Marvin walked to the reception area, but as he got closer, he realized there was a long line. Four people were ahead of him, while three joined in behind him. They were all dressed in expensive suits and elegant dresses. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to catch his breath. His shirt was sticking to his back, and he felt a bit embarrassed.As he stood in the queue, a couple of people in front of him started to turn their heads and sniff the air, their faces also began to scrunching up. Marvin felt a pang of anxiety when he realized they were reacting to his smell. He had been lugging heavy bags around, and now he was really sweaty.“Hey man, are you a plumber or something? You look all worked up,” one man in the line who was two steps behind him joked, he had been eyeing Marvin’s sweaty clothes.Another person, a younger guy with slicked-back hair, wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, and it smells like you’ve never had a shower. You smell like a fish!”A wave of laughter ripple
The young woman’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell, you must be kidding me!” she shouted, drawing more attention.“Come on, run the card in the machine again,” the young lady demanded, with a voice that was tight with irritation.The receptionist took the card and swiped it again, but the screen displayed the same message: “PAYMENT DECLINED.”The young woman’s face turned red with frustration. “This is ridiculous!” she exclaimed. “Wait, sir, let me call my banker. I’m not having this.” She pulled out her phone, furiously tapping at the screen to make the call.“Please, madam, kindly step aside so I can attend to the next person,” the receptionist said politely but firmly.She turned to look at Marvin with a sneer, then huffed and stepped aside, holding her phone to her ear.The receptionist turned to Marvin. “Hello, sir, and welcome to Aurora Grand Hotel,” he greeted with a somewhat tired expression. “Are you here to book a reservation?”“Yeah, of course,” Marvin replied, still f
Marvin’s eyes locked onto that of receptionist’s, they were cold and unblinking eyes. The receptionist felt a shiver run down his spine, as if he were staring into the eyes of a predator.“You think I can’t afford it?” Marvin’s voice was low and calm, but it carried a dangerous edge.“No, sir, that’s not what I meant,” the receptionist stuttered, his hands were sweating so much now that he could barely grip the card. “I just—”“You just what?” Marvin interrupted, leaning in slightly. The receptionist could smell the faint scent of cologne mixed with sweat, and it made him even more nervous.“I just—” the receptionist began again, but his voice faltered. He felt like he was drowning under Marvin’s intense gaze. Everyone in the room was silent, watching, waiting to see what would happen next.Marvin straightened up and gave a small, cold smile. “Well I suppose how I choose to spend my money is non of your business is it?""No." The receptionist replied almost immediately."Okay then, r
Back in his lavish private spa room, Mr Richmond lay back on a comfortable lounge chair, his eyes were closed as soft music played in the background. The warm steam and the soothing scent of lavender filled the air of the private spa room. The events of the day felt distant now, almost like a bad dream he was finally waking up from.Beside him, Dana Orion, his wife, was scrolling through her phone, with a slight smile playing on her lips. Her Instagram page had exploded with new followers ever since they got married, and now, every post seemed to be filled with congratulations and admiration.“Look at this, honey,” Dana said, showing him her phone screen. “They’re all talking about us. Some are even saying that we’re the new power couple of Westwood.”Mr Richmond smiled faintly, not opening his eyes. “Good for them. I’m just glad I can finally relax.”Dana nodded, though she looked a bit worried. She knew today had been tough for him, overseeing some projects and attending to some
Darren fumbled with the hologram machine, his hands were shaking slightly as he set it up on the small table in front of Mr. Richmond. A few seconds later, the device flickered to life, projecting a clear image into the center of the room. It showed a well-lit studio, where Tariq Khyber, the CEO of the Khyber Group, was seated across from a John Larry a famous TV pundit.Tariq’s smile was wide and genuine, his face was glowing with triumph, like he had just achieved something extraordinary. Mr. Richmond’s expression hardened as soon as he saw his rival. That smile meant only one thing: progress. And progress for the Khybers was bad news for the Richmonds.Mr. Richmond clenched his jaw, feeling a wave of anger wash over him. Tariq Khyber wasn’t just any competitor—he was one of the most cunning and crafty men in Westwood’s business world. Every victory Tariq scored was a threat to Mr. Richmond’s empire.“What is this?” Mr. Richmond asked, his voice was edged with frustration as he s
Tariq leaned back in his chair, letting the moment hang in the air before he answered the host’s question."How much?" the host asked again, leaning forward, eager for the response.Tariq smiled, his eyes were gleaming. “Around fifty billion dollars.”Mr. Richmond's world froze.Fifty billion? His son, Marvin—whom he had always thought of as a failure—was was now actually a billionaire? And not just a billionaire, but someone who had made that fortune without any help or affiliation with him?He couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense. His son, whom he had disowned and cast aside, had managed to pull off a deal that no one else could. Marvin had somehow become a powerful player behind the scenes, without his father even knowing.Mr. Richmond felt like the ground was shifting beneath him. His chest tightened, his pulse pounded in his ears. How could this have happened? How could Marvin, of all people, have outplayed him like this?Across the room, Martha's eyes widened in shock as
At exactly ten in the morning, Marvin stepped out of his suite. The hallway was filled with hotel staff scurrying to and fro and each of them bowed in greeting as he passed.He had done the impossible some days ago and that act left them in awe and they were impressed.But Marvin didn’t even glance at them. He moved with purpose, his gaze was set straight ahead. The whispers of respect and fear followed him like a shadow.As he reached the front doors, he stepped into the bright courtyard. There, waiting for him, was a sleek Lamborghini Aventador limousine. Standing next to it was the butler assigned to him, dressed sharply in his uniform.“Good morning, sir,” the butler greeted, bowing deeply.“Yes, good morning,” Marvin replied, his voice was calm but distant.The butler straightened up and asked, “Please, sir, may I know the reason for your outing today and where you wish to go?”Marvin glanced at him. “I want you to drive me to a restaurant that serves spicy peanut butter noodles
“Why did you trip me, you wicked and pathetic excuse of a man?” she snapped, with a voice that was full of accusation. Marvin blinked, completely taken aback. “What? I didn’t trip you!” For goodness sake, he hadn’t even moved from his seat. The stylish woman crossed her arms and glared at Marvin. “What do you mean you didn’t?” she said, with a voice that was dripping with disbelief. Marvin looked down at his shirt, the bright red stain glaring back at him. His face hardened, and anger flashed in his eyes. He stood up abruptly, glaring at the woman. “Look, young woman,” he said, with a voice that was tight with frustration, “I didn’t do anything you’re accusing me of. I didn’t trip you. In fact, you owe me an apology for lying against me and ruining my shirt!” He pointed at the stain, his words were firm and demanding. A few people around the restaurant gasped at Marvin’s bold demand. The woman’s eyes narrowed as she looked Marvin up and down, her expression had turned ev
Two weeks had passed since the chaos at the energy core, but for Marvin, it felt like a lifetime.He sat in his office, slouched in the large, leather chair behind his polished oak desk. The expansive window behind him let in streams of sunlight, but the brightness felt out of place. Inside, Marvin felt dim and distant, like a part of him had been stripped away.On the surface, he looked composed. His suit was neatly pressed, the dark fabric hiding the faint glow of the blue veins still etched into his arms. The glow was faint now, but it was a constant reminder of the price he had paid in an effort to stabilise the energy grid.Marvin sighed, leaning back in his chair as he stared at the untouched documents on his desk. His mind wandered to his telepathic abilities—once sharp, vibrant, and second nature to him. Now, reaching that state felt like trying to grab smoke with his bare hands.He closed his eyes for a moment and focused. "Reach deeper." he told himself. His thoughts st
The room grew silent for a moment, the only sound was Marvin's heavy breathing as his body gave out. His knees buckled completely, and he crumpled to the floor, his glowing veins had faded into dull lines as his consciousness slipped away.Just as the energy field began to spiral out of control again, a faint whirring sound filled the room. The female cyborg stepped forward, her movements were smooth yet deliberate. Her metallic limbs shimmered under the harsh glow of the unstable core, and her glowing eyes were locked onto the chaotic pulses of energy.She knelt beside Marvin, placing a cold hand on his shoulder. "Rest, Marvin," she said softly, her voice was calm and soothing. "You've done enough."Straightening her body, the cyborg turned her focus to the core. Her expression was unreadable, but her glowing eyes seemed to brighten as she extended her hands toward the storm of energy.Her internal systems were activated, sending a surge of telepathic waves toward the core. Her m
The air around Marvin crackled with energy, the violent storm of the Synapticore was roaring louder as the seconds ticked by. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, sweat soaking his face as the temperature in the room climbed to unbearable levels. Yet, his eyes were fierce, fixed on the glowing core.“Tell me what to do,” he repeated, his voice was sharper now, his resolve solidifying.Luminar’s voice echoed in his mind, it was calm but tinged with urgency. “like I said before, to stabilize the grid, you must sync with its chaotic frequency. The energy is wild and erratic, but you can calm it by matching its rhythm. Focus, Marvin. Listen to the pulses, feel them, and let your mind flow with them.”Marvin closed his eyes, shutting out the flashing lights, the sparks, and the unbearable heat. His breathing steadied as he reached deep within himself, his consciousness stretching out to touch the volatile energy field. Slowly, he began to feel it—the erratic thrum of the core’s
The Synapticore energy buzzed wildly, and its light pulsed with an unpredictable rhythm. Rays of the sky-blue glow flickered outside the energy room, spilling through cracks in the walls and vents. It illuminated the dark corridors beyond, casting eerie, dancing shadows that stretched and twisted along the walls.Outside the energy room, chaos was brewing. Technicians scrambled to address the sudden surges in the facility’s systems. Warning lights flashed red, and alarms blared, signaling critical instability.The lead technician, a middle-aged man with a nervous air about him, noticed the strange blue light seeping out. His brow furrowed as he turned to Mr. Christopher Richmond, standing at few feets away from the energy room.“Mr. Christopher,” the technician called, his voice shaky, “what’s that sky-blue light coming from the energy room?”Christopher’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his face remained calm. He knew exactly what it was—the result of Marvin’s Synapticore power. But t
Marvin pressed his palm firmly against the cyborg’s cold, metallic arm.The moment their connection was made, a jolt of raw energy shot through him like an electric surge. It was as though his very veins were on fire, as each pulse of energy sent a sharp tremor up his arm. He gritted his teeth, trying to concentrate. The Synapticore energy that lived deep within him, which was dormant and unpredictable, was now his only lifeline."Focus," the cyborg’s voice broke through the chaos, it was steady and commanding. “Draw it out. Don't hold back. This is it.”Her words echoed in Marvin's mind, but his body was already pushing past his limits. His veins, once normal, were now glowing a brilliant sky-blue, pulsing as if his very bloodstream had become a river of energy. He clenched his jaw against the searing heat of it, fighting the rising panic.The energy surged through him, pooling in his chest, his limbs. He didn’t hesitate. He funneled it all down into his arm, sending it out throu
Marvin’s heart pounded as he stared at the woman before him. Chaos erupted all around them—the roaring hum of the energy field grew louder, threatening to consume the entire facility. Yet, his focus remained locked on her, as if the world had paused just for this moment.Her piercing eyes, like shards of tempered steel, held a strange mix of calm and determination that left him both mesmerized and unnerved. The flickering lights played across her flawless features, highlighting a beauty that seemed almost inhuman.No, not almost.Marvin’s gaze traveled downward, catching the gleam of her metallic arm. Its sleek, intricate design was unlike anything he’d seen, seamlessly blending with the flesh of her shoulder. It wasn’t a flaw; it was a statement.“Who… are you?” Marvin asked, his voice was barely audible above the cacophony around them.The woman’s expression remained steady. “Focus, Marvin. There’s no time for distractions,” she replied, her tone was calm yet commanding.Her words
Marvin’s breath quickened as he surveyed the chaos around him. The smoke thickened, and the flickering lights cast eerie shadows across the room. He turned to the young technician who had led them here, his voice was sharp and commanding.“How did this happen?” Marvin demanded, his piercing gaze was locked on the technician.The young man swallowed hard, his hands started trembling. “I-It started when one of the energy storage units malfunctioned,” he stammered. “The cooling systems couldn’t keep up with the heat buildup, and it triggered a chain reaction. The power surges overloaded the grid, and now the entire system is unstable.”Marvin’s uncle, Mr. Christopher Richmond, stepped forward, his movements were calm and precise. He made his way to one of the main control panels and began typing rapidly, his fingers were flying over the keyboard as he analyzed the situation.“Uncle Christopher, what’s the status?” Marvin asked, his voice tense.Christopher’s face was a mask of concentr
Four days later, the sun was high in the afternoon sky, casting long shadows across the sleek, modern campus of Marvin’s newly commissioned company. Inside the sprawling Solar Research Lab, Marvin walked alongside his uncle, Mr. Christopher Richmond, their footsteps were echoing softly against the tiled floor.The lab was a marvel of innovation, its clean, polished surfaces reflected the glow of advanced equipment humming quietly in the background. Researchers moved methodically, their focus was unwavering as they worked at their stations.Marvin took a moment to admire the setup, feeling a swell of pride. The Solar Research Lab was one of the most vital units in the company—a hub of innovation where breakthroughs in solar energy technology would propel the company to greater heights.Standing at the center of the room was Dr. Nathaniel Croft, a brilliant scientist Marvin had carefully selected to lead the unit. Clad in a white coat, his sharp eyes scanned the room as he oversaw th
The governor’s trembling hand hovered over the screen of his buzzing phone. The name Denzel Brooks glared back at him like a death sentence. His throat went dry as he reluctantly swiped to answer.“Hello… Mr. Speaker,” he croaked, his voice barely steady.“Governor Webster,” Denzel Brooks’s voice came through, calm but cold, with the weight of authority that felt crushing. “It seems the time for pretense is over.”The crowd, already uneasy, quieted further, straining to catch every word as if they could hear the conversation through sheer anticipation.“What… what are you talking about?” Webster stammered, though deep down, he knew where this was going.The Speaker’s voice was unrelenting. “Investigations into your assets and your dealings with Jessica Zypher have been ongoing for a few weeks now. And now, the results are clear. You accepted a bribe to influence your decision on Project Helios.”Gasps erupted from the crowd. The words “bribe” and “Project Helios” shot through them lik