed or begged them to leave some food for him.

Now that she had seen him spend $180,000 without blinking, she had suddenly remembered his worth.

Calder typed a short reply.

Diamond Luxe Hotel. Suite 1801.

He put his phone away and finished his tea. Four hours later, he collected the imitation pendant, checked that it matched the original closely, and returned to the hotel.

He had barely settled into his suite when someone knocked on the door.

When Calder opened it, Sian stood outside in a fitted red dress. Her makeup was carefully done, and her perfume reached him before she stepped inside. Her eyes moved over the luxurious suite, lingering on the expensive furnishings.

“Calder,” she said with a smile. “You really know how to enjoy life.”

“You came alone?” he asked.

“Of course. Why would I bring Burl?” Sian replied, putting her purse on the sofa. “He can't give me anything I want. I've wasted enough time with him.”

She approached Calder and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her voice softened as she looked up at him.

“You're different. You have money, confidence, and ambition. A woman needs someone who can give her a better life.”

Calder understood exactly what she wanted. He had no feelings for Sian, but her greed made her easy to manipulate, and he intended to use that weakness to his advantage.

He took her by the hand and led her toward the bedroom. The door closed behind them, and the rest of the day passed without either of them leaving the suite.

By the following morning, they were still together. Sian had grown comfortable with the luxurious room and Calder's apparent wealth, but she became uneasy when he picked up his phone and pointed the camera at her.

“Calder, what are you doing?” she asked, pulling the sheet over herself. “Don't take pictures like that. Delete them!”

“Why are you nervous?” Calder asked calmly. “You said you wanted to be with me. If you can't even trust me with a few private pictures, how can I believe you mean it?”

“That isn't the same thing.” Sian hesitated, clearly uncomfortable.

Calder watched her for a moment before adding, “Even Tamsin listens to me when it matters. If you want to take her place, you'll have to show me that you're serious.”

The comparison struck a nerve. Sian had always wanted to be the woman who came out ahead, and the thought of losing her chance with a wealthy man was difficult to accept.

“Fine,” she said at last, though her expression remained uneasy. “But those pictures are only for you. And you have to buy me the sports car Burl promised me.”

Calder gave her a reassuring smile and took several pictures with her face clearly visible. He saved them to a cloud account she knew nothing about.

Once he had what he wanted, he put his phone away and went to the window. The city stretched out beneath him, busy and peaceful, as if nothing were about to happen.

Sian came over and leaned against him. “What are you thinking about?”

Calder looked at her reflection in the glass.

“Tamsin keeps contacting me,” he said casually. “She wants to reconcile and keeps asking to see me.”

Sian's smile faded. “And what did you tell her?”

“I haven't decided yet.” Calder turned to face her. “I can only have one woman by my side. If Tamsin wants me back, someone will have to lose.”