Extra's Ascent

Eric arrived at work earlier than anyone else. His punctual habits, honed during his time under Sir Ramprandt's strict business regime, had followed him here despite the fact that this new job operated under a far less structured and unpredictable organisation. Unlike the orderly schedules and rigid expectations of his previous post, this place didn't exactly reward showing up ahead of time.

Now, seated alone in the vacant room, he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself.

His stomach soon reminded him of what he had neglected, breakfast. A low rumble echoed from his belly, and just then, a thought struck him. Didn't Marvelous pack something for me?

Fortunately, she had. Before leaving his place the previous night, Marvelous Kennedy had gone out of her way to prepare a meal and store it neatly in a thermal flask. A quiet smile touched his lips as he retrieved it.

Eric settled into a chair, unscrewed the lid, and dug in. The aroma greeted him warmly, a thick porridge, rich with various cuts and ingredients that melted together in savoury harmony. It wasn't just nourishing; it was comforting.

On taste and presentation alone, she deserved every culinary accolade there was. How someone responsible for overseeing a multi-billion-dollar enterprise found the time and energy to cook so excellently was beyond him.

"She's remarkable," he muttered between mouthfuls, savouring every bite.

And then, inevitably, came the deeper question: Why?

Why was she doing all of this? The daily visits. The home-cooked meals. The conversations.

Marvelous had more on her plate than most people could ever handle, and yet somehow, she continued making time for him. For a man who had nothing particularly dazzling to offer in return.

Was she trying to change his mind? Could this be her subtle way of nudging him toward her company? Trying to convince him that if he switched over, he wouldn't just be another employee but part of something more personal, like family?

That had to be it.

"Yeah… makes sense," he whispered to himself, staring into his flask as if it held all the answers. "But she should know I've already accepted this job. This isn't something you just walk away from."

He wasn't pulling shifts at a local diner or doing part-time work at a convenience store. This role, whatever title it truly carried was tantamount to working for a government agency. Signing on meant commitment. Lifelong, almost. Once you stepped into this kind of shadowy work, you didn't leave on your own terms.

Surely, Marvelous knew that.

Still… another possibility lingered at the back of his mind.

What if… she actually liked him?

The idea made his heart skip in surprise and scepticism.

'No… that's ridiculous," he thought. 'Marvelous Kennedy? Like me?'

She was a titan in the business world, commanding influence and wealth that spanned continents. A woman like her could choose from an elite pool of suitors, men who matched her power, prestige, and lifestyle. Meanwhile, he was just a man scraping to provide for his children, clinging to whatever purpose he could find in this strange, shifting world.

What could he possibly offer someone like her?

He chuckled to himself, shaking the thought out of his head. 'Don't get carried away. Don't feed yourself fantasies.'

"Whatever her reasons," he said aloud, "it's something I can stop if it crosses a line. I'm still in control."

But was he?

Eric paused, eyes narrowing as the thought lingered. He'd convinced himself he had a handle on it, but somewhere deep inside, a quiet doubt throbbed. He chose not to chase that feeling. Better to pretend the decision didn't exist.

Besides, Marvelous hadn't crossed any lines. If anything, her presence had been… pleasant. Even grounding.

If he really thought about it, her spending time with him had done more good than harm.

Take yesterday, for example.

Back then, before she came into the picture, he'd return home exhausted, maybe shower off the day's grime, scavenge for instant noodles or fast food, and collapse onto the couch. He'd sit there, half-watching some random series while slowly drifting into sleep, alone and numb.

But yesterday was different.

He'd come home to a hot meal. A proper dinner, not junk. More than that, he hadn't been alone. Marvelous had stayed, talked with him, listened patiently while he unloaded his burdens. She'd offered real advice, like when Joseph told him to steer clear, and she helped him see things more clearly.

He hadn't realised it at the time, but something had changed. The house didn't feel so empty. There had been laughter, conversation, warmth.

It reminded him of the old days when his kids were around, when their voices filled the space.

But they weren't here now.

Marvellous Kennedy was. And she had somehow brought that life back into his home.

The significance of that realisation hit him unexpectedly.

His heart gave a hard, sudden thud louder than usual. His breath caught slightly. A strange warmth spread in his chest, almost like an ache, but not painful. It was as if something inside him had been stirred awake.

Again, his heart thudded, more insistent this time.

He froze, spoon suspended midair.

"What… what's happening to me?" he murmured, puzzled by the sudden rush of emotion he couldn't quite define.

Then, the door swung open.

"Mister Aldaman! You're here early," said a voice that grounded him instantly.

Gerald stepped in, the second person to arrive.

His timing couldn't have been more perfect. Just like that, Eric's racing thoughts scattered, and his heartbeat settled into its usual rhythm.

"Good morning, Sir Gerald," Eric said quickly, rising to his feet in a respectful gesture.

"Let's drop the 'sir' nonsense," Gerald replied, waving a hand. "Call me Gerald. Otherwise, we're going to have issues, you and I."

Eric gave a hesitant nod. "Ri~ght… Gerald."

"There we go," said Gerald, grinning. "Now we're getting somewhere. Stick with me, and soon enough you'll pick up the usual bad habits of coming in late, ignoring a few protocols, maybe even developing a rebellious streak or two. You'll fit right in."

Eric gave a small chuckle at that, though he wasn't sure how serious Gerald was.

Still, there was no mistaking the hint of sarcasm in his tone. Working alongside people like Joseph and Xander had twisted Gerald's definition of what counted as 'normal behaviour.'

And just like that, the morning officially began, no longer quiet, no longer uncertain.