Page 36 of No Mane, No Gain
“I get it,” Athena said softly. “But remember, those trolls don’t know you. They don’t know Chaos. Their opinions are worth less than yesterday’s garbage. Focus on the people who matter.”
“When did you get so wise, Athena?”
“Please, I’ve always been the brains of this operation,” Athena retorted, eliciting a genuine laugh from Olive.
After ending the call with Athena, Olive sat for a long moment, staring at her tablet. The comment section continued to explode with activity, a battlefield of support and vitriol. With a deep breath, she made a decision she’d never made before.
Her finger hovered over theDisable Commentsicon. It felt wrong, like she was letting the trolls win. But as another notification popped up with yet another cruel comment, Olive steeled herself and pressed it.
“Sorry, guys,” she murmured to her loyal followers. “I just need a breather.”
As the comments disappeared, Olive felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She wouldn’t let this negativity taint her excitement for her upcoming date with Chaos. With renewed determination, she stood and made her way to her walk-in closet. She had a tech lab tour to prepare for, after all.
The next day,Olive found herself standing before an imposing glass and steel structure, her reflection shimmering in its mirrored surface. AmTech’s headquarters loomed before her, a testament to innovation and progress. She smoothed down hernavy blue blazer, straightened her shoulders, and strode toward the entrance.
As she approached, the glass doors slid open silently, revealing a bustling lobby filled with people hurrying about their day. The air hummed with energy and purpose, and Olive couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement.
“Ms. Russo?” A polite voice caught her attention. A young woman in a crisp suit approached, tablet in hand. “Mr. Amato is expecting you. If you’ll follow me, please.”
Olive nodded, falling into step beside the woman as they made their way through the lobby. She couldn’t help but notice the curious glances thrown her way, whispers following in their wake.
The elevator ride was swift and smooth, depositing them on the top floor. As they stepped out, Olive’s breath caught in her throat. The entire floor seemed to be one massive laboratory filled with cutting-edge technology and people in white coats scurrying about.
And there, in the center of it all, stood Chaos.
He turned as they approached, his face lighting up with a smile that made Olive’s heart skip a beat. “BellaOlive,” he greeted warmly, striding to her. “Welcome to my world.”
He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that made her knees almost buckle.
Chaos looked every inch the tech mogul in his tailored charcoal suit, but his eyes sparkled with boyish enthusiasm. He took Olive’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so glad you could make it. Are you ready for a glimpse into the future?”
Olive grinned, her earlier nervousness melting away in the face of his excitement. “Lead the way, Chaos. Dazzle me with your genius.”
Chaos chuckled, a deep, rich sound. “I’ll certainly try my best. Let’s start with our quantum computing division...”
As they moved through the lab, Chaos explained each project with infectious passion. Olive found herself drawn in, fascinated by the sheer scope of innovation happening around her.
“This,” Chaos said, gesturing to a sleek, cylindrical device, “is our latest breakthrough in clean energy. It harnesses the power of nuclear fusion, but on a much smaller, safer scale than ever before.”
Olive’s eyes widened. “Nuclear fusion? Like... the sun?”
Chaos nodded, clearly pleased by her interest. “Exactly. If we can perfect this technology, it could revolutionize the way we power our world. Clean, virtually limitless energy.”
“That’s... incredible,” Olive breathed, reaching out to touch the device before catching herself. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t-”
“Go ahead,” Chaos encouraged, his voice soft. “It’s perfectly safe.”
Olive ran her fingers over the smooth surface, marveling at the potential contained within. “You’re really changing the world here, aren’t you?”
Chaos’s expression turned thoughtful. “We’re trying to. There’s so much potential for technology to solve some of our biggest problems. But it’s not without its challenges.”
As they continued the tour, Olive found herself drawn more and more into Chaos’s world. She asked questions, offered her own insights, and even made a few jokes that had Chaos laughing out loud.
“You know,” Chaos said as they paused for a break, “I don’t think I’ve ever had someone on a lab tour who was this engaged. Most people’s eyes glaze over after the first few exhibits.”
Olive grinned. “What can I say? I’m not most people. Besides, watching you talk about your work... it’s pretty captivating.”
A faint blush colored Chaos’s cheeks, catching Olive by surprise. It was endearing to see this powerful man show a moment of vulnerability.