Queenie felt an overwhelming wave of panic flood her chest. It was a panic like she'd never experienced before, a mixture of intense shyness and anger, all compounded by confusion.
She had already begun to change her opinion of John after he had risked his life to save her. Despite the strangeness of the situation, she was beginning to consider him a friend, even if he wasn't her brother.
But she never could have expected him to strip off his trousers in front of her.
In that moment, Queenie felt as if she had just escaped a pack of wolves, only to find herself standing face-to-face with a tiger in a trap. She was angry, embarrassed, and utterly bewildered.
With frustration building in her chest, she tried to stand up. But then, her eyes froze in shock.
On the outer side of John's thigh, there was a mark—a birthmark unlike any she had ever seen. It resembled purple lightning streaking down his skin.
Almost everyone at the welfare house knew about it, and Queenie, of course, knew all too well. It was a mark that none of them could forget.
Even his seven sisters, Queenie included, were familiar with the lightning-shaped birthmark.
The realization hit her like a thunderclap.
The young man standing before her wasn't just some stranger. This was her younger brother, John, the brother she had been separated from for fifteen long years.
"John, so you're not a fake... you're really my younger brother!" Queenie exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "I never thought I'd see you again."
She rushed forward, throwing her arms around him, tears streaming down her cheeks, the years of separation melting away in that one moment.
John felt a rush of nostalgia as his nose twitched, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. Nothing had changed. Queenie was still the sister who loved him the most. Despite the fifteen years that had passed, the bond between them hadn't weakened—it had only grown stronger.
Moved, John silently vowed to protect his sister with everything he had for the rest of his life.
But then, an odd sensation at the lower part of his body distracted him from his emotions. What was going on?
With a soft, bitter smile, he said, "Sister, could you please let me put on my trousers first?"
Queenie froze for a moment, unsure of how to react. Her face turned bright red as she realized her mistake.
"Oops!" She quickly averted her gaze, but after a moment of realizing her blunder, she shot him a playful glare. "You don't have to be shy in front of me. I've seen it all before!"
John's brow furrowed. "But, Sister… there's someone else here."
Queenie gasped in realization, her eyes wide as she remembered that Sam was still present.
She quickly checked on him, only to find he was still unconscious. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he hadn't witnessed her awkward moment.
"Well, I suppose Sam won't know what he missed," she murmured under her breath.
The Porsche 911 engine roared back to life, and Queenie took the wheel, with John sitting beside her in the passenger seat. They hadn't seen each other in years, and there was so much to catch up on.
But the burning question on Queenie's mind was how John had survived the fire fifteen years ago and what had happened to him in all that time.
John answered her questions one by one, but when she asked about his five-year journey on the battlefield, he only gave a vague response, mentioning that an old wizard had saved him and taught him everything he knew over the past fifteen years.
Queenie raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Are you trying to tell me a fairy tale?" she said, her tone half-joking but also half-serious.
She didn't believe his story—how could she? It sounded far too fantastical.
John sighed, the helplessness in his eyes clear. He had expected her reaction. Luckily, Queenie didn't press the issue, and soon she shifted the conversation.
"I wonder what your other sisters will think when they find out you're alive and have become such a handsome young man."
John grinned mischievously. "Let's keep it a secret. I plan on surprising them one by one."
"You're such a bad boy," Queenie teased with a knowing smile.
The rest of the drive was filled with laughter and chatter. They talked about everything—their shared memories, the time apart, and, most importantly, the future. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Queenie's company headquarters.
As they entered the Queenie Building, talking and laughing, everyone froze.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
The usually composed and distant Queenie was now so at ease with a man—her brother, no less—that it was almost unthinkable. The staff exchanged incredulous glances, murmuring among themselves. Some of Queenie's most devoted fans might even suffer sleepless nights, crushed by the sight of their icy goddess sharing such a moment with someone.
Inside the building, Queenie wasted no time. She immediately went to the HR department and called for Jack, the HR manager, to leave—he was no longer needed.
She was a woman of action—decisive, unyielding, and always on top of things.
"Since the HR manager position is vacant now," Queenie said, turning to John with a playful twinkle in her eyes, "how about you take it up?"
John blinked in surprise, shaking his head with a smile. "No, I don't think I'm cut out for managing a company."
While he was indeed a king in the Oracle with his loyal soldiers, being a leader in the Oracle was vastly different from managing a business. The rules, the regulations, the paperwork—none of it was his forte.
But Queenie wasn't deterred. "It's not about managing. I just want you here with me. If you're unsure, don't worry. Amy will teach you everything."
Amy, Queenie's secretary and trusted friend, had always been by her side. Their bond was strong, both professionally and personally.
John reluctantly agreed. It wasn't the job he had ever envisioned, but for Queenie, he would try. He could always quit if it didn't suit him.
Just then, Amy entered the room, her presence immediately drawing attention. A stunning woman in her mid-twenties, Amy always wore tailored office attire, with sleek black stockings that accentuated her legs. Her pink glasses added an intriguing charm, covering a delicate mole near the corner of her eye.
Amy was attractive—beautiful, even—but to John, she was just another woman. No one could compare to his seven sisters.
"Amy, you're just in time," Queenie said. "I want to introduce you to someone."
"This is my younger brother, John. I'm thinking of giving him the HR manager position. What do you think?"
Amy studied John with a thoughtful expression. She had heard rumors from colleagues that Queenie had returned with a "toy boy," but she hadn't believed them. After all, her boss had always had high standards for men, and not just anyone could capture her attention.
But now, seeing John, Amy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Her suspicions seemed to have a grain of truth.
"Boss," Amy began, her tone shifting slightly, "I have something to discuss with you, though I'm not sure if you'll want to hear it."
Queenie, ever perceptive, smiled. "We're best friends. If you have something on your mind, just say it."
Amy adjusted her glasses, looking serious as she spoke. "I think the company is about to go public. It might be better to hold off on any personnel changes, especially for the HR manager position. I suggest leaving it vacant rather than giving it to your younger brother."
"Why do you think that?" Queenie asked, intrigued.
Amy hesitated before responding, her voice quiet but firm. "Company reputation."
Queenie raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that you think people will think John is just my… toy boy?"
Amy didn't hesitate. "It's not just what I think. It's what everyone in the company thinks. If word gets out that you've given your brother this position instead of a qualified employee, the company's reputation could suffer."
Queenie understood the implications of Amy's words but refused to let her decision be swayed. She wasn't here to explain herself.
"I've made my decision. From now on, John will be our new HR manager. Amy, please show him to his office."