Thirty minutes. Pete's composure finally shattered. With a roar of frustration that Theo couldn't quite hear through the closed car window but could vividly imagine from the sudden, violent tension in Pete's shoulders, Pete kicked the front tire of his own truck, hard enough to make the chassis shudder. He then stalked over to a public trash receptacle bolted to the sidewalk and gave it a vicious kick, the loud rattle and clang carrying clearly across the street. He paced back towards his truck, gesturing angrily at his phone, the dawning, furious realization he'd been had etched onto his face. The sheer, impotent fury radiating from him across the street was deeply, wickedly satisfying to Theo.
Ah, Theo thought, savouring the moment. Key Performance Indicator achieved. Visible frustration levels exceeding projections. Excellent. He waited until Pete had climbed back into his truck, likely fuming and composing an angry message. Before Pete could send anything, Theo quickly typed out his parting shot.
Hey lowballer scum, jokes on you. Enjoy the jokes at the comedy club where you belong.
He hit send. Immediately navigated to Pete's profile. Block User. Done.
A low chuckle escaped Theo's lips, quickly escalating into genuine laughter, a harsh, cold sound that echoed slightly in the confines of his car. It felt good. Cathartic. People like Pete, the ones who try to grind you down, who assume your desperation makes you easy prey, they deserved a taste of humiliation. It wasn't just about the money, it was about the disrespect. He felt a surge of power, completely unrelated to his +1 ability. The power of having options, of being the one pulling the strings, even in this petty way. He's lucky, Theo mused, the laughter fading into a self-satisfied smirk. Lucky I didn't have time for something more… creative. Lucky I have actual business to attend to.
The vindictive energy dissipated, replaced by his usual calculating focus. He started the car, pulling away from the curb, leaving Pete fuming in his rearview mirror. The prank was a satisfying footnote, an assertion of dominance, but ultimately a distraction. He had a bike to enhance, a real high-value sale to prepare for tomorrow. That was the main event.
He drove back to his apartment, the incident already compartmentalized. Stepping back inside, the sight of Bike 2 waiting patiently seemed to refocus him instantly. He approached it, the faint internal hum of his power stirring within him, ready to be channelled into creating tangible value, ready for the next calculated step towards his ultimate goal. The games were fun, but the climb was everything.
The enhancement ritual. He laid out the new bike, his movements more assured this time. Ten charges, meticulously applied. Frame. Ping. Wheels. Ping.Ping. Crankset. Ping. Derailleurs. Ping.Ping. Brakes. Ping.Ping. Handlebars. Ping. Seatpost. Ping. Ten uses gone, the familiar emptiness settling in, ready for tomorrow's recharge. The bike seemed to hum with latent power.
Sunday. The Sunday afternoon sun warmed the asphalt of the community park parking lot. Families pushed strollers along paved paths, joggers tracked their progress on smartwatches, and the distant shouts from a kids' soccer game provided a backdrop of mundane weekend normalcy. Theo leaned against his aging sedan, the newly enhanced Giant TCR Pro leaning gracefully beside him, gleaming under the sunlight. He felt a calm confidence today, a stark contrast to the gnawing anxiety that had plagued him before selling the first bike. With over two thousand dollars secured in his account and a bike worth double that, this transaction wasn't about survival, it was about optimization, about maximizing return on investment. Okay, he thought, slipping into his internal corporate-speak, second client pitch. Product 2.0 prepped and exceeds original performance benchmarks. Prospect Sarah indicated high purchase intent in prior communications. Focus on perceived value-add to justify premium pricing. Execute flawlessly, secure funding for Q3 operations.
A silver Subaru WRX, practical but with a sporty edge, pulled into a nearby spot. The driver's door opened, and out stepped Sarah. She was dressed in good quality cycling gear, not flashy, but clearly chosen for function over fashion, and pushed a pair of slightly oversized glasses up her nose as she approached, a bright, open smile on her face. She practically vibrated with energy.
"Theo? Hi! I'm Sarah!" She offered a hand, her handshake firm and friendly. "Wow, thanks so much for finding another one. I was so bummed when you said the first one sold!" Her eyes immediately locked onto the bike, her smile widening further. "Oh, she's gorgeous."
"Glad I could track one down," Theo said, keeping his tone level, professional. "Similar frame, but this one actually has a slightly upgraded wheelset compared to the last." A small lie, easily justifiable as marketing enhancement.
Sarah nodded eagerly, already crouching down to inspect the components. "Yeah, I saw that in the specs you sent! Is the power transfer really more efficient with this setup? I've been tracking my wattage output on climbs, and my current bike just feels… lossy, you know? Like I'm putting in the effort but the data doesn't reflect it."
Metrics-driven, Theo noted. Perfect. "Absolutely," he lied smoothly. "This whole build is optimized for responsiveness and minimizing energy loss. Every component is tuned to work in perfect harmony." He watched as she examined the bike, not with suspicion, but with the focused intensity of someone who genuinely understood and appreciated the mechanics. Her trust was evident, she wanted this bike to be as good as advertised. It made her an easy mark, yet her genuine passion felt strangely… refreshing, compared to Pete's cynical haggling or even Dave's more reserved enthusiasm.
"Mind if I take it for a spin?" she asked, eyes sparkling. "There's a decent loop around the park, couple of small hills?"
"Be my guest," Theo gestured. "Take your time." Asset trial commencing. Monitor user feedback and performance indicators.
Sarah clipped in with practiced ease and pushed off, accelerating smoothly onto the paved path that wound through the park. She rode with a fluid power, her form suggesting dedicated training. Theo watched her disappear around a curve shaded by oak trees, then settled back against his car, feeling significantly less stressed than during Dave's test ride. He had a solid financial cushion now. This was just gravy. Profitable, necessary gravy, but gravy nonetheless.