Smith and I ran through the various possibilities and downsides of her proposal, but unfortunately antagonizing someone who I already determined was best left alone seemed nonnegotiable.

Thankfully who gave those threats of being fired was on the table. I was able to get across that it was less suspicious for the Steel Shark to make those threats than a CFO. After all, if an Ex-villain already suspected of covering up… something. What are they looking for? I know it’s financial in nature because they came here after the embezzlement debacle. Still mad about all the fallout from that, but that’s neither here nor there. However, whatever they’re looking for I couldn’t guess beyond ‘something to do with money’. For all I know they don’t know either. What was I thinking about again? Oh yeah, my explanation for why it was better she gives the message rather than me.

By now I had finally reached the bench I had rested on yesterday. I sat to get my bearings and recover some energy. I didn’t want to make a habit of this, but the last two days were more exhausting than I was used to. Not physically mind you, my body was more than up to the task of the work coming my way. Handling people along with going over the leftovers that Ilaria sent my way was mentally taxing.

I might have been stretching on the 'being less suspicious' front, which would explain why Smith tried needling so many holes into it. But even she couldn't deny the owner of a company threatening to fire you is more effective than a CFO. Even if I'm basically Ilaria's boss, my opinions on firing her will always be superseded by Smith's final say. Granted I hope it never comes to that, I have way too much work to do on my own, even with Ilaria's help. Speaking of, I really need to get that list of things to do when I get home. If I know what I have to do I can spread it out over a more convenient period. That would be preferable over the 'as soon as possible' timetable I'm currently working under. You know, I wonder if that empowered I talked to the other day has to deal with scheduling troubles. She probably has everything mapped out for her.

Must be nice. Not that I'd ever risk my life for convenience.

Well ok there's the rush, but I try and get to work before it starts so that doesn't count. Besides, I deserve to be lazy with how hard I work. Speaking of lazy, I'm gonna rest here a bit. Being pent up all day took the wind out of me.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

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It was about 30 minutes later I felt confident enough to try going home. It had been 2 hours since work ended. Most of that time had been spent before I even left. I realized that I hadn’t gone back to double check Ilaria’s last report to me, so after I talked with Smith I made sure everything was in order.

God, explaining to Smith why I was still there was so awkward. Granted I had nothing better to do with my time today.

…

My therapist is right, I do need a hobby.

With that depressing realization, I reached the entrance to my apartment complex. The trip up was uneventful. I pet the local cat that hung out around this time of day in front of some random person’s door. Waiting to be fed or let inside, most likely. When I finally reached the door to my apartment, I saw the back of a new lady I didn't recognize struggling with her purse. I heard grumbling about a ‘stupid card’. The voice sounded familiar for some reason, but it was probably just some kind of déjà vu. The aforementioned card was most likely the one placed backwards in the magnetic lock of the door next to mine.

The new neighbor seems to be having trouble with their door, I remember getting confused them too. I still don't know for what reason these locks have you swipe your card the opposite direction other locks of the same type require.

I was exhausted, but I felt bad enough to go out of my way to help.

“Here, let me help with that. It’s supposed to go the other way for some reason.”

The person looked up at the door, seeing it swing open.

“Oh my god, thank you so much. I was about to call the front desk- Michael?”

And of course, it was her. It was Ilaria, because why wouldn’t it be.

Oh god, maybe she is going to murder me in my sleep. I mean, it's not like the fact I live here is off the public record. Heck it wouldn't even be that weird to imagine her fake personality living here.

The place was cheap, it was close to her job, and it wouldn't be hard to argue she didn't realize what the rush was until she’d already moved here. It was all the reasons I had picked this place when I came. All the reasons I thought this choice would be a good idea now coming back to bite me.

“Hello neighbor, what’s your name? I don't think we've met before.”

I tried sounding snarky.

On the off-chance I'm actually not a target and those reasons are genuinely why Agent Red picked this place, it would mean I'm off their- her radar. It would put me on her radar if I just randomly seemed wary now.

Considering how terrified I was, I did a pretty good job of seeming like I was just cracking a bad joke to a work colleague. I mean, who wouldn’t be scared? If a military trained empowered with shapeshifting moved next to you, that’d be concerning. When they had the sole goal of getting you and your boss potentially arrested, that was way worse.

With all that in mind, even as Ilaria snorted at my poor attempt at humor, I knew a simple fact.

I’m going to need so much therapy by the end of this.