The Invisible God-Level Tycoon

Chapter 2

Alex woke up on a bed that felt like a cloud. He looked around the penthouse suite. It was bigger than the entire house he’d shared with three roommates last week.

He flexed his arm and felt the hard muscle under his skin. The system wasn't a dream. He really was a master of martial arts now, and he really had more money than he could ever spend.

"I'm actually rich," Alex whispered to himself. "I'm not the guy who has to skip lunch to pay for a bus pass anymore."

There was a light knock on the door. Silas walked in, carrying a tablet and a fresh set of clothes.

"Good morning, Young Master," Silas said. "I've prepared everything for your meeting with Miss Chloe Miller. It’s at the Blue Moon Cafe in thirty minutes."

"Thanks, Silas. What am I wearing?" Alex asked, looking at the high-end brands Silas was holding.

"I've selected a silk shirt and tailored slacks, sir. You should look your best."

"No," Alex said, shaking his head. "If I show up looking like a prince, people will start asking questions. I'm supposed to be a nobody. Give me a plain white t-shirt, some regular jeans, and those beat-up sneakers from yesterday. I'll just wash the mud off."

Silas looked confused. "But sir, wouldn't that make Miss Miller think poorly of you? She’s a very high-class woman."

"That’s the point," Alex said with a small smile. "I want to see if she’s like Sarah. If she only cares about the label on my clothes, then this contract won't work anyway. Besides, the system says I can't reveal who I really am. Being a 'poor' husband is the best shield I've got."

"I understand, sir. I'll have the car wait around the corner so no one sees you getting out of a Maybach," Silas said.

"Perfect. I'm ready to go."

Twenty minutes later, Alex walked into the Blue Moon Cafe. It was a place for the elite. The air smelled of expensive coffee and perfume. He saw a woman sitting by the window. She was wearing a sharp black business suit. Her hair was tied back in a perfect bun. Even from across the room, she looked like she was made of ice and diamonds. That had to be Chloe Miller.

As Alex walked toward her, a waiter stepped in his path.

"Excuse me, the kitchen entrance is in the back," the waiter said, looking at Alex’s plain clothes.

"I'm here for a meeting," Alex replied calmly.

"We don't allow solicitors or delivery guys to sit in the main area," the waiter said, his voice loud enough for others to hear.

"I'm her guest," Alex said, pointing at Chloe.

The waiter looked at Chloe, then back at Alex. He laughed. "Miss Miller? You've got to be kidding me. She doesn't talk to people who wear clothes from a supermarket. Get out before I call security."

"He’s with me," Chloe said. Her voice was cold and clear, cutting through the waiter’s laughter.

The waiter froze. "I'm so sorry, Miss Miller! I didn't think... I mean, he doesn't look like..."

"It doesn't matter what you think," Chloe said without looking up from her tablet. "Bring him a black coffee. And don't interrupt us again."

The waiter bowed and hurried away. Alex sat down across from Chloe. She finally looked up, and her eyes were like two blue flames. She looked him up and down, her expression never changing.

"I'm Chloe Miller," she said. "I'm sure your contact told you why we're here."

"I'm Alex Reed," he replied. "And yeah, I heard you need a husband so your family doesn't take your company away."

"I don't need a husband, Alex. I need a legal shield," Chloe corrected him. "My grandfather’s will says I must be married by my twenty-fifth birthday to keep my position as CEO of Miller Tech. That birthday is next week. My cousins, especially Jason Miller, are trying to push me out. If I marry someone they can't control, I stay in power."

"And why me?" Alex asked. "I'm just a guy with nothing to his name. I'm pretty sure you could find a hundred rich guys who’d jump at the chance to marry you."

"That’s exactly why I don't want them," Chloe said. "Rich men have agendas. They have families who want a piece of my business. You're perfect because you're nobody. You have no power, no money, and no influence. You won't try to take over my boardroom because you wouldn't even know how to read a balance sheet."

Alex almost laughed. If she only knew. "So, I'm just a placeholder? A professional loser?"

"I'm being honest with you," Chloe said. "I'll pay you ten thousand dollars a month. You'll live in my house, but in a separate room. You'll attend family events with me and act like a devoted husband. In return, I'll make sure no one bothers you. After one year, we'll get a quiet divorce, and I'll give you a million dollars as a parting gift."

"It sounds like a good deal," Alex said. "But I have one rule. Don't ask me where I go or what I do in my free time. I've got my own things to handle."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "What 'things' could a guy like you have? But fine. I don't care what you do as long as you don't get arrested or embarrass me in public. Do we have an agreement?"

"We've got a deal," Alex said.

"Good. Sign this," she said, sliding a contract across the table.

As Alex took the pen, a familiar, annoying voice drifted over.

"Well, well, well. I thought I smelled something trashy in here."

Alex didn't even have to look up. It was Mike, Sarah’s older brother. He was walking toward the table with a group of friends, all of them dressed in flashy, expensive brands.

"Alex? What are you doing at a place like this?" Mike sneered. "Did you follow Sarah here? I told you, she’s with a real man now. Jason’s buying her a car today while you're probably counting pennies for a latte."

Alex kept his cool. "I'm busy, Mike. Walk away."

Mike laughed and looked at Chloe. His eyes went wide. "Wait... Miss Miller? The CEO of Miller Tech? Why are you sitting with this bum? Did he try to beg you for a job? He’s a janitor, Miss Miller. He's a loser who can't even pay his own rent."

Chloe looked at Mike with pure boredom. "He’s not begging for a job, Mike. He’s my fiancé."

The cafe went dead silent. Mike’s jaw dropped so low it almost hit the floor. His friends started whispering.

"Fiancé?" Mike stammered. "You're joking, right? This guy? He was just crying in the rain last night because my sister dumped him! He’s a total failure!"

"I don't care about his past," Chloe said, standing up. "I care about his future. And right now, his future is with me. Alex, let’s go. We have a marriage license to sign."

Alex stood up and tucked the pen into his pocket. He looked at Mike, who was still frozen in shock.

"Tell Sarah I said thanks," Alex said quietly. "If she hadn't dumped me, I wouldn't have found someone so much better."

"You're lying!" Mike yelled as they walked toward the door. "You're just a toy! She’s going to get bored of you and throw you back in the trash where you belong! You're still a nobody, Alex! You'll always be a nobody!"

Alex didn't look back. He followed Chloe out to her sleek red Ferrari.

"That was quite a show," Alex said as he got into the passenger seat.

"Don't get used to it," Chloe said, starting the engine. "I only did that to shut him up. In private, we aren't friends. We're business partners. I'm the boss, and you're the employee. Do you understand?"

"I'm perfectly fine with that," Alex said, looking at his bank balance on his phone. It hadn't changed. He was still a billionaire. "I think we're going to get along just fine, Chloe."

"I doubt it," she muttered, peeling away from the curb. "I've got a meeting with the board in an hour. I'll drop you off at my villa. My maid will show you where the guest room is. Stay out of trouble."

"I'll try," Alex said, watching the city fly by. "But I think trouble has a way of finding me lately."

As they drove, Alex got a message from the system.

*Ding!*

[New Mission: Protect Chloe Miller’s company from the upcoming hostile takeover. Reward: 5% stake in the world’s largest shipping company.]

Alex leaned back and closed his eyes. The game was just starting, and he was holding all the cards. He didn't mind if Chloe thought he was useless. In fact, it made things much more interesting. He’d let her play the CEO for now. He was more than happy to be the man behind the curtain, waiting for the perfect moment to show the world who really owned the city.