[Main POV]
"So, you won."
"I did."
Olivia and I were back on the bus. The tournament lasted the whole day, and we ate a quick bite before buying a chess set from a local shop. This was a necessary expense, as it would start look super suspicious if I didn't even have a chess set (like even more suspicious than being a 4-year-old). Due to our multiple detours, it was fairly late, and there was nobody else on the bus.
"Olivia, what do you want to do after the orphanage?"
She shuffled in her seat, uncomfortable with the question. "I don't know. I figured maybe I could get an assistant job? The economy's doing pretty well. Or maybe I'll go to California. I heard there are a lot of opportunities there."
I mentally facepalmed. This girl had no plan. Well, this was perfect for my plan.
"Sounds like a gamble."
"We're orphans. We have to take gambles."
"Well, then make a gamble. On me."
She looked at me confused. Then snorted. "Apollo. You're 4 years old. We can't get married."
I choked on my saliva and coughed a few times before composing myself. "That's not what I meant! What I mean is for you to work for me as my assistant."
"What do you even need assistance on? I don't even know how to play chess."
I opened my backpack and brought out a notebook. "Here, read this."
"Jurassic Park?" Opening the notebook, she skimmed through the story.
"It's a book I wrote. It's about a rich guy that clones dinosaurs and the disastrous consequences when these creatures are unleashed in a theme park."
Her eyes widened as she continued reading. "How do you even know what cloning is?"
I shrugged my shoulders before simply stating my catch all excuse, "I read about it in a book in the library. Took me two weeks to write the book."
In reality, it took me 2 days. Due to my divine memory, it wasn't a problem. While at the library, I also checked to make sure nobody had written it yet, along with some of the future books I had planned.
I also took all their free paper, notebooks, and pens. Now if you want a free notebook, you have to request it from the front desk.
.
Olivia continued reading until the bus stopped.
After we got off the bus we walked towards the orphanage. She stopped me halfway and looked at me.
"Alright. I'll admit that the book isn't bad. And you can play chess. So what? Do you even have enough money to pay me?"
I simply stared back at her and replied, "I don't have the money currently. But you get to stay at the orphanage until you're 18. So, you have until September. Start working for me now, and I'll pay you $1000 per month once you're 18. But if you accept this, you'll have to do whatever I say."
She looked at me suspiciously. "How do I know if you'll even have the money to pay me?"
"You don't. That's why it's a gamble."
She continued looking at me before chuckling. "Since I first saw you 4 years ago, I always knew you were a crazy kid. I'll do it."
We shook hands and continued back to the orphanage.
"Your first job is to convince Ms. Davis to let me have the basement."
.
.
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AN:
Short chapter I know. I try to keep chapters at least 500 words, but know that the later chapters are at least 1000 words.
Just finished writing version 1 of chapter 28, so trust me when I say some crazy shit goes down.