World Domination: My Rise To The Top

James had spent the entire morning going from one electronics store to another, hoping to find more faulty devices to repair and flip for profit.

The first job had gone smoothly, and once the system's rebate was applied, he would get a much-needed financial boost. But even then, it still wasn't enough. He needed more money—at least another $1,100 to complete the mission.

Unfortunately, his luck had run dry.

No matter how many stores he visited, he couldn't find any broken electronics for sale.

Some shop owners outright refused to sell, claiming they didn't keep defective items, while others simply gave him vague excuses.

After hours of searching, he came to the frustrating conclusion that this method wasn't going to work out in the long run.

He considered another option—buying used electronics online, fixing them, and reselling them for profit.

But even a quick glance at the listings made him realize it was a slow and unpredictable process.

Some sellers priced broken items almost as high as working ones, and those that were cheap enough to be worth buying were either too far away or required bulk purchases he couldn't afford.

James sighed as he stood outside a store, looking up at the clear blue sky. The sun was high, beating down on him, and the exhaustion from walking around all day was starting to wear him down.

"It seems like the only choice I have now is to look for a job," he muttered to himself.

"Or at least find something with daily pay. That's the only option left. All I need is $1,100 more, and I'll complete the mission."

With that decision made, James turned on his heel and began making his way home.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he had barely eaten anything all morning.

While the thought of stopping at a diner or fast food place crossed his mind, he immediately dismissed it.

Why spend money on eating out when there might be a warm, home-cooked meal waiting for him?

It would be a waste, especially now that he needed to maximize every rebate-eligible dollar he has and can get his hands on. Besides, nothing beat Patty's cooking. Nothing.

By the time he reached home, the exhaustion from walking around all morning had settled into his bones.

His shoulders ached slightly, and his legs felt heavier than usual. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him, already thinking about making himself something quick to eat before taking a shower and a short nap.

But as he turned toward the kitchen, his eyes landed on Leslie, sitting on the sofa.

She was completely still, staring off into the distance with a vacant expression, lost in thought.

Something about the way she sat—her shoulders slightly slumped, her arms resting limply at her sides—made James pause.

"Hey, Les," he called as he walked toward her.

"How are you? How did your job search go?"

He reached out and squeezed her shoulder playfully, though not hard enough to hurt.

It was a small gesture, something he did often to mess with her, but this time, Leslie jolted at the sudden touch, as if she had been startled out of deep thought.

She slowly turned her head toward him, her expression unreadable, her eyes clouded with something he couldn't quite place.

James frowned.

He sat down beside her on the sofa, leaning forward slightly as he studied her face.

"What's wrong, Leslie?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice. "You look down. Did something happen while you were out?"

Leslie hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'm fine, James. Nothing happened during my job hunt," she said, but her voice lacked the usual energy. "I'm just… thinking about something."

James' frown deepened.

Leslie had been acting strange since this morning. Normally, she was the one who would crack jokes and mess around with him, always keeping the house lively. But today, she was quiet, withdrawn.

"Come on, Les," he urged gently. "What is it? What's been bothering you all day?"

Silence filled the room as Leslie bit her lip, clearly debating something internally. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she sighed.

"I don't want to bother you, James," she said quietly. "Mom told me not to tell you yet, but I can't keep it to myself any longer."

James sat up straighter, giving her his full attention. Whatever she was about to say, it wasn't going to be something minor.

Leslie hesitated for a second before continuing.

"I know you've been dealing with a lot," she said. "College, working late nights, all of it. I know how hard you push yourself. I saw how exhausted you are when you came back yesterday.

The dark circles under your eyes are enough to tell me how many sleepless nights you've had. And I didn't want to add more stress to your plate. But… if I don't tell you this, I feel like I'll regret it."

James' chest tightened.

"Just tell me, Les," he said softly.

Leslie exhaled shakily. Then she looked at him, her expression solemn.

"James," she began, "we're going to lose the house."

James felt his breath hitch.

"The mortgage… Mom can't afford to pay it anymore," Leslie continued, her voice strained. "Her company's in trouble. It's going to shut down soon, and… sending both of us to college drained her savings. She's been holding things together for as long as she could, but…"

She trailed off, shaking her head.

James sat frozen.

His mind reeled, trying to process the words that had just left her mouth.

Lose the house?

His home?

He clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists against his thighs.

Patty— the woman that took him in after his parents died, his mother, his family, in every way that mattered—had been struggling all this time, and he had no idea?

She had never let it show, never once complained. She had always worn the same warm smile, always reassured them that things were fine, always made sure there was food on the table, that they had everything they needed.

And all this time, she had been drowning.

James swallowed hard, his throat dry.

How could he have not seen it?

A heavy silence hung between them. Leslie lowered her head, gripping the fabric of her jeans tightly.

"I didn't want to tell you," she admitted. "But I couldn't pretend everything was fine anymore."

James exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm.

He needed to think.

Panic wouldn't solve anything.

If Patty lost her job, they wouldn't just be struggling—they would be homeless. There wouldn't be a home to return to. He couldn't let that happen.

Not to Patty. Not to Leslie.

Not to himself.

His mind raced. He had some money now, but it wasn't nearly enough. Even with the rebate system, he needed a stable way to earn more money—and fast.

"I see," James finally said, his voice steady but quiet.

Leslie looked up at him, as if surprised by his reaction.

"I'll figure something out," he continued.

"James, you don't have to—"

"I'll figure something out," he repeated, firmer this time.

Leslie studied his face for a moment before nodding slowly.

A new kind of determination settled in James' chest.

The system had given him a chance. A way out. And he was going to use it to make sure his family never had to struggle again.

He wouldn't let them lose their home.

He couldn't.

As the weight of his newfound responsibility sank in, James glanced around the house, the place that had sheltered him, comforted him, given him warmth and love when he had nothing.

This wasn't just a house. It was home.

And he was going to protect it. No matter what it takes.