[ Currently ]
- Hello! Is this the Daily Planet? - Peter asked with a sly smile.
- NO! - Jameson shouted. - Alright, kid Parker. I'll test your skills as a Graphic Designer and Photographer for three months, starting with a daily rate of USD 48.43, along with an additional USD 129.13 for each approved Spider-Man photo.
- After the trial period, I'll evaluate your performance and see if we'll continue with your services, possibly offering you the Junior Graphic Designer position we have available... don't waste my time, kid... I want photos, and I want everything by today. - Jameson dictated.
- What time for the contract signing? - Peter agreed, finding humor in the pressure the man wanted to impose, but Peter, with the experience of three different lives, knew well how to handle it. - And I mean a contract with a signature, not a lousy handshake.
- 1:00 PM, in my office, and no delays! - Jameson ordered, hanging up the call.
Smiling at Flash and Gwen, Peter announced.
- I got a job, or something like that. - Peter laughed, with the two glancing at each other before jumping on him.
- Holy crap, my dad would never have the courage to talk like that to Jameson. - Flash said, giving Peter a hug and a playful slap on the head. - That was awesome, Penis-Parker.
- Congratulations, Peter, I knew you could do it. - Gwen said, giggling, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
The entire class then erupted into a state of pure euphoria and debate, never imagining that the nerd from elementary school who was bullied by the tough Flash would start high school like this, as his best friend and even the boyfriend of the beautiful blonde, Gwen.
- Congratulations, Peter. - Said the teacher now. - Now, everyone calm down, let's get back to the lesson... Peter, put your phone on silent."
- Of course, I'll never interrupt the wonderful subject of such an amazing teacher again. - Making the class erupt in euphoria again for the nerd's flirtation with the most beautiful teacher in the school, named Ororo Munroe.
[ Previously ]
It was 12:00 PM when Peter left his last class, with his best friends practically pushing him out of school to go to the Daily Bugle. He sped through traffic at high speed, using his spider-sense to avoid losing control of his skateboard, almost making him feel like Tony Hawk from the games he was addicted to.
In his ears, he had a pair of headphones where he listened to his favorite songs, mainly keeping him alert for breaking news, which would play through his headphones via ads that interrupted each sequence of music.
Around his neck hung his old camera, a birthday gift from his uncle, something very special, which he had turned professional through adaptations and software updates he developed during a late-night boredom session.
On the other side of the city, a middle-aged man with a blue suit and thick mustache, with a fierce expression, had been thinking and plotting all morning. He wanted to get back at this cheeky kid who had cornered him, but he was also anxious to find out who had such courage, something rare, as practically no one could argue much with him and not feel oppressed.
[ ... ]
- You're late! - It was what J.J.J shouted when the elevator door opened, revealing a teenager carrying a skateboard.
- Actually, I'm on time. - Peter calmly responded as he stepped forward, envisioning what should have been a chaotic graphic office in one of his previous lives, but now lay quiet before the surprised faces of the adults present.
Everyone there thought someone older would show up, whom their boss had argued with on the phone earlier, or maybe some spoiled and arrogant teenager, the son of some rich guy or important politician who was being punished for some silly misconduct, having to dignify themselves to work for their own sustenance; it wouldn't be the first time something like that happened.
But standing there in front of everyone was a tall and athletic teenager, wearing a black overcoat, studying the environment as if comparing it to something he already knew.
- Wrong! I told you to come at 1:00 PM, it's 2:00 PM. - J.J.J appeared in front of Peter with crossed arms, indicating the main office clock with his face.
- It doesn't surprise me. - Peter murmured, with Jameson smiling at catching the kid. - Yeah, it looks like this place is pretty outdated..., - Peter continued, analyzing the environment. - Analog clocks with AAAA batteries that must be used to the max, causing the time delay. You should at least switch to digital, or at the very least, do like everyone else and use a cellphone. - Peter finished, turning his gaze back to the company boss, indicating the time on his cellphone, which read exactly 1:00 PM.
- Well, don't stall me! - Jameson exasperated. - Where are my Spider-Man photos?
- Oh! - Peter said, rummaging through his bag. - Here it is, sir. - Peter extended the envelope, with J.J.J smiling as he reached for it, only for Parker to pull his hand back in the process. - But of course, the contract first. I'd like to read it, you know... reading is good for a teenager's mind.
- "At least George isn't sending me a moron." - J.J.J thought as he turned, calling the boy, maintaining his annoyed demeanor but respecting the fact that the kid had the basic sense to read a contract before signing it.
[ ... ]
The argument between Peter and Jameson was just the tip of the iceberg for his employees, who believed it would calm down once the boy entered the boss's office. However, that was clearly not the case due to Parker's rebuttal of every abusive clause he found in the contract J.J.J drafted.
On the other hand, J.J.J retaliated by opening the boy's work card and throwing it in his face, showing that it was empty, with no experience, nothing.
That's when Peter laid out three photos on Jameson's desk, amazing photos capturing different angles and poses of Spider-Man around one of New York's towering buildings.
- Hnpf... - J.J.J grumbled, glaring at the photos with a glint in his eye: - Terrible. - He said as he reached for them. - I'll pay USD 100,00 for all three. - He finished, only for Peter to slap his hand on top of the photos, making an audible sound throughout the office.
- They are USD 129.13 each. - Peter retorted seriously. - And that's non-negotiable. - He finished, pulling the photos back into his envelope.
- And what would a kid like you do with so much money? - Jameson asked, not liking being challenged. No one had ever dared; who was this boy to want to stand up to him?
- Take care of my own life. - Peter responded, cutting him off. - It looks like it was a mistake to come here... at the very least, I thought you'd be professional. - Peter finished, already standing up, confident that he didn't need to humiliate himself like this, not here and not now, like in another life when he always allowed himself to believe he could never achieve anything better.
- Sit down! - J.J.J commanded loudly. - Miss Brant, come here. - He called, as a brunette girl slightly older than Peter, who was spying on her boss's office with two other employees, approached.
- Sir, your wife reminded you about your blood pressure, you should take your medication. - She said, undeterred by her boss's glare.
- I want you to draft a standard contract for Junior Graphic Designer and Personal Photographer for Spider-Man, part-time position on a 5x2 schedule and with flexible hours between afternoon or evening. - Jameson now turned to Parker. - You'll be under my direct supervision for a three-month trial period, don't think it will be easy, and I want to see changes, not just in your work but in the department you'll be working in, give me those... Miss Brant, pay for these three Spider-Man photos, each valued at USD 129.13. - He finished, instructing his employee, who quickly left to complete the task.
- You'll be paid daily at the end of each shift. - Jameson calculated the base salary for both functions, disliking this investment, but he saw no loopholes to allow this kid to take such well-framed photos directly to his competitor, not when all he had regarding Spider-Man were questionable quality videos on the internet. - Calculating, it comes to an estimated USD 48.43, and don't give me that smile, this doesn't come free, your contract will include a non-compete clause.
- If that clause is only in effect while I'm employed by your company, I see no problem... but without a contract, no contract clause. - Peter indicated to Brant, who looked at her boss, and he reluctantly agreed.
- I will want 1 photo of Spider-Man every week. I want exciting, detailed photos with a compelling story behind each illustration. - J.J.J dictated fiercely. - Don't give me any false morals of Spider helping old ladies or saving kittens; I want the public to buy your photos, and respect doesn't make history.
- And let me make one thing clear... I'm paying you very well because in over a year, no one has ever, ever managed to capture photos with such angles and quality as you have. You will hear this only once from me... so you better take responsibility for working as a team to bring our newspaper back to its golden age. - He finished, waving his hand for the boy to leave his office. - Tear up the front page and put this one in the first place. - Jameson said when a large man in a gray suit entered his office. - Spider-Man: Hero or Menace. - He finished, with Peter slightly wavering about whether he was doing the right thing by coming here.
- "This time the salary makes it worth it." - He thought as he left the office.
[ ... ]
Peter was guided by Betty Brant, who introduced him to everyone in the department. They seemed impressed by the teenager's courage in standing up to their boss. She showed him how the digital time clock worked, the break schedules for full-time and part-time employees, and even took him to a uniform section where the requirement was for everyone to wear business attire, something Peter saw no reason to deny, especially since it would be the only environment where he'd wear a suit. According to Betty, it looked great on Parker.
Once settled at the desk opposite Betty's, Peter immediately noticed the old computer he would have to work with. He started by downloading some cleaning software to get the system running correctly, alongside organizing his desk with his school notebooks, some of which were focused on ideas he had for the Daily Bugle.
He began by re-editing the main covers of the company's website through Photoshop, creating some vector models of the Daily Bugle logo to watermark his photos, as well as reorganizing all the company's social media to attract both an adult audience and a younger one, since the company was heavily reliant on physical prints.
He used entirely original ideas that he'd been jotting down ever since he understood the divisions of realities his soul had traversed.
By the end of the afternoon, he finally posted the last of the three Spider-Man photos. The first two were solely focused on Jameson's distorted view, but for the last one, he had more freedom to write a text, which the editing department practically loved and quickly posted at exactly 6:00 PM, a time when many people left work and went home, thus having an enjoyable and unbiased news story.
[ ... ]
It was the end of the workday when Peter finally sighed and turned off everything he had used today.
Heading to the elevator after saying goodbye to everyone, not bothering to change out of his suit, he noticed Jameson watching him from a distance with a neutral and even content expression, something Peter rarely saw on the man.
Betty, still sitting at her desk, glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled, genuinely liking the boy and how in a single day he had managed to serve as an advisor to almost every department, all of which were focused on newspaper headlines, but now aimed to chart a path towards digital media.
For many, it might be the end of the night, but for Peter, it was just the beginning. When he skateboarded to an alley, he put on headphones and donned his red and blue suit, a suit he hadn't worn until now but wanted to get used to.
Starting his patrol towards the police sirens on the other side of the city, he barely noticed an invisible blonde panting as she watched him do all this, where for the first time he accidentally used his powers on the street, having to abandon his clothes in the process, and ending his day by discovering the identity of his hero.
Returning euphorically to the tower where he lived and worked with his group, eager to tell his brother, who would go crazy with the news.
[ ... ]
Peter sighed heavily as he lay down on May's bed after a relaxing bath. The woman he thought was asleep soon snuggled up to him, opened her eyes, and just by that, he knew she wanted to hear about his day.
- My first payment. He showed her the wallet containing USD 435.82.
- W-what!? - May gasped in surprise, seeing Peter's happy and tired look.
- I sold the three photos... in the end, I got a permanent job that pays daily instead of freelance, a very well-paid job but with many responsibilities. - He commented on how he was fitting in more as the leader of the graphic sector than just an employee. - But yeah... now I can help with the bills and the mortgage payments... we just need to buy a house.
- Peter... - May murmured, really not believing this was happening. Not that she didn't trust her Peter, but so suddenly and with so much conviction... Peter was showing the same qualities that made May fall in love with Ben Parker. - This is a lot... - She said, undecided, but Peter silenced her with a kiss.
- Just accept my help, and when we buy a house, we can plan how to open the café you've always dreamed of, whether at home or not... I don't know. - Peter said happily. - I just know I want to repay everything you've done for me in life so far. - He continued, giving her little kisses, showing some tiredness from the day.
- No. - May joked, turning him over in bed and making him the little spoon. - Tonight, I'll take care of you, so relax. - She said, grabbing the radio control and turning it on, where "Knocking on Heaven's Door" started playing.
- I love you, May. - Peter said seriously, leaving no doubt about what he felt since she had taken care of him all his life, with even greater affection based on him having lived three lives being so well cared for.
- I love you too, Pete. - She responded lovingly, while her arms caressed his chest and her face nestled in the folds of Parker's neck.
And with that, I end the fifth chapter of Infinite Change.
I hope you are enjoying it, and don't forget to comment.
I'm really excited to create the plot of this fanfic, but like everyone... my routine is busy with work, especially now that the supervisors are focusing on me for a promotion and want to see dedication.
Anyway, below we will have photos of the characters presented in the chapter and the song that May started to sleep cuddling with Peter.
Guns N' Roses - Knockin' On Heaven's Door:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k04tX2fvh0o
-- Characters and Outfits Presented --
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Betty Brant:
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Secret Blonde:
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J.J.J:
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May Parker:
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Daily Bugle Uniform:
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Tobey Maguire Suit:
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