10
But whether there was hope or not, I still had to win over Reik Thorne.
That was the purpose of my resurrection.
It was the only way I could continue to live.
But to do that, I first had to solve the pressing problem of my own survival.
I managed to find a job as a night–shift clerk at the bookstore on the ground floor of Reik Thorne’s corporate tower.
I worked until midnight. The lights in the tower across the street were still blazing.
I sat on the steps outside the bookstore, opening a box of cold takeout.
At 12:07 AM, Reik’s black Bentley glided past. The tinted windows blocked my view completely. I knew he was inside because the phantom text was buzzing with discussion. They seemed to have an extra set of eyes, able to see right through the car window to the man inside, and they used this to heap more scorn on me.
[The System gave up, and it looks like this one has too…]
1
[Other candidates, the second they arrive, are already scheming how to get in front of him, trying to make an impression or find an opening.]
[But her? She’s taking her sweet time finding a job, just living her own life.]
[Was she scared off by that first run–in with his bodyguards?)
[Am I just supposed to sit here and watch her organize bookshelves all day?]
[If you’re this useless, you shouldn’t have agreed to the mission in the first place…]
I lowered my eyes, ignoring the heated comments. I noticed a stray dog had padded up beside me, its tailwagging, its eyes fixed on me hopefully.
I picked out the only two pieces of meat from my dinner and gave them to dog. Together, under the dark sky, we shared the meal.
