2026-01-24 22:30:06
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Ch 18. Dressed to Impress Nobody
The restaurant was called Lumière, which I'm pretty sure is French for "you can't afford to be here."I stood on the sidewalk outside, staring at the valet stand, the marble columns, and the door being held open by a guy in a suit nicer than anything I'd ever owned in my life.My phone buzzed. Leona.Leona: Inside. Back table. Don't keep me waiting.I looked down at myself. Jeans. Sneakers. A hoodie that said "I Paused My Game to Be Here" that I'd forgotten I was wearing."Mira, I'm about to walk into a place where the napkins probably cost more than my rent.""Then walk fast and sit down before they throw you out."I made it three steps inside before a hostess materialized like a very polite bouncer."Good evening, sir." Her smile was professional ice. "Do you have a reservation?""I'm meeting someone. Leona Hart?"The smile warmed approximately half a degree. "Ah yes. Ms. Hart mentioned a... guest." The pause before 'guest' did not go unnoticed. "This way, please."She led me throug
Ch 17. Quest Complete
By the time we got back to Jade's apartment, the counter was at forty-eight thousand.We watched it tick up in real-time. Forty-eight five. Forty-nine. Forty-nine five."Come on," I muttered. "Come on."Fifty thousand.The screen flashed: GOAL REACHED.Jade half sobbed, half laughed and grabbed me, pulling me into a hug so tight my bruised ribs screamed.I didn't care.Clara whooped and jumped up from the couch."We did it," Jade said into my shoulder. "We actually fucking did it.""You did it," I said. "You didn't give up on him."She pulled back, hands on my shoulders, eyes blazing. "No. We did it."And then she kissed me.Hard, fierce, desperate, like she'd been holding back for weeks and finally snapped. Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer. Her lips crushed against mine, all heat and need and relief and thank you wrapped into one explosive moment.I kissed her back, one hand sliding into her hair, the other gripping her waist. She tasted like salt and adrenaline and vi
Ch 16. The Final Push
The hospital smelled like antiseptic and hope running on fumes.I stood in the hallway outside Room 314, holding a bag of convenience store cookies.Clara was on my left, laptop bag slung over her shoulder like she might need to hack the hospital mainframe. Jade was on my right, jaw tight, hands shoved in her pockets.Jade took a breath, knocked once, and pushed the door open.Danny Kwon was propped up in bed, IV in his arm, baseball cap covering what I assumed was thinning hair. But his eyes were bright, and when he saw us, he smiled.That smile looked exactly like Jade's before the weight of the world pressed down on it."So you're the famous delivery guy," Danny said, voice raspy but strong. "Evan, right?""That's me." I stepped forward, suddenly aware of how inadequate I was for this moment. "Brought cookies. They're terrible."He laughed. It turned into a cough.Jade moved instinctively, but he waved her off."I'm good. I'm good." He looked at Clara. "And you must be the hacker."
Ch 15. Hashtag DeliveryBoyHero
"I'm not looking to be a public face," I said carefully."You already are one. You just don't control the narrative yet." She stepped closer, voice dropping. "If you let me handle your image, you'll never have to be a delivery guy again. Real salary. Real impact. I know how to turn sympathy into momentum."From the couch, Clara's typing got louder. Angrier."What would that look like?" I heard myself ask."Regular content. Charity runs, fundraiser events, maybe a podcast. I'd manage messaging, sponsors, partnerships. All you'd have to do is show up and be yourself."God, it was tempting. No more scraping for gig work. No more Marcus humiliations. Just... show up, be sad on camera, collect checks.But something about the way she said "be yourself" made it sound like "sell yourself."She pulled a card from her blazer, matte black with silver lettering. "Leona Hart. Strategic Image Architect." She pressed it into my palm. "When you're done being local news, call me. National loves this k
Ch 14. Press Release Me
The knock came at 6:58 PM.I opened the door to a woman who looked like she'd been Photoshopped into reality.Leona Hart was tall, maybe five-ten in heels, with dark hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, designer blazer over a silk blouse, and had a smile that made you feel like you were being appraised for resale value. She held a tablet in one hand and a latte in the other, somehow making both look like power accessories.Behind her, two crew members hauled camera equipment."Evan Cross?" Her voice was smooth, controlled. The kind of voice that sold luxury cars and political candidates. "Leona Hart, Channel Seven. Thanks for fitting us in.""Yeah, no problem. Come in."She stepped inside and her eyes did a sweep of Jade's apartment in under three seconds. Shabby couch with visible springs. Mismatched mugs drying by the sink. Clara's laptop explosion across the coffee table among cables, drives, and energy drink cans.Her smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened."Cozy," she said in
Ch 13. Going Viral In More Ways Than One
The video went live across four platforms simultaneously."Now what?" I asked."Now we wait and see if the internet cares." She glanced at me. "In the meantime, what's your network like?""My network?""Delivery contacts. Restaurants, shops, businesses. Anyone who might sponsor the campaign."I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. "I've got maybe twenty solid connections. Shop owners, food truck operators, the comic book guy...""Call them," Clara said. "Pitch a sponsorship. Five hundred to two thousand per business, we'll promote them on the campaign page and social media.""You think they'll go for it?"She met my eyes. "You're persuasive when you're not overthinking."Jade returned, eyes slightly red but face composed. "What's the plan?""Evan's making calls," Clara said. "I'm monitoring the viral spread. What about you?""I've got classes all afternoon and tomorrow, but..." She pulled out her phone. "I'll text my dojo network. Other instructors, students, tourname
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