As the doors opened before me, I stepped into the lavish hallway, and my eyes adjusted to the low light and elegant decor.
I couldn't help but marvel at the luxury surrounding me, though it was hard to focus on the beauty when my nerves were still taut, the pressure of the assessment hanging over me.
Before I could continue down the hall, I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I turned around, startled.
A young man stood there, his tall frame dressed in an immaculate suit, his features sharp, yet with an approachable expression. His brown hair was neatly combed, and his posture radiated confidence. He was one of the young men I had seen earlier, talking to the receptionist. He flashed a polite smile as he spoke.
"Excuse me, sir," he began, his voice smooth and respectful, "I hope I'm not interrupting, but may I ask if you are alone in your private suite?"
I raised an eyebrow, slightly thrown off by the question. "Yes, I am," I replied, a little unsure of where this conversation was heading.
The young man nodded, his smile widening. "I see... Would you mind if I shared your suite with you? My friends and I were supposed to have a private room, but it was canceled last minute, and we're in a bit of a bind."
I hesitated, considering my options. I had only just arrived, and the last thing I wanted was to share my space with strangers, but the system's voice suddenly echoed in my mind, urging me forward.
[Agree to this. It will level up your assessment.]
The words were clear and persuasive. I didn't want to risk failing the assessment, not when the system had already been so specific about the grading. So, after a brief moment of contemplation, I nodded.
"Alright," I said, trying to keep my tone composed. "I'll allow you and your friends to share the suite with me."
The young man's face lit up in surprise and relief. "Thank you! I really appreciate it." He turned back to his group, waving them over. "Guys, we're all set! Follow me."
As the group made their way toward us, one of the men, a slightly shorter individual with messy black hair, called out.
"Is he your friend, Oliver?" he asked, his voice teasing yet curious.
The young man named Oliver shook his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "No, not exactly. Just a fortunate encounter."
The rest of the group exchanged curious glances but said nothing further. They followed Oliver and Cedric down the corridor, and I continued on my way, feeling a strange unease, but also an undeniable sense of anticipation.
As we walked down the hall toward the suite, Oliver seemed to suddenly realize something and stopped in his tracks, turning back toward me.
"I apologize, I never introduced myself properly," he said with a sheepish grin, looking over his shoulder at his friends. "I'm Oliver Reed, manager of a game company." He extended his hand toward me, and I shook it firmly, offering him a polite smile.
The others followed suit, each of them introducing themselves with a level of casual confidence that made it hard to ignore their success.
The tallest of the group, a broad-shouldered man with dark eyes, spoke up next. "Henry Brooks," he said, giving me a nod. "I manage a car dealership."
The thinnest of them, with a sharp yet elegant appearance, stepped forward next. "Samuel Cooper, manager of a beverage company," he added, his handshake crisp and confident.
A shorter man with light brown hair and a stern face was next. "Daniel Hayes, deputy manager in a real estate company," he said, his tone authoritative, though not unkind.
Lastly, a man dressed in a bright pink suit—unmistakable in his appearance—introduced himself with a wide grin. "Thomas Blake," he said. "I manage a jewelry company."
The introductions were fast, smooth, and almost effortless, each of them exuding an air of accomplishment. I could feel my mind briefly race, but I shook it off quickly, reminding myself of the task at hand. I wasn't here to compare—I was here to succeed.
I adjusted my posture slightly, keeping my confidence in check. This was an assessment, after all, and I had been preparing for this moment for days.
"I'm Cedric Ravensleigh," I said, my voice steady and clear. "I'm starting my own journey in the business world."
I didn't let any uncertainty slip into my tone. They were all experienced and successful, but I wasn't about to shrink back in the face of it. This is the life I'm stepping into, I reminded myself. I'm not just pretending anymore. I'm a part of this world now.
The group nodded, some with polite smiles, but none of them seemed to dig deeper into my background, which was just fine by me. They were clearly focused on their own lives, just as I needed to be. I didn't have time to dwell on comparisons; I had to move forward with the confidence I was learning to project.
As we continued down the hallway toward the Royal Suite, I felt a growing sense of purpose. I had already made it this far—I wasn't going to let a group of successful, confident individuals shake my resolve.
I had a role to play, and I was going to play it to the best of my ability.
As we continued walking down the lavish corridor toward the Royal Suite, I noticed the group's casual chatter gradually quieting.
The sound of our footsteps echoed softly in the high-end hallway, and their conversation, which had been lighthearted moments before, came to an abrupt halt. I could feel their attention shift, and I couldn't help but wonder what was causing it.
I glanced to my side, noticing that Oliver was now slightly behind me, talking with his friends, but their voices were now low, their words more measured. They were discussing something quietly, but their eyes kept flicking in my direction.
Henry, the broad-shouldered man, murmured something that I couldn't quite catch, and Samuel, who had the sharpest features of the group, nodded in agreement. Daniel, standing a little further back, looked almost perplexed, as if trying to place something in his mind.
I didn't let it affect my stride. I had learned over the past few days how to maintain my composure. The system had ensured that I acted with grace and confidence. I was playing the role, and I would do so flawlessly.
Finally, it was Oliver who spoke up, his voice quieter now, just loud enough for me to hear. "Did you guys notice that?"
The others, who had been speaking in hushed tones amongst themselves, nodded almost in unison.
"Yeah," Henry said slowly. "He's carrying himself differently. Like... like someone who's been raised in a different world."
The group fell silent for a moment, and I could feel the weight of their thoughts. They hadn't said it aloud, but I could sense the awe in their words. They're seeing it, I thought. They're seeing the noble air about me.
Samuel was the next to speak, though his words were more speculative. "Could it be just a façade? I mean, the way he's walking, how he carries himself—he's not acting like someone who's just barely starting in the business world."
I held my posture straight and kept my gaze forward, knowing full well that the way I had been trained in just a few days was giving off the exact impression I needed.
"Does it even matter?" Daniel chimed in, shrugging. "He's clearly not just any average guy. Look at where he's going."
That remark got their attention, and the group fell silent again. The double doors to the Royal Suite were now just ahead of us.
Oliver's voice came again, barely above a whisper, but with a hint of disbelief. "Wait, is this... the Royal Suite?"
I could hear the astonishment in his voice, and I didn't need to turn around to know that his gaze was fixed on the opulent suite awaiting us.
The room behind those doors was everything they could have imagined—and more.
Without answering immediately, I nodded once, my tone steady. "It is."
The group stopped walking altogether, standing in awe at the entrance. I could feel their eyes on me now, the weight of their surprise heavy in the air. This wasn't just a suite; it was the suite—the kind that only the most elite could dream of stepping into. And here I was, effortlessly walking toward it as though I belonged.
Finally, after a long pause, Henry let out a low whistle, unable to keep his voice down any longer. "Man, this is... this is unreal. Are you really staying here?"
"I'm just here for the night," I said, keeping my voice casual, though inwardly I could feel the excitement buzzing in my chest.
I could see them processing what they were seeing, the realization dawning on them that I wasn't just playing the part. I was the part.
As we reached the doors, the usher unlocked them with a smooth gesture, and the group followed silently, still awestruck by the grandeur. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
This is the world I'm stepping into, I thought. And I'm not just pretending to be a part of it anymore. I am.