World Domination: My Rise To The Top

The weight of what Leslie had told him earlier still pressed down on his shoulders, an invisible burden that he couldn't shake off.

They were going to lose the house.

That thought alone was enough to send his brain into overdrive, scrambling for solutions.

He needed to complete the mission as soon as possible, but more than that, he needed rebate-eligible money. Without it, the cash he had on hand would become useless the moment the rebate was applied.

It wasn't just about earning money—it was about making sure that every dollar he spent worked in his favor.

The 10x rebate was his biggest advantage, but at the same time, it was also his biggest limitation. If he mismanaged his spending, he would run out of money before even realizing it.

He had to be smart.

His first instinct was to look for more repair jobs, but after today's failure, he realized that method wouldn't get him enough money fast enough. He needed something bigger, something more substantial.

"Is there really no way for me to make some quick substantial money without taking an equivalent amount of risk?" he muttered under his breath, tapping his fingers against the wooden surface of the kitchen countertop.

James didn't want to rush things, but with Patty on the verge of losing her job and the mortgage payments piling up, he didn't have the luxury of time.

Gambling, stocks, and crypto were the only real options that came to mind—methods that promised fast money but carried just as much risk.

He had sworn off those things after his last failed attempt, but now, it seemed like he might not have a choice.

He exhaled sharply, pushing the thoughts aside for now. Maybe if he let his mind rest, a better idea would come to him.

For now, food.

He quickly whipped up something to eat, letting the motions of cooking distract him, even if just for a little while.

The sizzle of the pan, the aroma of spices filling the kitchen, the rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board—it was familiar, comforting.

It reminded him of simpler times, when all he had to worry about was getting through school and helping out at home.

He set his plate on the table and had barely taken his first bite when Leslie's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Jim, guess who called when you came back yesterday?" she asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

James sighed, already knowing that she wasn't going to give him a straight answer.

"Who?" he asked, not bothering to look up from his plate.

"Why don't you take a guess?"

James glanced up at her, already seeing where this was going. Leslie loved playing games like this, but he wasn't in the mood.

"You know I'm terrible at your guessing games, so just tell me," he said, flashing her a smile that was anything but amused, and said,

"Stop teasing me unless you want me to beat you into a pulp."

Leslie's teasing smile faltered for a second before she coughed, pretending to compose herself.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," she said, waving a hand. "It was Natasha. She called saying she needed help with the new PC her brother got her."

James groaned audibly, putting his fork down and running a hand down his face.

"Natasha? What does she want this time? Why can't she just leave me alone?"

Leslie giggled, resting her chin on her palm.

"She likes you, dummy. That much is obvious. She's just trying to find an excuse to spend time with you. Why not give her a chance? She's nice and sweet," she said with a teasing smirk.

James shot her a look, one that wiped the smirk right off her face.

"No."

"You're so cold," Leslie huffed, crossing her arms. "Natasha's been crushing on you for years. You could at least acknowledge her feelings instead of acting like she's a nuisance."

James shook his head, blocking out the conversation entirely. Natasha was the least of his concerns right now.

Back to his money issue, he thought about applying for a temporary job, but that would take too long. Selling something valuable? He barely owned anything worth real money. Loans were out of the question. He needed something that paid fast—and then it hit him.

But then, a thought struck him.

Natasha's brother.

Ralph.

Ralph was well-versed in gambling, crypto, and all the risky ways of making money. He wasn't exactly a pro, but he knew enough. More than James did, at least.

James had once been foolish enough to take advice from Ralph, which had led to him losing over $3,000 trying to invest in meme coins.

But to be fair, Ralph had warned him about the risks. He had even suggested some safer investments, but James, being impatient at the time, had ignored the advice and gone all in on something stupid.

And, well, he had paid the price.

Even so, Ralph knew the game. If there was a way to make quick, legal money, he might have an idea.

James quickly finished his food, washing his plate before grabbing his phone.

He had to see Ralph.

"Hey, I'm heading out. I'll be back later," he told Leslie as he grabbed his keys and made his way to the door.

Leslie blinked in surprise.

"Wait, where are you going?"

James didn't answer as he stepped outside.

Leslie watched him leave, tapping her fingers against her cheek as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"He's going to see Ralph," she muttered to herself.

She sighed, shaking her head with a small smile.

"I really pity Natasha," she said with a chuckle. "She's been suffering from this unrequited love for a long time. But I don't blame her. My blockhead of a brother just doesn't feel anything for her."

She leaned back on the chair, staring at the ceiling.

"James really is a ladies' man, huh?" she mused, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

But her smile faded slightly as she thought about what was really going on.

James was pushing himself too hard.

She could see it in the way his shoulders tensed when he thought no one was looking, the way he sighed just a little too often, the way he barely reacted to teasing anymore.

He was stressed. More than he let on.

And while Leslie had faith that he would figure something out—he always did—she still couldn't help but worry.

James didn't realize it, but she saw everything.

And she hated that there was nothing she could do to help.

As the front door clicked shut behind him, leaving the house in silence, Leslie let out a quiet sigh.

She hoped he wouldn't do something reckless.

She hoped that, for once, he would let someone else share the burden.

But knowing James… That wasn't going to happen.

She wanted to help him. To take away even a fraction of the burden he carried. But what could she do? Nothing. And that was the worst part of all