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"The job comes with other perks, too," Lemu continued, his tone turning more confident. "I know astronomy, geography—you name it. I've published over a hundred research papers, and more than a quarter of them are in high-impact journals like SCI. You can look them up online if you don't believe me."
His serious expression, paired with that confident tone, made Alice want to laugh. She couldn't tell if he was joking or just full of himself, but somehow, it came across as… cute.
"A hundred papers, huh?" Her lips curved into an indulgent smile. "Alright, alright. So what's the job? You haven't even told me that yet. How can I say yes when I don't know what I'm signing up for?"
Lemu cleared his throat and straightened up, his expression suddenly taking on a gravity that made her blink in surprise.
"Come work as my maid."
"…What?"
"I need a head maid for my villa," he declared with conviction.
Silence.
Alice blinked.
And then she just… stared.
Her deep blue eyes, clear and unfathomable as a mountain lake, locked onto his gaze without blinking.
One second.
Two seconds.
Five seconds.
The longer she stared, the more Lemu felt like his brain was being carefully dissected beneath that gaze. His composure began to slip. He shifted in his seat, suddenly self-conscious, and turned his head slightly to the side.
"You… don't want to?"
Alice tilted her head, her smile taking on a playful edge. "What do you think?"
Lemu's heart dropped into his stomach. Why does she have to be so good at this? His brain spun, scrambling for a response that wouldn't make him sound desperate.
"…I—"
"Pfft…!"
Alice's sudden giggle cut him off. Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed softly, her shoulders shaking from the effort of holding it in.
"Okay, okay… I'll do it," she said at last.
"Wait, really?" Lemu blinked, half-convinced he'd misheard her.
"Mhm." Alice reached out and brushed her fingers lightly through his long silver hair, her touch soft and deliberate. She gave the silky strands a gentle ruffle before withdrawing her hand. "What? Are you mad at me for teasing you? Should I apologize?"
Her voice dropped into a softer register, warm and slightly husky, like a sip of ice-cold lemonade on a scorching summer day—cool yet tantalizing. As she spoke, her breath ghosted against the side of his neck, featherlight but enough to stir something restless beneath his skin.
Lemu resisted the urge to shiver.
"…So it's a deal, then?" he asked, his voice a little rougher than before.
Alice tilted her head, studying him with a curious smile that somehow made him feel like he was the one under interrogation.
"Well… I don't know the first thing about being a head maid. Are you sure I can do it?"
Lemu quickly grabbed his spoon and started poking at the rice on his plate, suddenly needing something to do with his hands. "Of course. You can find tutorials online. There are tons of resources nowadays…"
Alice chuckled, her smile widening.
"Alright. It's a deal."
Lemu let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His heart felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.
"Great. I'll contact you in a few days to arrange the details. You should be able to start in about two weeks to a month."
A golden-haired maid, finally secured… Not easy at all!
After finishing lunch, the two parted ways since Alice had another exam that afternoon, and Lemu needed to head back.
At the cafeteria entrance, they shared a light hug, following American social etiquette. But just as Lemu was about to step back, Alice leaned in close to his ear and whispered softly, her breath brushing against his skin.
"Today was really fun. Should big sister give you a goodbye kiss?"
A jolt shot down Lemu's spine. His body stiffened, his mind blanking out for half a second—until her teasing voice followed up with a mischievous laugh.
"Just kidding."
"Ahem… I—I should get going…" Lemu quickly stepped back, heat crawling up the back of his neck.
Hands clasped behind her back, Alice watched him retreat with a smile tugging at her lips. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, her narrowed eyes gleaming with amusement—like a snow fox that had just found a new toy.
"Such an adorable girl… and so easy to tease."
On his way toward the campus gate, Lemu's thoughts wouldn't settle down.
Was I too obvious?
Somehow, without realizing it, Alice had completely taken control of the conversation. Was it because he'd been too impatient?
But why?
Back when he'd negotiated with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Nick Fury—that sly, seasoned agent—he'd managed to hold his ground without a problem. Yet with Alice, he'd found himself fumbling over his words.
Maybe there was some truth to that old saying:
"A man who yearns for Helen will always overlook the gifts of Hera and Athena."
Lemu wasn't the only one who fit that description. Alice, too, had chosen to walk willingly into the little trap he'd set—despite knowing that free lunches didn't fall from the sky.
By the time Lemu reached the front gate, the sleek black car that had dropped him off earlier was still parked by the curb. Through the windshield, he could see Happy Hogan, head resting against the seat, snoring away with steady rhythm.
Lemu walked up to the window and tapped it lightly.
"Happy? Wake up!"
"Mmh—wha—?!" Happy jolted awake, eyes wide with confusion. He rubbed the sleep from his face, blinking blearily until Lemu's silhouette came into focus.
"Oh, hey, you're back. How long was I out?"
"Hmm… probably the whole morning?" Lemu raised the paper bag in his hand, shaking it lightly. The faint aroma of fried rice wafted from within. "Brought you some lunch—eat first before we hit the road."
Happy's eyes lit up. "Oh, man, thanks! I was starving."
Sliding into the passenger seat, Lemu handed over the bag as Happy popped open the lid, the warm steam rising into the cool air-conditioned space.
….
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If you want to read 15+ chapters ahead and unpublished fanfics you can check out my patreon or just take a visit.
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