​Without waiting for an invitation, April walked over and sat down comfortably in the leather armchair opposite his desk, crossing her legs. As she made herself at home, she mentally triggered her system.

​System. Insight.

[Would you like to read Xavier Reed’s fortune?]

[Number of insights left today: 3/3]

’Yes,’

​The translucent blue screen materialized in front of April, updating Xavier Reed’s timeline in real time. April’s eyes swept the glowing text, a cold, calculating look entering her gaze as she parsed the information.

​[Xavier Reed — Updated Fate Line]

Immediate Future (Within 2 Hours): Target is scheduled to authorize a $100,000,000 corporate investment. He is currently split between two competing firms. If he selects his current preferred option, Aeris corp, he will lose his $100 million because the company will collapse into fraudulent bankruptcy within forty-eight hours. Selecting the secondary option saves and doubles the capital.

​Hidden Truth (This Evening): Target is planning to reject a high-profile meeting with a specific lady tonight. If he declines, an irreversible cascade event will trigger. (System Note: Precise outcome locked; immediate threat indicator active).

​April’s heart did a satisfied skip. It worked yet again. Seeing someone’s future right in front of her eyes made her feel excited, as if she had their fate right in her hands.

​She leaned back, her fingers tapping a slow rhythm against the armrest.

"I see two things just like I did last night, Mr. Reed. A massive financial mistake that is scheduled to swallow your capital in exactly two hours, and a personal choice you’re making tonight that will trigger a very dangerous cascade of events. You plan to invest a hundred million in two hours, am I correct?"

Xavier furrowed his brows. Yes, that was correct. Once again, she knew something that was not known to the public.

"That’s right." he said.

"Well, the information to save your hundred million will cost you exactly fifty million dollars."

​Xavier’s eyebrows shot up. "Fifty million?"

​"It’s half the amount you’re about to throw into a black hole anyway. Consider it a discount," April countered smoothly, her eyes gleaming. "And as for the second part—the small one is about your evening plans—the price for that is different."

"What is the price?" He asked.

"I want to stay here, in this estate, until I secure my own property. I also want full access to your resources to help me source and renovate my future asset."

​Staying at a regular hotel was out of the question. With the world ending in two months, things will start going wrong one way or the other in natural occurrences.

Even taking the apocalypse part aside, she could easily get caught up in an accident where someone trying to rob her points a gun at her head, or she might get caught in some civilian mess.

She didn’t know if she could read her own future yet, so she needed to eliminate any unnecessary risks.

Staying inside this heavily fortified mountain fortress, while safely milking the richest men in the city with her periodic insights, was the ultimate strategic move that would save her any of those troubles.

With his network, she could find an equally secure location and start spending those millions on the ultimate doomsday dome.

And just in case, she might have to read Samuel’s fortune from time to time so she knows if they’ll get caught up in a car accident or not while he’s driving her around.

Though she never intended to do any reading for free, this had to do with her future and her safety. So, unless it was life threatening, she would keep the predictions to herself.

​Xavier stared at her, his expression unreadable as he calculated the risks. Fifty million dollars was a staggering fee for a few sentences of unverified advice.

But she was so entirely confident—even demanding to move into his private residence—that it shattered his skepticism.

Having her under his roof also meant he could keep a close eye on her and access her bizarre abilities whenever he needed.

​"Fine," Xavier said, cutting through the silence. "We have a deal."

​He pulled out his leather checkbook from his desk drawer, penned the details with a practiced flourish, and slid the fifty-million-dollar check across the mahogany desk and stretched it towards her.

​April took it, lifting it to her nose and taking a subtle, happy sniff of the crisp ink. The smell of absolute fortune.

​"Your room will be prepared by the end of the day, and Samuel will assist you with your property sourcing," Xavier added, leaning forward. "Now. Give me the reading."

​April slid the check securely into her bag, her posture shifting back into a cold, professional mask.

​"Let’s start with the small one," April began, her voice dropping into a serious register. "This evening, you are planning to turn down a meeting with a lady. Do not do it. If you refuse to see her, something catastrophic will be set into motion. I cannot give you the exact details of the fallout, but it is a severe warning. Take the meeting."

​Xavier’s eyes darkened significantly. He hadn’t told a single soul—not even Samuel—that he was planning to cancel the dinner with the prominent political figure’s daughter that had been pestering him for it.

He was still planning what excuse to give. And here, April had already known as if she had read his mind.

This, once again, cleared his doubt for her readings.

​"And the investment?" Xavier pressed, his jaw tightening.

​"In less than two hours, you plan to sign off on a hundred-million-dollar investment," April said, a knowing smirk returning to her face. "You are currently torn between two companies, but you’re leaning toward your preferred choice. Aeris! Change your mind. If you invest in Aeris, you will lose your money because the company will completely fold within two days. Put the hundred million into the secondary option instead. It will save your capital and double your returns."

Xavier went silent. Once again, she was correct about his choice of investing in Aeris corp. But just how... where did she get these powers from? And how is she not already well known?

With correct predictions like this, her name should already be soaring through word of mouth and hidden whispers.

Or had she been so secretive that no one dared to release her information? It was quite understandable, given no one would want to share such a valuable source.

Yet... why was it that she had made him her target? He had so many questions. He wanted to know more of what she was hiding, his business mind taking over but then she snapped her fingers in front of him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"I know what you’re thinking," she whispered, sounding almost eerie. "Do not be curious about things that do not concern you, Mr. Reed. Remember the saying, curiosity killed the cat. And in your case, if you offend me, I don’t know what I might do."