Transmigration was a whole new strange, and dizzying experience for Tony, but somehow, shockingly, he already felt at home.
After the memory flood he received, it was as though this was already a part of his life... like it was already his existence, and this vague feeling of familiarity made him feel at home and very ready to go about his mission.
Nothing seemed to be his problem unless, of course, you wanted to talk about Miss Maniak, his system guider, who jumps out of nowhere and startles him, something that was apparently becoming its hobby.
But however, beyond Manniak's shenanigans, Tony was thinking of the best way to start changing his host body's life and get people to start believing in the changes.
"I guess…" he mumbled to himself, glancing around the room. "I guess I should start by clearing out this coke on my table."
He walked away from the mirror and toward the table, then started to tidy it up.
Good thing he wasn't a drug user. At least he could cross that disaster off the list.
However, tidying up the table made him remember that they had butlers and also some house help that usually cleaned the house. The urge to call them and have them tidy up the coke was highly palpable, but he had decided to start making a change in the life of Tom... or in fact, 'his life' as the new Tom, and clearing this table was his first baby step.
He packed the whole powder and wrapped it up in a piece of newspaper, then fetched a small towel which he used to wipe off the particles left lingering on the table.
And just like set on cue, immediately he disposed of it, his phone rang.
He moved over to his bed where his phone lay and picked it up. On the screen was the caller ID: "Mom."
He was only inches away from clicking the answer button when a familiar feeling washed over him. Everything seemed to slow as though he had gotten some kind of weird super speed and...
"AAAAHHH!"
A sudden, startling yell tore from his mouth as Miss Maniak's voice echoed through his head without warning.
[Mr Quin, accessing your adoptive mom.]
[Yes / No]
Tony was still clutching his heart that had jumped to the Nether. "Damn Manniak" he cried.
"Ohh finally, a sane option." He muttered, despite himself .
"Accessing mom," he grumbled. Well, maybe he had his memories, but getting to know more about his mom and the relationship between them wouldn't hurt.
"Yes," he replied inquisitively.
A soft ding echoed in his head as Maniak began:
[Aurelia Quin: your adoptive mother and the CEO of Elysian Crown Haircare Corporation (ECHC). Age 46. Personality: a Black hardworking woman with a genuine urge to make a difference in the world and to be very famous and influential. She is wealthy, and she single-handedly made all of it by herself. She is a proud, luxurious woman with a net worth of $12,700,000…]
(Tony's mouth hung agape, lucky for him there was no fly on duty.)
[…She is single and apparently not searching for now. She though has a shaky relationship with her son "you" for being an asshole… dickhead… women's whore… drug addict… pain in the ass…]
"Whoa whoa whoa, Maniak, I'm gonna stop you right there," Tony grumbled, raising an angry brow. "You've made your fucken point."
[(●_●)]
[The truth pains Mr Quin.]
"Oh yeah?" Tony replied, face contorting. "Fuck you and your fucken smiley face."
He breathed out and slapped his palm across his face. "What's so funny, huh?"
Maniak replied with her melodic female voice, something that was becoming relatively annoying to Tony.
[Well, Mr Quin, your anger is sort of funny… and I think I like you, sir.]
"Screw you," Tony threw back. "Now finish your damn accessing... analysis shit... or whatever."
[I'm done, Mr Quin. You can go ahead and answer the phone.]
And just as it came, the feeling that engulfed him evaporated.
"Bitch-ass motherfucker," he murmured as he picked up the call.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?"
His mom's voice roared through the phone.
"You are meant to be at the office by now!"
"At the office... oh right…" Tony replied as he remembered the party held at the office.
Tonight, at the office was the corporate anniversary gala. ECHC's annual celebration marking the launch of their flagship product line. An event packed with shareholders, investors, VIPs, journalists… and ofcourse an important speech by the great CEO...Miss. Aurelia.
"Don't tell me you have been coking your ass up that you forgot the damn party, Tom!"
Tony sighed. "Calm down, Mom. I will be right there. I'm already prepared," he lied.
His mom grunted through the phone.
"Get your ass over here… and I'ma whoop your ass if you miss my fucken speech, goddammit!" she finalized as she hung up.
Tony exhaled as he imagined how it was going to be at the party.
"God, everyone knows me… I just hope I make a better impression tonight."
He spun around. "God, I better get prepared."
Quickly he grabbed his towel and dashed into the bathroom. With the speed of light he took his bath and came striding out of the bathroom naked, still drying in between his legs with the towel.
He nearly fell when Miss Maniak's voice echoed into his head without warning again.
[Are you naked, Mr Quin?]
Tony shook his head in utter exasperation. "God, this system is maniacal indeed," he mumbled.
"I nearly broke my spine because of you dumbass... and yeah I'm naked..and ...It's none of your business, Maniak," he bellowed as he came to the front of his massive wardrobe.
"God, what a pain in the ass" he grumbled, and with a dramatic flourish, threw open the wardrobe.
"My-o-my," he sneered as he looked into the wardrobe.
Clothes in there were neatly stacked into divisions. One part held suits and tuxes... not just mere ones but the kind the poor can't stare at twice in a shopping store. Another part held Cashmere coats, Limited-edition Louis Vuitton runs, Pieces from Gucci, Valentino, Dior, Armani, and Versace and some other 'swaggy' clothes he doesn't even know.
Arranged at the base where shoes: both the mirror faced shoes and Louis Vuitton Oxford shoes, Ferragamo loafers and many more.
The sight was exhilarating, and Tony stood there naked in front of the wardrobe, his hand still widely holding its doors and jaws dropped to the floor. "I'm...am I really rich?" he gasped baffled.
"Well," he said finally, his baffled aura still lingering. "Seems like our guy Tom is a lover of Louis Vuitton products."
He nodded proudly. "Riches," he sneered excitedly.
Remembering how late he already was, he hastened once more. Within minutes he had smeared cream and body spray all over his body and had already worn his boxers. He threw on a pair of black suit pants; pants that, at mere looking, one would know the butler or whoever washed and ironed them did a really good job.
Quickly he threw a white long-sleeve shirt around his shoulder, fingers instinctively buttoning it down. With a sharp and talented grace, he knotted his bow tie around his neck… tied his shoes, which obviously served as a second mirror, and then finally threw the black suit jacket over him and tugged on the collar as though he was an actor from 'Men in Black'.
"How do I look, Miss Maniak?" he asked, not sure if she could see hi...
[Of course I can see you, Mr Quin… that was how I knew you were naked.]
"We really need to work on my privacy, Maniak," Tony retorted, taken aback.
[Why?]
Maniak asked, her voice very innocent. Her voice far too sweet for someone that aggravating.
Tony winced. "Because, for God's sake, you are a lady, and you've been staring at my dick and lovely God-given new ass."
[(●_●)]
"Damn you," Tony cursed at the smiley face as Maniak laughed.
[I think you are stuck with me, Mr Quin.]
"Huuuuu," Tony breathed, giving up. Indeed it was a lot even for him.
"You haven't answered my question, bitch… how do I look?"
Maniak hesitated a bit, then replied:
[I think, Mr Quin, that you look exquisite.]
Tony smiled proudly. "Well, I gotta say that was lovely... And these are the times you should use the smiley faces."
He turned and looked around the house. "Well, all I've got to do now is call a butler to ready a car for me. Hehe, I wonder what kinds of cars are in the garage."
Just like he said, he walked over to the wall beside the door entering his room. There on the wall was a switch, which he clicked, and somewhere else in the house a bell rang. Not like Tony heard it, though—he just assumed that was how it worked.
Few moments later, two gentle knocks sounded on his door.
"I'm coming," he answered as he walked over and opened it.
"Good evening, sir," said the staff who stood at the door; someone, by strange means, Tony surprisingly recognized as Simma.
He wore a uniform of a white long-sleeve striped shirt and red pants with a sleeveless red jacket above the shirt.
He had long brown Jesus-like hair, black eyes, a flat nose, and an oval face.
"Simma," Tony chimed, almost surprised at himself.
"Yes, sir," Simma replied, his hands humbly held behind his back. "You called, sir?"
"Oh… yeah," Tony replied. "I need you to drive me to the company. You can do that, right?"
Simma raised a brow. As someone perceptive and someone who had served Tom for almost half a decade now, he had learned how arrogant and rude he was. But seeing this demeanor he was exhibiting today baffled him.
"Simma?" Tony called, bringing the young man back to reality.
"What...sir.... y-yeah, yes of course. Yes, I can," he spluttered. "T-that's my job after all," he chuckled.
"Good," Tony replied. "Because I'm late, and we are going right away."
He gestured forward. "Come on, Si… after you."
Not believing what was happening, Simma led the way to the garage. It was really hard to keep a calm composure noticing the difference in Tom. "And did he just call me Si" he pondered amazed.
He knew however that Tony was already thinned down by drugs with his cheekbones sharp enough to cut diamond, but now… now he was back to his normal size and probably weight.
However, as they walked through the house, Tony couldn't help but marvel. It was massive and luxurious. Expensive bulbs hung on walls, some places had fancy ornate sconces and candles. Framed art also lined the walls; both modern, abstract, and ancestral pieces.
The structure of the house was also breathtaking: Tall marble pillars aligned neatly, interior balconies with sharp and intricate railing that adjourned to sweeping staircases with carved matching railings.
It, indeed was a masterpiece.
They kept moving, clambered down a several steps, and moments later they wound up at the garage below the house.
It was impeccable.
Tony held back a huge "OH MY GOD," so as not to sound prodigal in front of Simma. He just kept his composure and acted as if it was just a normal Friday night, but inside he was humming with overwhelming, unquenchable joy.
Neatly packed in the garage were expensive cars: Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mercedes-Maybach S680, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Continental GT, Porsche Panamera Turbo.
Those five were the ones Tony knew. As for the others, though fancy and expensive-looking, he had never seen or heard of them.
"Funny little thing you will know if you are poor," he pondered.
"Well, sir," came Simma's voice as he stood with his hand held behind him... something Tony now thought was his best pose.
"Which car are you rolling with?"
Tony was about to pick the Maybach…when his eyes met the limo.
Black. Sexy. Shiny.
It was as if it called unto him: practically whispering, 'Tony, mind if we spend the night?"
[That's ridiculous thinking, Mr. Quin.] Maniak voiced out.
"Shut up," Tony replied inwardly.
"I'm taking the limo, Simma," he said with a chilly smile.
Of course it was the best car fit for the occasion. It carried the swagger, the respect, the aura he needed.
"God, even if this is a dream, I'ma rock it hard before I wake up," Tony muttered.
Simma calmly opened the door of the limo, and Tony; still unable to believe that one day someone would open a car door for him... stepped in.
[You have really come a long way, Mr Quin,] Maniak said with a baffling pity in her voice.
...
Simma brought the car to life and moments later they rolled out of the garage door and down the pathway, flanked by flowers that seemed to serve as fences.
Tony turned and took a final look at the house.
Well, it made sense.
Because it wasn't a house.
It was a mansion.
"Well, I hope I detect a vixen at this party"