CHAPTER 25: THE MISFITS

[A/N]

Added a new reward for the special task in Chapter 24. Check it if you’re curious, or you can ignore it and keep reading.

***

He pushed her away, blinking hard, heart still pounding.

Both stood in the empty room, staring at each other, shame flickering behind their eyes.

For Augustus, it was because of almost giving in to the temptation, while Jasmine’s realization hit her hard with what she was doing.

Ding...

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Trait Unlocked: Earned Dopamine Recognition

Your mind now distinguishes between earned and instant rewards.

Focus sharpens. Distractions lose their grip.

Temptations still whisper... but they no longer control you.

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Silence stretched between them before Jasmine spoke. "Why? You could have done anything..." she asked softly, breaking it.

"..." Augustus didn’t reply, choosing silence, while slightly eyeing the panel.

She continued in guilt, "I-I just... needed a way out," she said solemnly, trying to explain to him, or maybe just convince herself. "My father drinks and gambles every day, s-so I had no other choice but this," she said in a cracked voice.

Augustus studied her face—no longer seductive, just tired and burdened.

"You know things don’t work out that way, right?..." he asked sharply.

She stood uneasily. "I-I know... it’s that the loan sharks are at our throats. They know that they can’t recover money from my father, so they are targeting me and my young sister... I need a lot of money, and fast... I had no other choice," she explained, lowering her gaze.

But when the realization hit her that she had been explaining her sad story to a stranger, her fist clenched, feeling helpless. "I’m sorry. I’ll just leave..." she said, biting her lower lip and forcing a smile.

Yet, her eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. She didn’t cry but channeled that emotion into something else—something that would make or break her.

She turned around and began walking.

"Stop," Augustus raised, knowing full too well that she could do anything in that emotional state. After all, it was the same for him. "I assume you’re going to attempt this again with someone else?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

She nodded with an expressionless face. "I have no choice. I even thought of killing them or myself... I know it’s crazy, but that’s just how desperate I am. I also have a younger sister to look after... Anyways, thank you for indulging me," she said with a resolute face.

I can’t let someone fall into a dark pit right in front of me, knowing that I could have easily saved them,

Augustus sighed. I’m too good for this world.

"Alright. I’ll hire you as my secretary. From here on out, you’re in charge of everything," he said and added with a sharp tone, "But the first thing you do is clear your debt," he asked with a serious expression.

And with a thoughtful expression, he carefully considered:

I would have also cleared her debt, but I want her to have a purpose, and... if I pay the debt amount in full, she might get even more depressed, as the problem she was selling her body for got resolved so easily. Letting her pay it off might feel like an accomplishment—something she earned. I don’t know her, but this feels right.

[Hidden Task Completed.]

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[✓] Karma – A single decision can shape two futures.

Had you given in to her temptation, she might’ve walked a darker path—and maybe you could’ve also faced the consequences for being part of it.

But by stopping here and giving her a chance, you not only averted disaster... You earned a powerful ally.

| Status: Task Completed Successfully.

| Reward: Powerful Ally + $200,000.

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Augustus blinked, looking at the system panel. Powerful ally, he thought with furrowed brows, but soon he snapped back as... Jasmine was already hugging him.

With a frown, he tried to nudge her away, but just as he was about to grab her shoulders...

Sniffle... sniffle...

He heard her silently crying on his shoulders. And unlike earlier, there was no uneasy or hazy feeling; she felt warm and cuddly.

Augustus’ eyes widened after realizing he had misunderstood her. He immediately knew what to do. With hesitation, he reached out and patted her head gently. "There, there, calm down. Everything will be alright," he mumbled in a soothing tone.

Funny. A few days ago, I was the one cornered.

After a few dozen seconds of crying—both from relief and disbelief—she finally let go and distanced herself.

"With me here, you don’t have to feel cornered at all," he stated. Although bold, his inexperienced self didn’t know how true those words were. After all, he was just an average man a few days ago—but nevertheless, he just wanted to comfort her for now, so he did.

She smiled softly. Having to depend on someone else was a weird but warm feeling.

"I’m really sorry for jumping on you earlier like that," she said sincerely, her expression calm but serious. Then, as if needing him to understand more about her, she added softly.

"I’m good with people... and negotiation. After living with my father, I had to constantly be on guard. I learned how to read moods, and how to speak without showing too much. So... you can depend on me sometimes."

Augustus sighed, waving his hand with a faint smile. "Not a problem. Come, let’s go to the interview room..." he paused. "Also, please keep this to ourselves," he directed and began walking.

Jasmine nodded with a warm smile and hushed quietly under her breath, "Thank you."

Augustus turned. "Did you say something?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

They both walked into the interview room.

David looked at Augustus’s uneasy yet forced expression, while Jasmine walked... as if nothing had happened—her control over her emotions much better than his.

David narrowed his eyes and asked casually, "How did the private interview go, Augustus?" he asked with a calm face.

Augustus rolled his eyes and sighed, "...Nothing much," brushing it off with a light smile. He then grabbed his chair to sit down, while Jasmine took her own seat.

They talked for a few moments. Augustus explained that he needed a secretary, and David didn’t question much. He trusted Augustus and knew whatever he did had a good reason.

"Alright. From what we’ve discussed, and seeing your potential," David began professionally, looking at Jasmine, "Your salary will be $7,000 per month. That should give you enough to clear your debts while living a good life," he said after calculating and going through her $60,000 debt.

She thanked Augustus with a gentle yet beautiful smile and stood up. With a happy face, she left the room so that others could enter.

Augustus and David interviewed the candidates one after another with different personalities. But one thing common amongst them was their skill... it was top-notch.

"I think that Jasmine girl is really smart," David said, glancing at Augustus. "Hiring her as secretary was a good decision," he reassured.

Augustus smiled softly. "Haha. First, the brilliant, shy coder girl, then a genius designer accused of a confidential breach, and now a cunning yet desperate secretary...

Then there’s the calm, wise old writer who’s been jobless; the impressive but anxious marketing guy who failed his last startup... We have quite the misfits here."

He said with excitement and stood up from his chair. Then added, "Alright, David, let’s go and greet the... talented misfits," Augustus mumbled with a bright smile, eyes twinkling with delight.

They had asked the new hires to wait in the entertainment room because they wanted to have a small meeting—not a boring one, but a fun one.

David nodded approvingly, while Max’s lips quirked in amusement. The trio stepped out of the interview room, brimming with excitement and exhilaration.