The Heir’s Awakening System

The coffee shop

Marcus opened his eyes in a hospital bed. Sunlight streamed through the windows. His body felt different - stronger, sharper. Most importantly, he could see glowing words floating in front of his eyes.

[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE]

[WELCOME TO THE HEIR'S AWAKENING SYSTEM]

[FIRST MISSION AVAILABLE]

[OBJECTIVE: RECLAIM YOUR DIGNITY]

[REWARD: $10,000,000 + BUSINESS MASTERY SKILL]

[TIME LIMIT: 48 HOURS]

[DO YOU ACCEPT? YES/NO]

Marcus blinked hard, but the words didn't go away. Either he was going crazy, or something incredible had happened to him.

A nurse walked in with a clipboard. She looked surprised.

"Mr. Chen! You're awake. The doctors said you had internal bleeding and possible brain damage, but your scans are completely normal now."

"I feel fine," Marcus said, sitting up easily.

"When can I leave?"

"Well... you could leave now, actually. But sir, about your hospital bills-"

"Send the bill to my office," Marcus interrupted, then stopped. Did I just say that? he thought. I don't have an office.

The nurse looked confused. "Your office? Sir, our records show you work at Tony's Restaurant as a-"

"Not anymore," Marcus said firmly, surprising himself with how confident he sounded. "I just got a new job. A much better one."

After signing papers, Marcus left the hospital.

He pulled out his phone with shaking hands and checked his bank account. His jaw dropped.

$10,000,000.

Ten million dollars had appeared in his account overnight.

Marcus stared at the screen, his hands trembling. This can't be real. Things like this don't happen to people like me.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[FUNDS TRANSFERRED. USE THEM.]

[MISSION GUIDANCE: VISIT PREMIER COFFEE - 42ND AND BROADWAY]

[TARGET LOCATION: WHERE SHE WORKS]

Marcus took a deep breath. The old Marcus would have been too scared to do anything.

But something was different now. The system's quiet presence in his mind felt like a friend pushing him forward.

You can do this, he told himself. For once in your life, you can actually do something.

The coffee shop was busy when Marcus walked in. The smell of expensive coffee filled the air. Business people in suits waited in line, typing on phones.

Marcus spotted Emma behind the counter.

Her hair was pulled back professionally. She wore the company's burgundy uniform and looked tired.

Marcus's stomach twisted with nerves. What am I even doing here? What if this system thing is just a hallucination?

[SYSTEM REMINDER: FUNDS CONFIRMED. PROCEED WITH CONFIDENCE.]

"Marcus?" Emma's eyes went wide. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in the hospital!"

"I got better," Marcus said, his voice steadier than he felt. "We need to talk."

"I'm working. Can this wait?"

"No. It can't."

Rick Henderson, Emma's sleazy manager, walked over. He was forty years old and had been hitting on Emma for months.

"Hey buddy," Rick called out. "This is a business. If you're not buying something, you need to leave."

Marcus looked at Rick, and suddenly information flowed into his mind like a computer d******d.

[TARGET ANALYSIS: RICK HENDERSON]

[WEAKNESS: GAMBLING DEBTS - $47,000]

[WEAKNESS: HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS FROM 3 EMPLOYEES]

[WEAKNESS: STEALING FROM REGISTER - $200 WEEKLY]

Marcus felt his mouth go dry. I can't believe I'm about to say this.

"Actually, I am buying something," Marcus said, his voice gaining strength with each word. "I'm buying this entire coffee shop."

The whole place went quiet. Customers stopped talking. Baristas stopped making drinks. Everyone stared at Marcus like he'd lost his mind.

Rick laughed so hard he started coughing.

"You? Buy this place? Dude, you serve soup for a living! This location is worth three million dollars."

Marcus's heart was pounding, but the system's presence steadied him. This is insane. But the money is real. I checked three times.

"Is that all?" Marcus pulled out his phone. "Let me make a call."

Marcus dialed a number that had mysteriously appeared in his contacts.

"Wilson Financial Group, Lisa Chen speaking," a professional woman answered.

"Lisa, this is Marcus Chen. I need to buy Premier Coffee on 42nd and Broadway. Full cash offer, today."

I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth, Marcus thought.

"Of course, Mr. Chen. What's your offer?"

Marcus looked directly at Rick's shocked face.

"Five million dollars. I want to close in one hour."

"Excellent, sir. I'll contact their corporate office right now. Should I send the paperwork there?"

"Send it here. I'm shopping for coffee."

Marcus hung up, his hands still shaking from what he'd just done. The entire coffee shop was dead silent. Emma's face was white as paper.

Did that really just happen? Did I really just offer to buy this place? Sweat was running down his back under his hospital clothes.

"Marcus," Emma whispered, "what's happening? You don't have five million dollars. You don't even have five hundred!"

Marcus wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.

The system's presence felt like a warm hand on his shoulder, giving him courage he'd never had before.

"People change, Emma." Marcus turned to Rick, who looked sick. "Rick, I think it's time you found a new job."

"This is crazy!" Rick sputtered. "You can't just buy a company! There are procedures-"

Marcus's phone rang. He answered, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Mr. Chen? This is David Morrison, Regional Manager for Premier Coffee. I understand you've made an offer on our Broadway location?"

"That's right. Five million, cash, closing today."

"Sir, that's almost twice what it's worth. Are you serious?"

Marcus looked at Rick and felt a surge of confidence. Maybe I really can do this.

"Dead serious. But I have one condition. I want Rick Henderson fired immediately."

Marcus looked at Rick while he spoke. Rick's face turned purple.

"Mr. Henderson? Yes sir, consider it done. We'll have paperwork ready within the hour."

Marcus hung up and looked at Rick. "Pack your things. Security will be here in fifteen minutes."

"You son of a-" Rick started forward but stopped when he saw something different in Marcus's eyes.

"I also know about the money you've been stealing," Marcus said quietly, amazed at his own boldness. "And the harassment complaints. And your gambling debts. Want me to call the police, or will you leave quietly?"

Rick's face went gray. Without another word, he walked to the back office.

Emma stared at Marcus like she'd never seen him before. "How did you know about Rick?"

Good question, Marcus thought. How DO I

know all this?

"I know a lot of things now." Marcus turned to the other employees. "Everyone else keeps their jobs. In fact, you're all getting raises starting today."

The baristas started whispering excitedly.

"But you," Marcus looked at Emma, still feeling nervous but pushing through it, "need to make a choice."

"What choice?"

"You can keep working for me, or you can quit and work for your new fiancé. But you can't have both."

Emma's hands shook. "Marcus, I don't understand. Where did this money come from? Yesterday you couldn't afford a real birthday present!"

Marcus paused. She's right. Yesterday I was nobody. How do I explain this?

"Yesterday I was someone else," Marcus said carefully. "Yesterday I was the man you were embarrassed to marry. Today I'm the man who owns the company you work for."

"This doesn't make sense! Money doesn't just appear!"

"Smart investments pay off. Especially when you know which stocks to buy."

Marcus's phone buzzed: "Paperwork ready for signature. Congratulations, Mr. Chen."

I still can't believe this is happening, Marcus thought, but he kept his voice steady.

"Well, Emma? What's your choice? Work for me, or explain to Richard why you need him to support you?"

Emma opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked around at everyone staring, waiting for her answer.

"I... I need time to think."

"Take all the time you need," Marcus said, though his stomach was still in knots. "You have until closing today. If you're not here tomorrow morning, I'll assume you quit."

Marcus walked toward the door, then paused.

"Oh, Emma? Tell Richard I said congratulations on the engagement. I'm sure you'll be very happy together."

As he reached the door, Emma called out desperately, "Marcus, wait!"

Marcus stopped but didn't turn around.

"Where are you going?"

Marcus smiled, feeling braver with each step.

"Shopping. I need new clothes. These old ones don't fit the new me."

He walked out, leaving Emma trying to explain to her confused coworkers.

[MISSION UPDATE: 25% COMPLETE]

[NEXT OBJECTIVE: ACQUIRE APPROPRIATE ATTIRE]

[HINT: ARMANI STORE, 5TH AVENUE]

Marcus got in a taxi. For the first time in three years, he didn't check the meter. Money wasn't a problem anymore.

Through the coffee shop window, he could see Emma on her phone, probably calling Richard to ask what she should do.

I can't believe I just did that, Marcus thought, his heart still racing. But it felt... right. For the first time in years, I didn't back down.

The system's voice whispered in his mind

 [CONFIDENCE BUILDING. CONTINUE MISSION.]

"Let's see how much your rich fiancé really loves you," Marcus muttered, watching the city blur past the taxi window.