Global Innovation Games.

​"Rose, you’re fired!"

​"Fired? But why, President? I told you it wasn’t me who leaked the sensitive documents. My colleagues are trying to frame me!"

​"The Board of Directors has sufficient proof, woman. You may submit your resignation tomorrow."

​"No! I have done so much for this company over the past two years. I have designed games, increased profits by 500%, and raised the overall valuation by 600%. And now you want to kick me out just like that? I won’t accept it. I will sue you in court!"

​"Tch. You’re just a woman; no one will believe you. If you dare to sue us, I’ll make sure you never get a job again."

​That was the darkest day of my life. I am Rosella Davis, the youngest CEO in Cloud City at just twenty-four years old.

​Besides being a genius, I was also drop-dead beautiful, if I had to be honest with myself. After all, during my college days, I received so many romantic proposals that they stuffed my mailbox. I had short blonde hair, a cute face with a small nose, and a smile that could make anyone lose their reason.

​I joined Global Innovation Games when I was just 22. I was so full of passion back then, thinking that even though the company wasn’t big, I could make its name famous in the industry and build a successful financial life; maybe even go to tour in some beautiful planets.

​But all those dreams were for nothing. Those ugly corporate types couldn’t stand my presence; it was as if I were already threatening their fragile egos and confidence.

​And now, I am here, in a mess, drinking booze like there’s no tomorrow.

When I found my glass empty, I looked at the bartender, who gave me his usual professional stare.

​"Get me something hot, bartender. Maybe something that will knock me up!" I said, instantly drawing several creepy gazes from the room.

​Realizing my mistake, I quickly shut my mouth.

​Suddenly, two large men approached me with nasty smiles on their faces.

​"Hey, beautiful, you seem lonely. Want to go for a dance?" one guy said, already reaching out to grab me by the hand.

​I yelped and backed away, but because I was drunk, I lost my footing. I was just about to fall when a pair of strong arms caught me by the shoulders. I looked up, my eyes rolling upward, only to see a young man with dark hair and a chiseled face that could charm any woman.

​"Burp... who are you, handsome? Wanna save the heroine?" I burped, leaning against his shoulder like a total drunkard.

"Hey, punk! If you don’t want to get beaten into a pulp, leave her here!" one hooligan shouted, raising his fist.

​Crack!

​Before I could even blink, that hooligan’s hand was dislocated at a sickening, weird angle.

​"Ahhhh! It hurts! It hurts!" he howled, clutching his upper arm.

​I was shocked, as was the rest of the crowd.

We couldn’t even see how the young man had moved, or how effortlessly he had crippled the man’s hand.

Something was definitely not right.

Then, it clicked in everyone’s minds at once: Beyonders. Those chosen individuals with superhuman capabilities who make the rest of us feel completely inferior.

​And now, one of them was standing right among us.

​Everyone backed away in fear. After all, who knew what went through a Beyonder’s mind? Naturally, the other hooligan scrambled away with his friend as fast as he could. I stayed there, stunned. This young guy I had encountered by chance turned out to be a mystical being; and he was still not letting me go.

​"What do you want?" I asked, burping a breath of alcohol.

​"You," he answered straightforwardly, making my head spin.

​Was he going to kidnap me? Keep me in some dark, shady place where I’d be forced to do terrible things? I had heard so many stories about rogue Beyonders doing nasty things like that. But his next words left me completely shocked.

​"I want you to be my CEO."

---

An hour later, Rose was completely sober.

​Neo and Rose sat at a cafe near the bar where she had been drinking.

It was now night, and the atmosphere inside the cafe was quiet and cozy. Neo explained his proposal to her.

​"So, you want me to be the CEO of your company?" she asked in disbelief. "How old are you anyway?"

​"Twenty; and it shouldn’t matter, should it?" Neo replied while calmly taking a sip of his coffee.

​"Oh, right. You’re a Beyonder, I almost forgot that. So, what is the company’s name, and what product will you be selling?" she asked, looking interested.

​Neo took out the Aqua Core Flask, its sleek appearance and shimmering blue liquid instantly drawing her eyes.

​"The company’s name is Sovereign Corporation, and this water bottle can generate infinite purified water as long as you replace the power cell. The water is absolutely clean, helps recover from fatigue, and can help accelerate health regeneration by 50%. Usually, one power cell lasts for a whole week."

​Rose picked up the bottle immediately, her eyes doubtful.

"A week of infinite water? That’s impossible!"

​However, when she tried emptying it out, she failed miserably.

On the contrary, the table and floor became drenched in water that shimmered like holy water.

The customers, the waiters, and even the cashier stood stunned by the strange phenomenon.

​"Damn! Did that much water really come out of that one bottle?"

​"Yep. And it must be a magical gadget. I have never seen anything like it."

​"Should we ask where to buy one? My son is a sportsman, and this kind of bottle would really help him out."

​Rose finally broke out of her stupor after hearing the customers’ comments. She looked at Neo as if she had discovered a new continent.

​"This is incredible! I have seen many products in my career, but never have I seen anything like this," she said, amazed.

​Neo put down his cup and asked straightforwardly,

"So, are you in?"