The dealership was exactly what I'd expected. Gleaming showroom, salespeople in sharp suits, and cars that cost more than most people's houses.
A young salesman approached immediately. "Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Mercedes Benz Showroom. I'm David. How can I help you today?"
"I'm looking to buy a car. Something reliable, good for city driving."
His eyes lit up. "Excellent. Were you thinking sedan, SUV, coupe?"
"Sedan, I think. Something practical but nice."
He led me through the showroom, pointing out various models. Top of the line luxury vehicles with features I didn't understand and wouldn't use.
I settled on a mid range model. Black, clean lines, nothing too flashy. Still expensive as hell, but not the most expensive thing in the lot.
"This is a great choice," David said enthusiastically. "Let me get you the paperwork."
The process took about an hour. Test drive, financing discussion which ended quickly when I said I'd pay in full, insurance setup, registration. By the time I drove off the lot, I was the owner of my first car ever.
I sat in the driver's seat for a moment, just processing. Weeks ago, I couldn't have afforded the insurance payment on this car. Now I owned it outright.
The world was ever changing.
I still had time before meeting Jared, so I drove to a fast food place with a drive through. I ordered a burger and fries, then sat in the parking lot eating and scrolling through my phone.
Social media was full of the usual nonsense. People I barely knew posting about their lives. I wondered what they'd think if they knew what I was really doing. Probably assume I'd lost my mind.
Maybe I had. Maybe this was all some elaborate delusion brought on by stress and malnutrition.
But the car was real. The house was real. The system was real.
I finished eating, threw the trash away, and plugged Jared's office address into the navigation system. Time to buy more property.
I arrived at Jared's office five minutes past three, parking in the visitor spots. The building was nice, professional without being pretentious.
Jared met me in the lobby. He was younger than I'd expected, maybe early thirties, with the kind of easy confidence that came from closing big deals regularly.
"Mr. Sinclair, good to meet you in person." We shook hands. "Come on up to my office."
His office was on the third floor, spacious and well organized. He had property listings pulled up on a large monitor.
"Okay, let's start with warehouses." He pulled up several options. "I've got a few in the general area you specified. This one," he highlighted a listing, "is interesting. Twenty two thousand square feet, right in the city. The price is actually lower than you'd expect for the location."
"Why?"
"Parking issues. The lot's small, so businesses have had trouble with trucks during loading and unloading. But if you're not dealing with major freight regularly, it might not be a problem."
I leaned forward, examining the photos. The warehouse looked perfect. High ceilings, good shelving already installed, clean space.
"I'd like to see it in person before deciding."
"Of course. Now for the retail space." He pulled up more listings. "These three are all in premium shopping districts. Two are in the same area, one's in a different location but equally high end."
The properties were beautiful. High ceilings, excellent lighting, prestigious addresses. Exactly the kind of place that screamed "expensive antiques sold here."
"Can we see all of them today?" I asked.
Jared's eyes lit up. The expression of a realtor sensing a quick commission. "Absolutely. I cleared my afternoon in case you wanted to view properties. Let me grab my keys."
We headed to the parking garage. Jared insisted on driving, and I agreed, leaving my new car in his building's lot.
The warehouse was first. It was exactly as advertised. Smaller parking lot, but the interior was fantastic. Shelving from floor to ceiling, good lighting, and a secure loading dock in the back.
"This works," I said after walking through. "I like it."
Jared beamed. "Excellent. Let's look at the retail spaces next."
The first two were in the same shopping district, within five minutes' walking distance of each other. Both were nice. Three stories, good window displays, plenty of space for inventory, and customer viewing areas.
But I wanted to see the third before committing.
"If you don't like the third one, I can find more options," Jared offered as we drove.
"These two are fine. But I want to see all my choices before deciding."
The third location was in a different district entirely. As we turned onto the street, I immediately noticed the difference. This area was more exclusive and more polished. Every storefront screamed luxury.
Jared pulled up to a corner building, and I understood why he'd saved this one for last.
"This was a Cartier location until about three months ago," he explained, unlocking the door. "They relocated to a larger space. It's been on the market since then."
The moment I stepped inside, I knew this was the one.
The space was perfect. Corner lot with windows on two sides, flooding the interior with natural light. Three stories, connected by an elegant staircase. The ground floor was designed for displays, the upper floors had been storage and offices, but could easily be converted to showrooms.
"Being a corner lot makes it more desirable," Jared said. "Better visibility, more foot traffic. And with three floors, you've got plenty of space for both inventory storage and display."
"What's the price?"
"Twenty two million."
I tried not to react, but my face must have given something away because Jared quickly added, "It's a prime location, corner lot, three stories, formerly occupied by a major luxury brand. The other two properties are more reasonably priced if this is outside your budget."
I walked through the space again, imagining it filled with carefully curated antiques. Rare pieces from Blue Light Planet and wherever else I eventually gained access to. This wasn't just about converting gold. This was about building a legitimate business front that could explain my increasing wealth.
"I'll take it," I said.
Jared blinked. "You'll... you're sure? I can show you more options if—"
"This one. It's perfect for what I need."
"Excellent!" His professional composure cracked slightly, replaced by genuine excitement. "Let's head back to the office and get the paperwork started."