Alex hustled through the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan, thermos clutched like a grenade in his hand.
The coffee inside was perfect. Black as sin, hot as hellfire, no sugar to soften the blow. Just how Victoria liked it.
He dodged a cluster of tourists snapping selfies with Times Square billboards, his mind racing faster than the cabs honking around him.
The system timer ticked relentlessly in the corner of his vision. 23 hours, 12 minutes.
He needed a plan. A quick, dirty evil deed to kick things off. Something petty to test the waters. Maybe swap a rival's coffee with decaf at the office. Or accidentally leak a minor Blackwell secret to a tabloid.
Nothing that would get him killed, just enough to edge out whatever Victoria had planned for the day.
Because she was definitely planning something evil. In the novel, today was her big move. Rigging that charity gala to off a competitor. Her evil score would be through the roof by nightfall.
Alex grinned to himself, sharp and unhinged. "Top that, boss."
The Blackwell Tower rose ahead, a sleek obsidian spire piercing the skyline. Headquarters for the family's legitimate front, high-end real estate, and not so legitimate backroom dealings, shadow pacts, cursed artifacts, the occasional soul trade.
Security nodded him through the lobby, and he took the express elevator to the 52nd floor.
The doors opened onto opulence. Marble floors veined with black. Walls lined with abstract art that whispered if you listened too closely.
Victoria's office dominated the space. Glass walls overlooking the city. A desk carved from ancient ebony that supposedly screamed when liars touched it.
She was already there, standing by the window, back to him. Silhouetted against the morning light, she looked every inch the villainess. Tall, elegant, raven hair cascading like spilled ink, dressed in a form fitting black suit that screamed power.
"Reed," she said without turning. "You're on time. For once."
Alex set the thermos on her desk. "Wouldn't dream of disappointing you, Ms. Blackwell."
She turned, ice blue eyes locking onto him like targeting lasers. Beautiful. Terrifying. The kind of woman who could make a man beg for mercy or more with a single glance.
"Sit," she commanded, gesturing to the chair opposite her desk.
He did, casually, like his life was not suddenly a web novel nightmare.
Victoria unscrewed the thermos, took a sip, and nodded approval. "Acceptable."
High praise from her.
"Now," she said, leaning forward, "about tonight's gala."
Alex's pulse quickened. Here it came, the plot kickoff. The accidental death she orchestrated.
"I've decided not to attend."
He blinked. "What?"
"The Lockwood charity event. I'm skipping it." She waved a hand dismissively. "Send a check in my name. A large one. And flowers for the host."
Alex stared, brain short circuiting. In the novel, she attended. She had to attend. That was where she poisoned the rival heir's champagne with a shadow curse.
"But the Lockwoods. They're expecting you. And the networking opportunities."
Her lip curled slightly. "Networking? You mean scheming, Reed. I'm done with that. For now."
Done? Since when?
He leaned back, forcing nonchalance. "New leaf, boss? Didn't take you for the philanthropic type."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Careful, Reed. My reasons are my own. Just handle it."
The system pinged urgently.
[ System Update: Additional Core Directive Activated ]
[ Due to subject pursuing potential reformation, new rule engaged. ]
>Prevent Victoria Blackwell from accumulating or maintaining negative evil points.
>If subject remains at negative evil points for a full 24 hour period, all host evil points will be forcibly transferred to subject.
>After 24 hours of sustained negative status, escalating testicular agony begins. Scales with deficit magnitude and duration. Current projected onset tomorrow morning if unaddressed.
[ Evil Differential Update. Victoria -50. Charity donation initiated. Host 0.]
[ Warning. Negative subject detected. 24 hour clock started. Resolve before deadline to avoid transfer and pain penalty. ]
Negative evil? What the hell?
This wasn't right. Victoria was supposed to be ramping up her villainy today, not dialing it back.
He needed points. Now. And he needed to stop her negative spiral before tomorrow's deadline hit.
As Victoria turned to her computer, Alex's eyes landed on her desk drawer, the one with the petty cash for discreet expenses.
A few grand in unmarked bills. Stealing from her would be evil, right? Stupid, but evil.
His hand twitched.
[ New Daily Task. Restore subject to neutral or positive evil before midnight to halt negative accumulation. ]
[ Reward for Success. +200 evil points. Unlock Skill, Shadow Whisper, Basic. Subtle emotional influence via shadows. +15 percent permanent evil point efficiency. ]
[ Failure Penalty if 24 hours elapse. Full point transfer plus escalating testicular pain plus random minor curse. ]
Yes.
While she typed, Alex casually reached over, popped the drawer with a practiced flick, he'd organized it himself, and palmed a stack of hundreds.
Heart pounding.
Victoria didn't notice. Or if she did, she said nothing.
He slipped the cash into his jacket, system chiming softly.
[ Evil Points Gained. +15. Minor betrayal and theft. Differential. Host +15, Victoria -50. ]
24 Hour Clock. 23 hours, 45 minutes remaining.
A start. But not enough.
"Reed," she said suddenly, "I need you to do something else."
Here it came, the real evil task.
"Contact the Mount Sinai Children's Ward. Arrange a personal visit for me this afternoon. And prepare a donation. Seven figures. Anonymous for now."
Alex froze. "A hospital visit? For kids?"
She met his gaze, expression unreadable. "Yes. Problem?"
He swallowed. "No, ma'am. Just unexpected."
"Get it done."
As he stood to leave, the system exploded with alerts.
Evil Differential Update. Victoria minus 170. Major charity act with personal involvement planned.
Critical Warning. Subject deficit widening. 24 hour clock ticking. Projected pain onset tomorrow if unresolved.
Alex kept his face neutral. No physical discomfort yet. Just cold dread settling in his gut.
Victoria doing good? This wasn't the novel he remembered. Or had the story changed because he awakened?
No time to think. He nodded, exited the office, and headed for the stairs. Elevators felt too exposed right now.
In the stairwell, he pulled out his phone, dialed a contact. "Frankie? Yeah, it's Reed. I need a favor. That Lockwood gala tonight. Make sure the invitation list gets adjusted. Victoria's name off it. And mine on."
Frankie chuckled. "Playing games, kid?"
"Something like that."
He hung up, mind whirring. If Victoria wasn't going to the gala, her evil score stayed negative.
He needed to force her hand. Get her angry, competitive, back in the game before the 24 hour mark.
And the grimoire was up for auction there tonight.
In the novel, she wanted it badly. For her eldritch awakening plan.
If she wasn't pursuing it, he would.
Steal it. Use it. Become stronger.
And maybe gift it to her later. To remind her who she was.
The system approved.
[ New Quest. Acquire the Lockwood Grimoire by any means. ]
[ Reward. Plus 250 evil points. Shadow Manipulation. Novice Level. ]
[ Bonus. If presented to Victoria and accepted, neutralize current negative deficit plus extra 150 points. ]
Alex pocketed the phone, descended the stairs two at a time.
First, handle the hospital setup. Make it look good.
Then, crash the gala.
Commit a heist.
Out evil the villainess who suddenly wasn't acting like one.
And drag her back into the darkness before tomorrow's deadline turned his balls into a torture chamber.
"Why the change, boss?" he muttered to himself. "What game are you playing?"
The city swallowed him as he stepped outside, timer ticking down.
He had work to do.
Evil work.
And a 24 hour grace period before the real pain began.