The very next morning, Jason woke up to the sll of bacon. Covering his mouth with his hand, he went downstairs and found Marinette in the kitchen, acting as she usually did in the mornings.
He hesitated for a mont, trying to figure out what she might be thinking or if she even rembered what had happened the night before. But from what he could tell, she seed completely fine, as if she had no mory of sleeping with her stepson after getting drunk.
’...So she probably doesn’t rember that mont? Well, that’s... kind of a relief,’ Jason thought to himself as he slowly approached her and greeted her calmly. He then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and drank it all at once.
In fact, he felt more energized than before, with greater stamina and strength.
When Marinette finally noticed him — she hadn’t been aware earlier because she was focused on what she was doing — her heart skipped a beat. He looked even more charming now, and there was sothing about him that was hard to put into words, as if he had changed overnight.
The word "night" triggered so strange, fragnted mories in her mind, but they were all distorted and she couldn’t make sense of them. Strangely, she didn’t even bother to dwell on them.
***
Jason left his house early and headed to the garage where the Lamborghini was parked. When he arrived, he stopped abruptly, unable to believe the sight was really his.
The car sat in the garage with a sleek design and panels that reflected light sharply. Its color was a deep tallic black with a subtle shine, and the body lines flowed beautifully.
"Holy damnation...!" Jason exclaid, covering his mouth with his hands.
He moved closer, examining the front where the headlights angled inward precisely, then followed the side panels with his eyes. The wheels looked heavy but not bulky, and the emblem on the hood was striking. He had seen cars like this in magazines and movies, but standing next to one made it feel much more real than any photo ever could.
Jason opened the passenger door and carefully placed his bag on the seat, making sure not to touch the interior unnecessarily — typical of a first-tir’s caution. He then went around to the driver’s side and sat down, pausing as his hands hovered near the steering wheel.
His eyes surveyed the dashboard, taking in the layout. The screens blended seamlessly, the instrunt cluster displayed information clearly, and the buttons were arranged logically. He adjusted the seat slightly, tested the pedals with gentle pressure, and took a mont to appreciate how comfortably everything fit.
Jason reached for the ignition and started the engine, feeling it respond instantly and smoothly. He checked the mirrors, carefully drove the car out of the garage, and eased onto the road with controlled precision. The car handled effortlessly. As he drove toward Crestwood, traffic naturally gave way.
He maintained a reasonable speed, using the drive to get accustod to the vehicle. By the ti Crestwood appeared ahead, his initial shock had transford into clear understanding.
For the record, Jason guided the car with complete confidence, despite never having taken formal lessons or accumulated years behind the wheel. The knowledge had been granted directly by the system as a newly acquired skill, seamless and instinctive, as though it had always belonged to him.
As the city unfolded ahead, he reached for his phone and placed a call through the vehicle system, one hand steady on the wheel. lissa answered after the second ring. Her voice ca through soft and composed, perhaps even more so than before...
"Jason, I suspected you would call. Today was always going to be complicated. You are already on your way, correct?"
"I am. I wanted to confirm the eting location and ensure nothing changed unexpectedly."
A brief pause followed, then her reply ca with asured clarity.
"My office remains the most suitable option. Privacy is necessary, and Daniel Cross arrived earlier than anticipated."
"Hm. That works. I will head there directly," Jason said, adjusting his route without hesitation.
"Good. Ti will matter today more than usual," lissa added, her tone firm.
The call ended.
Jason guided the car toward Crestwood Bank, maintaining a disciplined pace despite the temptation to test the vehicle’s limits.
’Tsk. I should avoid getting fined on my first day driving... especially without a license.’
The thought lingered for a mont.
Well, that would certainly be criminal, if anyone bothered to ask.
He drove through the traffic with fluid precision, responding adeptly to subtle steering adjustnts. Upon approaching the bank building, he felt composed and smoothly pulled into the designated parking area adjacent to the entrance. After stepping out, he closed the door carefully and adjusted his jacket.
Upon entering the building, he imdiately noticed a subtle but unmistakable shift in attention. Conversations quieted without ceasing, glances lingered discreetly, and staff mbers instinctively straightened as he traversed the marble floor.
A receptionist promptly approached. She has a mixed expression of curiosity and... composure?... probably that, or she was just lost in beauty, though her words ca hurriedly despite her efforts to remain calm:
"Mr. Jason, Ms. lissa requested that I escort you directly to her bedr— sorry, office."
"Thank you; I appreciate the efficiency today," he responded curtly, chuckling lightly before following her.
When the office door opened, he entered to find lissa standing beside her desk and Daniel Cross seated nearby with papers neatly arranged before him.
"Jason, I am glad you arrived on schedule," lissa said, offering a composed smile that barely concealed her concentration.
Daniel looked up imdiately, disbelief briefly flashing across his face before he regained his composure.
"I still cannot believe the figures I reviewed earlier, and I have yet to fully verify them," he remarked with restrained enthusiasm.
Jason calmly set his bag down and t their gazes without any display of arrogance.
"That is precisely why I wanted both of you present. From this point forward, accuracy is far more critical than speed, if you understand my aning."
lissa gestured toward the chair opposite her desk.
"Please, have a seat. We have multiple layers to address before the day concludes."
Jason took the seat without hesitation, ntally preparing to navigate the complexities ahead. Planning how to invest and allocate one hundred million dollars transparently, without attracting governntal scrutiny, was akin to attempting to dive into the ocean without getting wet...
...Essentially, an impossible task.
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