The Charismatic Adam Reed

Chapter 3

Mark's face contorted in anger, and he seemed ready to explode. However, before he could spew more venom, Mr. Lee intervened.

"Adam, come with me to my office. Now!"

With one last smirk at Mark and Lily, Adam followed Mr. Lee, limping slightly. Though his body ached and his heart hurt, he felt strangely liberated.

Lily pursed her lips and snarled at Adam's retreating back. She refused to accept the sight of Adam smirking at her. "I can't believe it, Mark. You're not going to do anything about this?"

As much as Mark wanted to punish Adam, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched and potentially recorded. He smiled, but his anger palpable. "Don't worry, babe, he'll learn his place. And when he does, I'll make damn sure he never forgets it."

Mark glanced toward his bodyguards and gave them a subtle nod. The two burly men exchanged knowing looks before quietly slipping away from the scene.

Meanwhile, in Mr. Lee's office, the atmosphere was tense. Mr. Lee slammed his fist on the desk, his frustration finally boiling over. "I told you not to mess with that guy, but you... you..."

His anger seeming to drain away. He sighed heavily and slumped into his chair. "Look, I know Mark's a real asshole. It's not entirely your fault, I get it. But did you ever think about how your actions could affect me, too? I could get fired, goddamn it!"

Adam, still standing near the door, bowed his head and muttered an apology. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lee. I didn't mean to cause you trouble."

Mr. Lee rubbed his temples, composing himself, before addressing Adam again. "Apology aside, Mark isn't the kind of person to just forget about all this. He'll be coming after you."

"Don't worry about me, sir. I'll be fine," Adam reassured Mr. Lee with a smile, knowing that Mark had forbidden Mr. Lee from firing him.

Mr. Lee sighed and started rummaging through his desk drawers. After a few moments, he pulled out a ring and placed it on the table.

"Here, take your ring back and resign," he instructed, his voice firm.

Adam's eyes widened as he recognized the ring. He never expected to see it again. It was a gift from his mother, which he had pawned to Mr. Lee to pay for Rachel's school fees back then.

"What's the meaning of this, Mr. Lee?" Adam stammered, trying to make sense of the situation. "Are you planning to clean my debt?"

"Of course not!" A look of feigned anger flashed across Mr. Lee's face. "Your debt is just going to be swapped with your severance pay. Now get out of here. And if you don’t find another work in a month, I’ll help you get a position in another branch of Electric Eden."

Adam hesitated, staring at the ring in disbelief, before finally picking it up from the table. "Thank you, Mr. Lee. I'll do as you say. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

"Just leave and stay safe," Mr. Lee waved him off, trying to maintain his stern expression. Little did he know that his actions that night would make him one of the most respected figures in the city, changing his life in ways he never expected.

Adam nodded one last time to Mr. Lee and left the office. After packing his belongings in the locker room, he made his way to the back door, rubbing the ring between his fingers. As he walked, he wondered how he would explain his abrupt resignation to his mother.

The cool night air hit Adam as he stepped into a dimly-lit alley leading to the main street. The only light came from the streetlamps, casting harsh shadows of garbage bins and dumpsters. As he turned a corner, however, he found his path blocked by a man. It was one of Mark's bodyguards, clutching a metal pipe in his hand.

"Look who we have here, the poor guy who thought he could screw with the boss and just walk away," the bodyguard sneered, tapping the pipe menacingly against his palm.

Adam clenched his fists. He knew fighting the bodyguard wasn't his best option, but the narrow alley didn't leave any room for escape. He slid his bag off his shoulder and tossed it aside, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation.

"You better kill me, then," Adam spat out. "Because if you don't, I swear both you and your boss are gonna regret it."

The threat seemed to amuse the bodyguard, making him pause momentarily, his laughter echoing through the alley. "You've got balls, kid. But balls ain't enough to save you tonight!"

With a roar, the bodyguard charged toward Adam, swinging the pipe with brutal force. Adam dodged and countered, but he was no match for the bodyguard's experience. Within seconds, Adam was beaten and bloodied, lying on the cold, damp ground, before losing consciousness.

"That's what you get for fucking with the boss." The bodyguard sneered as he tossed the pipe aside. However, before he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of something twinkling on Adam's finger – the ring.

"What do we have here?" he murmured, eyes narrowing. "Maybe I'll take this pretty little thing as a trophy."

He pulled the ring off Adam's finger, inspecting it up close. His excitement faded almost immediately, replaced by disgust when he realized the ring wasn't made of gold.

"Silver? Fucking cheap trash," he snarled, before tossing it back to Adam. "Just like its owner."

The bodyguard spat on the ground in contempt and walked away. Meanwhile, as Adam was completely alone in the dark alley, unconscious and battered, his body suddenly began to glow with a golden light. The light grew brighter and brighter until it was blinding, and as quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished.

However, a new, unearthly voice suddenly echoed within his mind.

[Congratulations, Adam Reed. You have been granted the Supreme System, the ultimate gift of the universe. Now, prepare yourself for the first of many rewards.]