Chapter 13
808words
Thankfully, Ethan hadn't heard my pathetic "meow." He remained absorbed in his documents.
I exhaled with relief, vowing never to trust the system's twisted punishments again.
Though he'd complained about the sweetness, I noticed he was still drinking the coffee.
I wondered if he didn't actually mind sweetness as much as he claimed.
[Ding! Daily task issued: Provide lunch for target. Task reward: Random. Failure punishment: Random animal cosplay.]
Me: "…"
This damn system never quit!
I glanced at the clock—almost noon.
Ethan's secretary appeared with a lunch menu.
I took the menu and approached his desk. "What would you like for lunch?"
He glanced up, took the menu, and scanned it briefly. "Whatever. I'm not picky."
"Any foods you avoid?" I pressed.
"No."
I retreated to the break area, menu in hand, suddenly anxious.
"Whatever" was the most unhelpful answer possible!
I picked up my phone and quietly activated my "Mind Reading" skill.
[Prefers lighter dishes. Can't stand greasy food.]
Aha! So he preferred lighter fare.
[No appetite lately. Soup or noodles would be easiest to get down.]
I scanned the menu for soup and noodle options.
[Wouldn't mind the shrimp bisque with a side of sautéed spring vegetables.]
I nearly laughed out loud at his specific craving.
So the ice-cold CEO had a secret foodie hiding inside!
I immediately ordered the shrimp bisque with sautéed vegetables—exactly what his inner voice wanted.
Lunch arrived promptly.
I set the meal before him. Ethan glanced at it, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
He took a spoonful of bisque, and I watched his perpetual frown ease slightly.
[Ding! Daily task completed! Reward: "Precision Feeding" skill (Basic level), allowing accurate understanding of target's food preferences.]
I suppressed a smile. Now that was a useful skill.
Ethan ate methodically but finished everything—both the bisque and vegetables.
Seeing the empty dishes, I felt an unexpected surge of pride.
[Ding! Target's Affection Points +10! Current Affection Points: -15!]
[Ding! Target's Villain Meter decreased by 3%! Current Villain Meter: 62%!]
The old saying was true—the way to a man's heart really was through his stomach.
Over the next few days, I accompanied Ethan to the office daily.
I didn't meddle in his core business but started with smaller tasks, learning the ropes quickly.
I organized documents, managed his calendar, and occasionally used mind reading to anticipate client needs, giving him an edge in negotiations.
Gradually, Ethan's attitude toward me shifted.
The icy wall between us began to thaw. He'd initiate conversations and occasionally ask for my input on business matters.
Each evening, I massaged his legs. Initially resistant, he soon discovered it genuinely helped with his pain and stiffness. He began to look forward to these sessions.
During these massages, he'd sometimes share childhood memories or his vision for Holt Corp's future. I became his confidante.
[Ding! Target's Affection Points +5! Current Affection Points: -10!]
[Ding! Target's Villain Meter decreased by 2%! Current Villain Meter: 60%!]
Both metrics were changing—slowly but steadily.
One afternoon, Ethan called me into his office.
"Eve, take a look at this proposal."
I approached as he slid a document across his desk.
It was the final proposal for the Shaw Industries deal.
I read it carefully. The proposal was comprehensive, seemingly airtight.
"This is… impressive," I said genuinely.
Ethan studied my face. "What do you think? Any room for improvement?"
My pulse quickened. This was a test.
I didn't rush to answer but reread the document carefully.
I activated my "Mind Reading" skill to peek into his thoughts.
[The team and I pulled three all-nighters on this. It should be flawless. But Eve might spot something we missed. Her instincts are surprisingly sharp.]
His assessment sent warmth flooding through me.
He genuinely valued my opinion.
I let the mind reading fade and considered carefully.
"The proposal is excellent, but I think we're missing a dimension in the risk assessment."
I pointed to a section. "Shaw Industries is financially solid, but Robert Shaw himself is notoriously calculating. We've covered market and legal risks, but there's nothing addressing the risks posed by Shaw's personal negotiation style."
Ethan's eyes lit up.
"What are you suggesting?"
"We should add a 'personal risk assessment,'" I explained. "Analyze Shaw's past deals, his decision-making patterns, his pressure points. It would give us leverage in negotiations."
Ethan stared at me, his lips curving into a rare smile. "Brilliant."
[Ding! Affection Points +20! Current Affection Points: +10!]
[Ding! Target's Villain Meter decreased by 10%! Current Villain Meter: 50%!]
My heart soared.
Affection Points had finally turned positive!
And the Villain Meter had dropped to halfway!
"Eve," Ethan said softly, his voice gentler than I'd ever heard, "you're more brilliant than I gave you credit for."
I met his gaze, a strange flutter in my chest.
