Chapter 84

With his new home finally secured, Alex headed toward the city’s most prestigious car center. It was finally time to get his longtime dream car.

The car dealer store was a cathedral of glass and stone, housing the finest set of cars 2009 had to offer. From Porsches, to Ferraris, and even Aston Martin sat like precious jewels under the bright spotlight.

As Alex walked through the rows of cars, carefully scrutinizing each and every one of them like a true car enthusiast, a young man with dirty blonde hair, wearing a slightly oversized, cheap suit approached him.

The man looked out of place among the other slick, shark-like salesmen.

For starters, his grey eyes looked tired, and was underlined by deep shadows, and the fact that he clutched a clipboard as if it were a life raft itself, told Alex that the man probably overworked himself to either pay off a really high loan, or maybe it was just family issues.

Alex could sympathize with the man because in his previous life, he had once had that same exact look.

"Good afternoon, sir," the man said, offering a polite, albeit weary, bow. "Welcome to Harvey’s Car Dealers. My name is Andre. Is there any specific car model I can help you experience today?"

Alex paused, and really looked at the man. There was something really familiar about his face, he just couldn’t remember where.

’Wait a second!’ Alex thought, his brows furrowing deeper.

In his past life, or rather, in the future he remembered that this man was Andre Stuart, who was constantly on the cover of every business magazine in 2018. If he remembered correctly, this man, Andre Stuart would go on to found Aether & Dynamics, a company who in the future would revolutionize solar energy and logistics, becoming a multi-billionaire and one of the most respected minds in the country.

But here, in 2009, he was still a low-level salesman, who took this job because he needed the high commission to pay for his sixteen year old daughter’s stage three cancer treatments. It was too bad that in one month from now, his daughter would die.

Alex looked at Andre again. This rough looking salesman would one day end up becoming one of the richest businessmen in this country. He needed someone like him to serve as his lieutenant in BluePeak.

With the man’s currently undermined potential, BluePeak could rise even higher than what he initially thought was possible.

But first things first. Even if he invited the man to come work for him as his second in command over the business empire he was building, there was still the issue of loyalty. After all, what was the point of having the greatest sword, if that sword would one day turn against you?

Alex suddenly smirked when he thought of something effective.

’If I remember correctly, Andre loved his daughter with his life, and when she died, that was what pushed him to go into the path of business, so that he would eventually build a hospital that offered free cancer treatments. So if I were to use the body recovery water to heal her, then that should make him see me as his benefactor.’

’But there’s still a problem. How the hell am I supposed to convince this man that I can heal his daughter’s illness without making myself sound like some g*ddamn weirdo?’

Andre’s probing voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"Sir? Sir?"

"Uhmm sorry I was just thinking about something. Anyways, just show me the latest Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 that just came out this year.’

Andre’s eyes widened with something that looked like joy. That was nearly half a million dollars worth of sale. Just the commission alone would be able to cover at least two months of his daughter’s chemotherapy.

"Of... Of course, sir," Andre said, his voice trembling slightly with hope. "You’re lucky sir we have the only one around in this part of the city. Should I prepare the paperwork?’

"Sure, but let’s go see the car first."

"Oh right. I almost forgot about that. Sorry sir."

Andre led the way inside with quick steps. He guided Alex through a wide section of the showroom that was subtly sealed off by velvet ropes, where the lighting was noticeably softer than before, casting smooth reflections over the shiny curves and immaculate paintwork of sleek silver Porsches to bright red Ferraris.

Finally he stopped at a secluded corner where a single car sat beneath dazzling rays of light, and gestured forward with a hint of pride.

Standing there in all its majesty was the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. Its finish was a brilliant, stark white that practically seemed to glow, emphasizing its aggressive, wedge-shaped design that made the car look less like a normal luxury car and more like a fighter jet caught mid-flight.

"Here she is, sir," Andre whispered, his voice hushed with a genuine reverence that surpassed his role as a salesman. "The LP640. Ain’t she a beauty. She’s powered by a 6.5 liter V12 engine, pushing out six hundred and forty horsepower. She can even go from zero to sixty in just over three seconds, and her top speed is well above 330 kilometers per hour. She’s a masterpiece of Italian engineering. So what do you think about her, sir?"

Alex didn’t immediately respond, he was too busy watching his supposedly mature system, who had supposedly lived for eons, zip through the car interior with an ecstatic look on her chubby little face. She then flew to the front of the hood and gently stroked the car with a fawning almost romantic face.

[Oh, Alex, just look at these lines! It’s soooo pristine and elegant. This white is absolutely breathtaking. We absolutely have to get this one! With this we could be pulling more women all year round]

Alex couldn’t suppress the urge to chuckle. Andre beside him blinked in surprise, probably wondering whether Alex was laughing at the car or a private joke, nonetheless, Alex quickly masked it with a nod of approval.

"You’re right," Alex said while looking at the chibi but directing his words to Andre. "The white really does suit her. She has that certain... Untouchable quality, plus I’m tired of seeing black cars all around me."

Andre smiled, his weary eyes brightening as he sensed the sale was within reach.

"It does indeed, sir. It has the latest e-gear sequential transmission, plus the interior is fitted with the finest quilted leather known to man. If you’d like to step inside, I can show you the interior."

As Andre opened the scissor door which rose upward in that iconic sweeping motion, the scent of high grade leather and brand new machinery wafted out. Alex sat in the driver seat, feeling the car wrap around him. The chibi was even already in the passenger seat bouncing up and down on the leather.

[It’s sooo sooofffttt! Alex, we are never taking those stupid taxis again, and if you ever make us ride a public vehicle after sitting in this, I’m going to... Hmmm... I’m just going to find a way to upload all those embarrassing photos on your phone!]

Alex ignored her threats and focused on the man standing outside the door, who was looking at him with a mixture of professional hope and personal desperation. Andre was clutching his clipboard so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"So is this Murciélago to your liking, sir?" Andre asked, his voice wavering just a bit. "Would you like to move forward with the purchase now?"

"Yes, I’ll take it, Andre." Alex said simply while stepping out of the car. "I’ll be making the payment now. I want to ride this baby and see how far she can go."

The relief that flooded Andre’s face was almost tangible. He looked as if a literal weight had just been lifted off his shoulders.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you. If you follow me to the office, we can process the payment immediately. And given the current amount we can expedite the registration and the temporary car plates within an hour."

The next forty-nine minutes practically passed like a blur. Since it was 2009 the payment and signing of paperwork took a bit longer than normal, but at the end, everything went smoothly without any hiccups.

Finally the oh so special key, which felt heavy and emblazoned with the well known raging bull logo was finally placed in his palm. Alex would have wished that there was someone to take a picture of such an emotional moment.

"Alright then. Everything is in order, Mr Walker," Andre said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "The car is now officially yours. I... I can’t thank you enough. You might not know it but this sale means a lot more to me than just a paycheck."

Just as Alex was about to respond, a shrill, piercing ringtone cut through the room. It turned out to be Andre’s phone, which was a battered, old Nokia flip phone that he fumbled to pull out of his pocket.

"Excuse me sir, I have to take this," Andre whispered, his face going pale as he saw the caller ID. He stepped a few feet away, but with Alex’s enhanced hearing, every word coming from the other end was as clear as if it were on a loudspeaker.

"Mr Stuart? This is Nurse Miller from the oncology ward at Central City hospital." A frantic female voice said. "Your daughter, Lily... She’s just had a severe reaction to the latest rounds of her meds. Her vitals are dropping, and the doctor has moved her to the ICU. You need to get here immediately."