7: Real life started

"Congratulations on passing the first step, Althea and Liam. I never thought you could pass this step when it was so hard to spend that kind of money." Albert smirked.

Althea and Liam both chuckled.

"I know right? Liam spent the last money treating me to dinner. He's very considerate." Althea proudly said. Albert was very surprised.

"Ohh, wow! That was the first time I ever heard that. You are lucky then to be his assistant." Albert chuckled.

Liam just laughed, but they were interrupted when Raven and his assistant, Marvin, arrived.

"Well, well, well, I never thought we could see each other again." Raven smirked.

Althea sneered at him.

"Raven, they are not doing anything to you." Albert said.

"Albert, I didn't say they did something to me, okay? I am just here to congratulate them. Liam, you are lucky you passed, but I will make sure I will win." Raven smirked.

Liam just nodded and took a deep breath.

"Let's see about that, Raven." he smirked back.

Raven was challenged. He just glared at Liam and left.

"Be careful with Raven, he plays very dirty." Albert said.

"I already know that, Albert, and I will not let him dirty us. We will make sure we will win." Althea smirked. Albert just nodded.

"Everyone, please go inside the meeting hall. You are ready to be rewarded." a system announced. Everyone was alert including them.

"You should go." Albert told them. Althea and Liam headed inside.

There are lots of them who won the first step.

"Congratulations everyone for winning, but for the next step, I hope you can win also." the announcer said. Everyone cheered. 

"Wow, I don't think we are 100 who won?" he asked her. Althea chuckled.

"I think you are all 148 who won this step, but I assure you, you might win the final step." she smirked.

Althea just wanted him to calm down and not to get pressured.  After the meeting, they all went out to talk about their next step.

"So, are you ready to start your businesses?" she asked him. Liam closed his eyes.

"I don't know anything about business and how to handle it, but I will do my best." he mumbled.

"That is the spirit. I know we can do this together. As I have said, we need to." she said and cheered for him. Liam just nodded. 

It's been a month, and for him, it was really hard, but they couldn't believe it was surpassed. On the ranking, they are in the 14th place making Raven on the 13th. Liam's businesses started to boom thanks to her help and some friends of theirs.

"Ugh, this is getting more tiring." Liam sighed as he sat down on his chair.

Looking inside his office made him feel a bit sad but same time happy. If not for Althea, he wouldn't be there right now. At least he can pay and afford everything he can't before.

"So, what is the CEO thinking about again?" Althea showed up carrying a folder.

Liam just chuckled and sighed.

"Nothing, I am just thankful for you." he said.

She just scoffed and sighed.

"You might thank me more if you can see this." she smirked and handed the folder to him.

"What is this?" he asked.

Althea just asked him to open it. Liam opened it and to his surprised, his name on the joiner's list was on the rank 11 while Raven was on the 12th.

"Is this real?!" he asked. Althea nodded.

"Yes, I just came from the company to check and get the result of you, and that is it. I am so happy and proud of you, Liam. One day, you can be on rank one until the end." she smirked.

Liam felt like he was going to cry.

"Raven might be cursing my name right now if he had seen this." he smirked.

"Well, you were right. I saw Marvin a while ago, and he doesn't look so happy. They deserved that for being too brave to mock his opponents." she said.

Liam just chuckled and took a very deep sigh.

"And, in the business real world, your name is very famous already. Have you watched TV and read tabloids? Your name was always on the front page. Newly found CEO, wow." she said.

Liam opened the TV, and she was telling him the truth.

"Is this fucking real? Like, I don't know what to feel right now. I thought I was still starting, but looks like people are giving me more fame." he scoffed.

"Like what I said, you can do this." she mumbled.

Liam just continued to do what he needed to. Giving his whole time to his businesses while ALthea is progressing on his results. Every day, his rate is going up, but Raven is not really that easy to fight with. He knows what to do already.

"I can't let Liam win against me, Marvin. We need to do something. Last time, I was ahead of him, and this time? I was under him? Marvin! Can you do something to this one?! You know I want to win!" Raven groaned and threw all the papers inside his office.

Marvin just took a very deep breath and sighed.

"Raven, we are just getting started. We still have more time to win, okay? The only thing we can beath Liam is to beat his business too, not just into this system world but into the real world." Marvin said.

Raven just nodded and took a deep breath.

"So, what do you want me to do?" he asked him.

"Well, I am planning to investigate Liam's background. I know the system is not allowing us to give confidential information about any joiner, but I will try my best to look for his background. Maybe, we can beat him by knowing his weakness." Marvin said. Raven just scoffed glaring at him.

"And how can you know his weakness?" he asked.

"Just give it to me, Raven. I will do it for you." Marvin smirked.