July 30, 09:30 AM

The office was alive with the hum of preparation. Lars stood by the large conference table, flipping through slides for his upcoming presentation to Sentech Solutions. He was calm, focused, but I could see the weight of responsibility in the way he checked and rechecked every number. On the other side of the room, Ray worked quietly on his presentation for Bellalux, his brow furrowed in concentration as he reviewed product stats and customer feedback.

They were both stepping into new roles today—leaders, not just salesmen. And that meant they needed to shine in front of our biggest partners.

For the first time in months, I wasn't the one preparing a pitch. I wasn't the one on the front lines. And that left me with something I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever—a sense of freedom. No back-to-back meetings. No late nights grinding through paperwork. Just... a moment to breathe.

As I leaned against the doorway, watching them work, Onio approached with a cup of coffee in hand. His usual casual smile was replaced with something more concerned.

"You look tired," he said, handing me the coffee. "You've been pushing it too hard, man. You need a break."

Before I could respond, Evelyn appeared beside him, nodding in agreement. "He's right. You've been at this nonstop. I don't think any of us have seen you take a day off in months."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a little guilty but also knowing they had a point. "I'm fine," I muttered, but even I could hear the fatigue in my voice.

Onio shook his head. "Nah, listen, you've been grinding for too long. Lars and Ray have this covered today. You've trained them for this moment. Trust them to handle it."

Evelyn added, "You've earned a breather. Take the day off, recharge. We can handle everything here."

I looked back at Lars and Ray, both deep in their work. They had grown so much. I had seen them develop from raw talent into leaders, and now, they were ready to take the stage.

For the first time in a long time, I realized I didn't have to carry everything on my shoulders.

"Alright," I said, exhaling slowly. "I'll take a breather."

Onio patted my back, grinning. "Good. You deserve it."

Evelyn gave me a reassuring smile. "Go on, relax. We've got this."

With one last glance at the room, I nodded and stepped out, letting the door close behind me. No meetings, no deadlines—just me, free for a day. And it felt strange, but in the best possible way.

As I walked out of the office, the thought settled in—I had built something real, something that could run without me constantly pulling the strings. And when Lars took the stage for Sentech, and Ray presented to Bellalux, I knew they would prove that our empire was no longer just a vision—it was a reality.

And I could finally take a moment to enjoy it.

The garage door hummed open, and I stepped into the cool concrete space, sliding into the driver's seat. The engine rumbled to life, a low growl, as I pulled out and made my way home. The city streets were quieter than usual, the morning rush already behind. For once, I wasn't in a hurry.

As I approached my apartment, the scent hit me even before I opened the door—a warm, rich blend of garlic, basil, and chilies. My stomach growled in response. I pushed the door open, and there she was, Mom, stirring a pan on the stove, her movements rhythmic and familiar. The smell of pad krapao mingled with the unmistakable aroma of Pad Thai, my favorites.

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"Hey, I'm home!" I called out, shrugging off my jacket.

Mom glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening. "Home already? What a surprise!"

"Day off," I said, kicking off my shoes. "First one in ages. Thought we should finally start planning that trip to the States."

Mom smiled, a flicker of excitement lighting up her face. "Well, wash your hands first, then we can eat and talk."

I made my way to the sink, the sound of water running blending with the gentle sizzle from the stove. The smell of Thai spices clung to the air, and as I dried my hands, I couldn't help but feel a wave of contentment.

We sat down at the table, dishes steaming between us, the food vibrant and inviting. As I took a bite of the Pad Krapao, the heat of the chilies hit me, perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the basil. Mom watched me with a knowing grin.

"So, where do you want to go first in the U.S.?" she asked, twirling noodles onto her fork.

"Definitely New York," I said, pausing to savor the flavor. "I've always wanted to see the skyline, the food... maybe hit up a Broadway show."

Mom nodded, her eyes sparkling. "And we have to try some real American street food, maybe visit the Grand Canyon too. It's going to be quite the adventure."

We spent the next hour mapping out our dream trip—talking about the places we wanted to visit, the meals we'd try, and the experiences we couldn't wait to have. Every destination, every dish seemed to bring us closer to the moment when we'd finally step onto that plane, ready for the journey of a lifetime.

The excitement built with each passing thought, each bite of familiar food a reminder of home, even as we dreamed of somewhere new.

I took another bite of pad krapao, savoring the heat of the chilies. As I looked across the table at Mom, her face lit up with a relaxed smile. There was no trace of worry on her brow, no signs of the tiredness she used to carry.

"So, how are you feeling, Mom?" I asked, setting my fork down. "You ever get bored being home and not working anymore?"

She chuckled, her laughter light and easy. "Bored? Oh, please. Between cooking, catching up on my shows, and keeping up with you, I've got my hands full."

I grinned. "Yeah, but I know you. You used to thrive when you were out there, busy with work. Don't you miss it?"

She shook her head, her smile softening. "Not really. I did my part, worked hard for years. Now, I'm enjoying the little things. Waking up whenever I want, making meals like this, and waiting for my favorite son to finally come home for dinner once in a while."

I laughed, leaning back in my chair. "Your only son."

"Exactly." She winked, taking a sip of water. "And besides, I get to plan our trips and have some fun for a change. No more stress, no more rush."

Her happiness was contagious, filling the room with warmth. Seeing her this way, carefree and content, it hit me—this was exactly what I'd worked so hard for all these years.

"This is the life I always wanted for you," I said, my voice softening. "You being able to enjoy yourself, not worrying about anything. It makes me happy, you know?"

She smiled at me, that same smile from when I was a kid—the one that made everything feel okay. "I know. And it makes me happy to see you working toward your dreams. You've built something incredible, and I'm so proud of you."

The weight of the world seemed lighter in that moment. We weren't just talking about trips or food or work; we were celebrating everything we'd come through—together.

"This is what it's all about," I murmured, almost to myself.

Mom just nodded, her smile never fading. "Exactly. Now, are you going to finish that Pad Thai, or should I take it from you?"

I laughed and pushed the plate toward her. "Go ahead, it's all yours."

And just like that, the small talk carried on—light, easy, with no worries hanging over us. For once, it felt like we had all the time in the world.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 15

Skill Count: 3 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze) (Global Monitoring System)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:28

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 5.9 Million Kroner

Associate - 8

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -25

Company - 1