Chapter 40: Hi, I Am -?
Kyle waited patiently for an update about his permit application, but during the long wait, he decided to send Jane a quick text.
It was a simple "Hi," yet it had her blushing like an inexperienced high school girl, something Mike had noticed as he caught her smiling at her phone.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle leaned back into his seat, reflecting on how his journey to success was only just beginning.
He could have easily spent his newly acquired wealth on random women online or indulged in OF models, but he had loftier ambitions for where he planned to climb in life.
Kyle couldn’t risk leaving a digital trail or receipts of such things tied to his name, knowing how these records could haunt him in the future.
People only seemed to remember their interactions with you when you became famous, and he wasn’t about to give anyone ammunition against him.
What kind of reputation would he have if someone unearthed proof that he had paid an OF model once he was at the pinnacle of success?
Such evidence would tarnish his carefully cultivated image, branding him as just another degenerate with no self-control.
Interacting with women in person, however, was far less risky and didn’t leave behind any incriminating evidence for anyone to dig up later.
For now, though, all of that felt secondary to Kyle’s primary goal: multiplying his wealth and upgrading his system to maximize its capabilities.
The system’s current level already allowed him to live a luxurious and comfortable life, but Kyle wasn’t interested in mere comfort.
He wanted more—he wanted the power to reshape his world and to hold the entire planet in the palm of his hand.
With the system’s potential, achieving global domination wasn’t just a dream; it was an inevitable future he was working tirelessly to manifest.
Just then, Kyle’s phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was James, informing him that his application had been submitted successfully.
James explained that the permit approval process could take a while but mentioned that he could fast-track it for an additional fee, which Kyle would need to reimburse later.
Kyle accepted the condition without hesitation, knowing the fees would likely be inflated since James was earning his commission from the arrangement.
It didn’t bother Kyle, though; money was no longer a concern for him, and time was far more valuable in his current situation.
"Why me?" Kyle suddenly muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the car’s quiet engine hum.
Why had he been the one to awaken such an extraordinary ability? Was he special in some significant way?
Was he part of a unique bloodline, or perhaps the first person in history to possess such a gift?
How was something like this even possible to begin with? Kyle’s mind raced with countless questions, but he knew that no answers would be forthcoming—at least not yet.
Before he could delve any further into these thoughts, a soft knock on his car window startled him, pulling him back to reality.
He turned his head to see a blonde woman standing outside, gently pushing a stroller with a small child inside.
Kyle’s instincts went on high alert immediately, as the city was notorious for scammers who used creative tricks to prey on unsuspecting individuals.
The woman’s harmless appearance didn’t lower his guard; after all, the child could easily be part of an elaborate setup to manipulate him into helping.
"Can I help you?" Kyle asked curtly, his tone polite but wary as he stared at her through the slightly tinted window.
The woman gestured toward a car parked nearby, its hood emitting thick smoke, clearly having overheated in the sweltering heat.
Kyle sighed quietly, noticing the flushed faces of both the woman and her child, who looked uncomfortable and sweaty in the stroller.
Reluctantly, Kyle pressed the button to lower his window slightly, allowing a rush of cool, conditioned air to escape from his car.
"I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but could I borrow your phone?" the woman asked, her voice soft but laced with desperation.
Kyle raised an eyebrow skeptically, his gaze shifting between her and the child as he weighed the situation carefully.
Noticing his hesitation, the woman quickly added, "My phone died, and I don’t have any way to contact someone for help."
Kyle’s eyes returned to the child in the stroller, and he sighed again, conceding internally that he couldn’t leave them stranded in the dangerous heat.
"Why don’t I just call an Uber for you?" Kyle suggested, thinking it was a safer and more efficient option.
The woman’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she hesitated before looking down at the ground.
"I... forgot my card, and with my phone dead, I can’t even use the app," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kyle observed her more closely, picking up on her French accent and noting her round cheeks and soft, natural beauty.
She seemed somewhat chubby but carried herself gracefully, and Kyle’s curiosity briefly led him to check her hands for a wedding ring.
Her current posture made it difficult to tell, but Kyle quickly dismissed the thought and opened the Uber app on his phone.
"All right, I’ll call one for you," he said after a moment, scrolling through his saved coupons to redeem a small discount.
"It’s done," Kyle said finally, placing his phone back in the cupholder. "The driver should be here in about three minutes."
The woman let out an audible sigh of relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she murmured, "You’re a lifesaver."
Kyle pressed another button, unlocking the passenger door. "Do you want to wait inside? It’s cooler in here," he offered nonchalantly.
The woman hesitated, clearly uncertain about accepting the invitation from a stranger, but the oppressive heat left her little choice.
After a brief pause, she nodded and carefully lifted her child into the car before settling into the passenger seat herself.
The moment she felt the cold air from the AC, she visibly relaxed, unbuttoning the top few buttons of her shirt for ventilation.
Kyle caught himself glancing momentarily but quickly looked away, silently cursing his wandering thoughts as he adjusted the rearview mirror.
"Thank you so much," she said softly, her tone filled with genuine gratitude.
"You know, you should consider carrying a backup phone," Kyle remarked, breaking the brief silence. "Something like this could happen again."
"I usually do," she replied with a sheepish smile. "But it broke yesterday. Terrible timing, isn’t it?"
"Sounds like karma’s using you as a case study," Kyle joked, earning a quiet laugh from her as she shook her head.
"I’m Kyle, by the way," he introduced himself, extending a hand as he glanced at her.
"I’m Cassandra, but my friends call me Casey," she replied, shaking his hand lightly.
"And what do men interested in you call you?" Kyle asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips—until he noticed the ring on her finger.
"They call me his wife," Cassandra replied politely, smiling softly. "You’re a little too late and far too young, I’m afraid."
Kyle chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Too young? You make it sound like you aren’t in your early twenties."
Cassandra flushed slightly, covering her mouth with a hand to suppress a laugh. "Stop it," she muttered, clearly flattered despite herself.
When the Uber finally arrived, Kyle offered to take her number under the pretext of ensuring she got home safely.
Though initially hesitant, Cassandra eventually relented and provided her number before stepping out of the car with her child.B
