172 Fool you once, game on you (2/2)
The menacing manager even smiled...something Ben would've never expected before. ”Ben, your performance was truly impressive! It even brought me back to memories of my youth...” He sighed. ”You know, I used to be a bodybuilder! I was strong like you, and jacked!
Despite his change in attitude, poison dragons didn't have such good temperaments... Ben glanced at Owen's gut. ”Yea? What happened?”
...
Owen released a helpless chuckle and rubbed the back of his short curly red hair. He was now just another overweight middle-aged office worker. ”It's the same old story…wife got in the way…”
Then, he remembered something. ”Oh, Ben, you're in Public Relations now, right? I don't know what your workload is like but we'll be putting this feature up on the website tomorrow so I need you to write a couple of paragraphs of content.”
”About what?”
”About your work out program, things about yourself, maybe something motivational to inspire other teenagers. We'll put it in the article with your video. Just make it interesting for the readers.”
Ben nodded, then watched as Owen took his people and returned to his floor...
As far as this first day at work, it was a spectacular one for Ben. The appearance fee alone from this gig would pay off a hefty portion of his credit card debt. Of course, he'd gotten something even better than that, his reward from completing the challenge! Yet, he decided to check that at home, because he still needed to return to the Public Relations office.
***
Laura was sitting in her black office chair, tapping her nails on her desk, something she only did when stressed...
A couple of hours ago, she received a call from Male's Health that they were using Ben for a feature, and she almost dropped her phone as she stumbled! This was the exact opposite of her intention when sending him there!
She knew Owen would be there and was a complete loose cannon! So she didn't understand how Ben avoided eating a massive verbal tirade, let alone got a feature from him!
However, when they called and asked to use Ben, she couldn't say no. It was a request from a manager for a lowly intern and her status was much lower. She had no way to refuse. As for her father, he was in a meeting and unreachable, so she could only sit there and do her work, waiting until Ben finished to find out what happened.
*Knock* *Knock*
”…Come in.” She glanced at the entrant, and who else could it be but Ben, arriving to save the princess. Of course, he was less a knight in shining armor than Jack Nicholson in The Shining…
As Ben arrived, he grinned like an innocent happy young man. ”Thank you so much for the opportunity! I would've never gotten such a chance if it wasn't your thoughtfulness and care!” He bowed like a Japanese salaryman and kept his head down.
Meanwhile, Laura was gritting her teeth. 'Why is he bowing? And what thoughtfulness and care?!? Bastard! I was clearly sending you to get crushed!'
Ben's ”thankfulness” only burned her insides!
That's when he raised his head until their eyes met, allowing her to view his ”thankful smile.”
Laura gasped...because she realized…she'd been had!
What thankful smile?!? It was a troll smile!
Of course by now, Ben figured out Laura's intent for all her thoughtful assignments. Thus, even though it all worked out for him, he still thought it appropriate to show her a little of his ”appreciation...”
Without blinking, he stared at her until she could read his mind with perfection. His eyes were saying one simple thing—'Fooled you…'
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*Author's Note: Fool me—you can't get fooled again.