It was already Tuesday.From the moment they walked into the office, Mara's phone had not stopped ringing. Jet2's tech team was building out the online storefront that day, and their version of building it meant a constant stream of back-and-forth calls, follow-up emails, and the occasional urgent request for product photos or updated item details."No, that's not the image we sent you." By mid-morning, Mara had lost count of how many times the same team had called. "Yes, I know it's the one in your database. That's because you never replaced it. Stop arguing and just replace it."Gray was at his desk checking through the updated stock list when she called across the table."Gray, they're missing half of our bakery items. Didn't we send them the latest sheet?""We did," Gray said, frowning. "I checked the list myself. Ben did too.""Then they lost it somewhere." Mara was already pulling up the file. "I'll send it again.""Alright."The rest of the day ran much the same. Jet2's team k

That night, Gray and Mara did not waste any time.They compiled the day's observation notes into a clear to-do list and sent it through to Ron and the rest of Jet2's backend team before midnight. By Thursday morning, the fixes were already rolling out. The company had been hands-on from the start, and that did not change now.The out-of-stock notification was tightened. Every category's images loaded faster. The product search was updated to catch common typos, something Gray had specifically requested after watching a customer type "tomatto" and get zero results.Alongside the technical fixes, they started preparing the store itself for the official launch.Gray and Mara handpicked a small group of staff who were quick on their feet and patient with customers. These would be the first official app overseers on their side, responsible for managing every incoming online order from the moment it was placed. Each of them went through a full training session on Thursday afternoon, run by

On their first day, the store completed over 70 delivery orders.By the time the last shift wound down, it was all anyone could talk about.Staff gathered in the break room in various stages of changing out of their uniforms. Some sat on the benches, some leaned against the lockers, others stood near their bags with aprons still half-untied. A few were sorting through the plastic bags left out near the door, each one holding a small bundle of leftover bread from the day's stock. A quiet perk that had become routine without anyone officially making it one."Over seventy orders," one of the cashiers said, shaking her head with a grin. "On day one.""And people are already leaving reviews," someone from the online packing crew added, holding up his phone. "Five stars. They're talking about how fast the orders were packed."Laughter moved through the room."Honestly? This place has changed so much," another employee said, folding her apron over her arm. "Every few months there's something

"Whoa." Gray stepped back slightly to take them in. "All of you still look the same.""Yes, Sir," Rowan replied with a light laugh. There was something like relief in the way he said it.After the case had been resolved, Gray had quietly made sure Rowan was taken care of. He did not want him left exposed with Will's people still out there at the time. For a few weeks, they covered him with a place to stay, food, and a small allowance for whatever else he needed.Rowan left on his own eventually. He was not the type to stay longer than he felt he should. He was young, able to work, and he had already taken more than he was comfortable accepting.Before he left, Gray's team had also gone to Rowan's home and fixed it up. Repaired the door, made it livable again. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but for someone who had been living with almost nothing, it mattered.Gray turned to the four men standing behind Rowan."How are you guys doing?"The four of them shuffled immediately. The

"What did you say?"Gray had been quiet while Ben and the men were talking. But the moment the offer registered, his eyes moved sharply toward them.He studied their faces for a moment, looking for any sign they were overstating what they could actually do. There was none. They were looking back at him the same way they had looked at him outside, steady and completely serious.His brows rose slightly."Would that really be fine with you?" he asked. He kept his expression careful, not wanting to get ahead of himself.The tallest one puffed his chest out without a second's pause. "Of course.""Yeah," another added immediately. "We may not have much, but all of us have motorbikes.""Yes!""Same here!"The last two nodded, their large frames shifting with the kind of restless energy that came from people who were glad to finally be useful. They had been carrying the weight of Gray's help for a while now. Ge