Usually, the sun or my body causes me to wake up from bed; this time, however, I fell out of bed, hitting my knee on the floor. The pain was the reason I woke up. I picked myself up off the floor and headed for the shower to wake myself up. Once out of the shower, I got dressed before leaving my apartment and headed for the nearby food stall to grab a bite to eat.
After having a bite to eat, I got in my car and headed for City Center to meet with Karim. Because the lockdown was lifted, the traffic was a nightmare. Police checkpoints were set up outside of each district, making it a pain to get anywhere.
Finally, out of the traffic, I was able to get to Karim’s penthouse, where he was staying. I used the intercom and told Karim that I was on my way up and that I had the money that he desperately needed back. Only to be met with silence.
When I stepped into Karim's penthouse, I couldn't help but notice the extravagant decor that accentuated the luxuriousness of the place. Every piece of furniture and decor item seemed to scream wealth and extravagance.
From the plush velvet couches to the shimmering crystal chandeliers, everything was carefully selected to showcase Karim's affluence and status. However, what caught my attention the most was the detailed model of Night City situated right in the middle of the living room. It looked like a miniature city, with every intricate detail carefully crafted.
I couldn't help but marvel at the level of precision and attention to detail that had gone into making the model. The only noticeable difference between the model and the real city was that Pacifica had been redesigned with new towering buildings.
Before I could take a closer look at the new Pacifica, Karim showed up behind me.
“Hey man, wassup? Wassup? So glad you could make it, man. Seriously. Fucking A.”
“Good to see you’ve recovered.”
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Karim was confused by my comment before remembering being beaten up by Sam.
“What? Oh yeah, ha-ha. So, you have my money?”
I handed over the briefcase to Karim.
He opened the case and looked at the eddies. “Oh ho ho, this is good.”
I asked about what my reward was, only for Karim to get distracted by a song that started playing on the speakers.
“Your reward? Oh man, oh, I love this song. You know this song?” Karim started singing the song “Saudi Money. We’re getting Saudi money.”
Karim started dancing to the song's beat and proceeded to ask me if I danced.
“Only with women pal. Now what’s my reward?” I yelled.
“Right. You, my friend, have a new contact. Me!”
To be honest, I was expecting Karim to hand over some eddies as a thank-you. But I decided to go ahead and ask Karim what he needed me to do. Before Karim spoke, I couldn’t help but ask about the strange noises coming from upstairs.
“Are you watching an erotic BD up there?”
Karim was quick to defend himself. “What! No! It’s real women! Hot ones. Not cheap. Trust me, bro. You want to join in?”
I declined his offer. He was trying his best to seem cool, but in reality, it was evident that he grew up in a wealthy environment, and as a way to rebel against his father, he moved to Night City and is trying to make a name for himself. I asked Karim what it was he wanted.
"You see this city? I own it. Everything. Seriously.”
“Really?” I replied.
“No. Not yet. But one day. I have big plans for this city. I’m going to be building penthouses, condos, and luxury apartments. Serious shit man.”
“So, what’s this got to do with me?” I asked.
“I need you to shut my father up.”
I stopped Karim from continuing, “Hang on, I ain’t flatlining your father.” I said.
“What? No! I don't want you to kill my father! I need you to collect a limo for him. And I found the perfect one. It’s a beautiful vehicle. Sexy. The shop you will find it has it displayed by the window. And that will shut him up. Besides, it shows I've got good connections. Shows him the respect that he deserves.”
“So, you want me to get a limo, and that will make your father happy? You better be the real deal.”
In a way to show that he’s the real deal, he picked up a stack of eddies and tossed it to me as a down payment.
"Look, man, you and me—we're like brothers now, and we’re going to take over this city. Now go. I'll text you more about the limo when you get there. If you excuse me, I have some important business to attend to.”
I walked to the elevator, but before the door closed, I could hear Karim yell out, “Ladies! Prepare to feel the wrath of the all-mighty Karim Hakim! Wooo!”