When I opened my eyes the next morning the sun was already shining into my bedroom window. I sighed contentedly. Sun in the morning gave me an extra boost and had me in a good mood. Yeah, I only lived on the 21st floor but there was a gap between the surrounding buildings which allowed about an hour of sunshine into my bedroom every morning from about 8 to 9. I just loved the feeling of getting kissed awake by the sun.

To be fair, I would have loved getting kissed awake by Claudia even more but that wasn’t in the cards. The conversation with her had turned a little more flirty and the overtures weren’t exactly hidden but at the same time it hadn’t felt right to go any further. So we had said our goodbyes and I had headed home. I grinned replaying parts of that conversation in my mind. Let me tell you, I am not easily stumped when it comes to flirtation and double entendres but Claudia could give me a run for the money. And the best part was that she did it in such a matter of fact kind of way, it took me a while to know when she was playing and when she was serious.

As I headed to the shower I noticed the blinking of my quantum watch. These things basically combined communication device, bank account access, identification card and a whole lot of other things. It was mandatory to wear these things at all times. Government regulations and all.

I touched the screen and the hud alerted me to a call from my agent. Exactly the person I needed to talk to. “Hey Ben, how are things?”

“Dude, do you really need to ask? You lost. Got outsmarted and outmaneuvered, You are one lost game away from losing your number 1 spot in the ranking. You are getting old. That’s how it is going.”

I smiled. Always with the drama and theatrics. “Firstly: there is no getting, I AM old. Secondly: And?” I asked.

His previously frustrated and angry voice was replaced by a laugh. Then you could basically hear him grinning from ear to ear as he said: “And yet you managed to bring home the bacon baby!”

“That I did my friend. That I did. Still can’t believe the number that is currently displaying on my bank account. I need you to do something about that by the way.”

“Oh? Want to take me shopping? I could use a new suit to go with the new car you could buy me.”

I gave my watch screen the evil eye. “Nice try. You know what I mean. On that note though, I need to talk to you about something that has come up. So I am going to invite you to lunch today. Steak at the Blockhouse?”

“Ha, fuck my life!" he exclaimed. "I finally have a millionaire client and he invites me to steaks at a chain restaurant.”

“Or we can meet in your office. And I am expecting first class treatment being your first millionaire client and all…”

Now it was his turn to chuckle. “Yeah, not happening. I have known you for too long. If you are buying, I am eating. See you at 1:00.”