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I was online, booking a first-class flight for three days from now. I might not know much about the timeline of this world, but since there's no news about a giant lizard running loose in New York, I can guess Dr. Curt Connors hasn't taken the defective limb-regeneration serum yet.
I'd already called my old man and told him I was shutting down my restaurant and heading to New York for a six-month business trip. He gave me a few exaggerated compliments, but then he said he wanted to come with me. No way. What I'm planning to do is dangerous enough already. If more people get involved, I'm pretty sure Nick Fury—the bald, one-eyed man in the black trench coat—would come knocking on my door.
After finishing all my preparations, I lay down in my temporary apartment's bed. Today was thrilling. If someone had told the old me that my life could change in just one day, I'd have laughed in his face. But today, it became reality.
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Two days later…
Knock, knock.
I woke from my meditation. I'd been trying to absorb more energy. I don't really need to eat or drink—my guess is it's because I can absorb natural energy.
I walked to the door and checked who it was.
"Kyle? What is she doing here?" I muttered before opening it.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. I couldn't imagine her showing up without a reason.
Kyle was still rummaging through her bag. When she finally looked up at me, her face froze—like her brain had just been hit by a million volts. Her breathing quickened. After a visible struggle, she stammered, "S-sorry, I got the wrong person. I'm looking for my boss." She was almost out of breath by the time she finished.
Did she hit her head or something? She didn't recognize me?
"I am your boss. Don't you remember?" I asked, ignoring the fact that I had transformed into what could easily be called the most perfect human being on the planet—handsome enough to make heads turn.
I grabbed her wrist gently. She stared at me, dumbfounded, her cheeks turning bright red. Without giving her time to think, I pulled her inside.
"So, why did you come?" I asked, handing her a glass of water.
She looked at me blankly before saying, "I came to deliver your passport and visa."
Okay, that's actually a decent reason.
But she kept staring at me intensely, and I shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something to piss you off?"
She shook her head rapidly. "No, no, you didn't. It's just… today you look completely different from before. You're… too handsome. I almost lost my mind." She finally seemed calmer, but her gaze was… different.
I understood immediately. She was shy because of my sudden glow-up. I wasn't worried—she and I hadn't met that many times, and she's not the type to gossip. I could trust her… a little.
"You see," I said, "I can't tell you how or why, but I want you to keep this a secret until I come back. Don't tell anyone about my sudden changes."
She studied me curiously but didn't argue.
"Okay. Don't go outside looking like this—you'll have girls chasing you." Her voice had regained its usual seriousness, but her eyes still held something different. She handed me my passport and visa.
"I think this is the first time we've talked like this in three years. Can't you at least ask what I want to eat?" She sat on the sofa like she owned the place, raising an eyebrow and leaning forward just enough to make her curves noticeable.
Her behavior was unusual, but my mind was elsewhere—on Dr. Connors's Lizard Serum.
"Alright, alright. What do you want—tea, coffee, or food? I'm making something for myself anyway," I asked, still half-distracted.
"I want to eat something. I haven't had breakfast yet. And tea," she said like she was ordering her personal boyfriend around.
Seriously? Who orders their boss around like this?
"Fine," I sighed. "Come help me. You can make the food, and I'll make tea for you and coffee for me." I offered her my hand to help her up.
As her boss, I knew one thing—she was the best at making breakfast. Even though I didn't need food, her cooking was top-tier. I was already planning to eat a few plates. I grinned to myself at the thought.
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