World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World

James was in the living area, watching movies with Patty and Leslie.

He had just got back from a gathering at the country club, where he met that, Vivienne, who, for absolutely no idea, now have an open hostility towards him. But James couldn’t care less.

As long they don’t do anything stupid that will make to actually react, both Vivienne and Celeste can have as much hostility towards him as they want, and he won’t be bothered.

Janes was enjoying the movie when his phone starred ringing. He picked it up to check the caller ID and he saw that it was an unknown number.

He thought who it could possibly be but no one came to mind. Still, he decided to answer the call.

Picking up the call, a vaguely familiar voice came from the other end, greeting him.

"Hi... James. It’s Rachel. Rachel Cobb."

Now that was a surprise, James thought, as he straightened himself subtly.

"Rachel. Didn’t expect to hear from you this soon."

Across the room, Leslie’s head turned sharply at the name. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

Patty, always more composed, turned to look as well — slowly, with the faintest smile on her face, like she was already amused by where this might go.

James saw their reactions and smirked slightly, but didn’t explain.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the call.

"Wasn’t sure if I should call," Rachel admitted on the other end. "But I didn’t want to leave things hanging."

James smiled faintly when he heard what she said.

"You’re talking about the conversation on the yacht?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I thought about it. But I’m still unclear about what exactly you expect me to do. More importantly, what do I get out of it?" James said.

Of course he was lying, as he hadn’t thought about it.

Rachel heard what he said and sighed. She understood where James was coming. She was aware that people, especially those in the elite circle, don’t do things without expecting anything in return. And so, she doesn’t blame James.

"I get it," she said softly. "You’re not the type to move without gain. And I don’t blame you. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t either."

Her honesty caught James slightly off guard.

"But I’ve thought it through. I know what I need. And I know what I’m offering in return." she said, as she started explaining what she need.

Firstly, she want to secure her rightful share of the Cobb family’s wealth and power. She doesn’t just want symbolic inclusion — she wants control. And this means board seats, equity, and legal succession positioning.

Secondly, she want to stop the arranged marriage that’s intended to politically sideline her, as she’s being used as a bargaining chip for alliances.

But she can’t just outrightly refuse the marriage, as refusing the marriage could risk disinheritance or exile from the family.

So: she needs leverage strong enough to stop her father and brothers from sidelining her, prevent the arranged marriage, and secure her financial and social future.

James listened to her explanation and nodded in understanding. He finally got the whole picture and what Rachel is trying to achieve. But the question still remains — what’s in it for him.

"I get everything you say, Rachel. But what’s in it for me?" He asked.

He’s not a goody two shoes who wants to save a damsel from being marginalised by her family, and about to be married off.

Her family problems aren’t any of his concerns. If he’s not going to gain any significant benefit from this, then he won’t help.

It might sound selfish but it’s just the way the world is.

James knew that helping Rachel will gain him enemies and lots of attentions, both positive and negative — mostly negative. And if there’s no benefits to offset or balance the inconveniences, then Rachel can forget about it.

Rachel heard James’ question and sighed and made her offer, but before that, she explained to James that she already have an idea of how she’s to go about securing her financial and social future, and stopping her father and brothers from sidelining her.

She told him that she wants James to create a REIT that will become a rival to her family’s, and she will be feeding him info on upcoming contracts, vulnerable tenants, low-performing properties, etc.

And James will uses this to:

Outbid Cobb Holdings for properties or developments in key districts. Buy off middle-tier tenants and managers from Cobb buildings. Acquire land or licenses near Cobb’s planned expansions to box them in.

All these will result in Cobb Urban Properties beginning to miss targets, lose prestige clients, and facing operational bottlenecks.

As things progress, they will trigger a pressure point and then she will take care of the rest.

As for the benefit, she promised him that after everything’s done and she has achieved everything she wants, she’s going to give James, she told him that she will give him 10% ownership of her family’s REIT.

James was quite surprised when he heard Rachel’s explanation and her offer. It was good. Very good actually.

He had done his research on her family’s REIT and he understands just how big it is, and just how much 10% of it is worth.

Cobb Urban Properties wasn’t a small-time player. He had looked them up days ago after the yacht party. Their holdings spanned a third of downtown’s mixed-use districts. Office towers. Luxury condos. Commercial retail centers. Even private zoning deals tied to transit development.

Privately held. Valued conservatively at just over $1 billion.

And she was offering him ten percent.

Ten percent of a legacy empire.

That was a nine-figure stake. With dividends. With board access. With strategic influence.

James smiled.

"That’s a hell of a reward," he said finally.

"It’s the only one I can offer," Rachel replied. "And the only one I trust will make you care."

"Alright," he said. "I’ll help. But we’ll need to formalize this. A contract. Non-disclosure clauses. Defined terms,"James said.

"I’m ready," Rachel said immediately. "Whenever you want. Just tell me where and when."

"Good. I’ll reach out soon." James nodded to himself.

He had expected her to refuse outrightly or be reluctant about it, but she had agreed readily.

He was about to hang up when Rachel spoke again.

"And the marriage?"

"Leave that to me." James chuckled.

With so much at stake, James will naturally want to do his best.

"I’ll be waiting," Rachel said.

Then the line went dead, as James hung up.

He relaxed into the couch, smiling to himself, and the next moment, he was hit with the expected question by Patty and Leslie.

"Who’s Rachel?"