Maggi's refusal didn't disappoint Johny in the least; her ambiguous attitude instead left him both startled and delighted.
Seeing it was about time, Johny hurriedly called out in his mind: "BACK!"
Flash!
"Good boy. Have another bite. Ahhh....." Maggi was lifting the banana toward his lips again.
Johny craned his neck and took a bite, chewing contentedly, his eyes lingering on the curve of her thigh under the sheets.
Maggi tore off a paper napkin and dabbed his mouth. "Look at that silly grin, what happy thoughts are you hiding? Tell Big Sister."
"A-hem, nothing. Just felt like laughing..heh-heh."
Johny wasn't entirely satisfied with his overall performance yet, so using BACK was mandatory. For now, he couldn't let Maggi know he was actively pursuing her, or things might get awkward.
He'd wait until his status and wealth improved, then deliver the perfect confession, only then would his odds of success be absolute!
But before that, a major hurdle still blocked his path.
Start a company... start a company... Even if Maggi earned a high commission on every ad sale at the newspaper, how long would it take to pile up that much startup capital?.
After a whole afternoon of thought in his hospital bed, Johny resolved to help Maggi. If he bankrolled her company himself, wouldn't his odds of winning her over skyrocket? He also wanted a better life for himself, if he could earn a million bucks, he'd gain both a fortune and the girl of his dreams.
Plus, in officialdom, you always needed money for networking, gifts, and greasing the bureaucratic wheels. Three birds with one stone....perfect!
I have to make some serious money! Target: One million!!
One day... two days...
Under Maggi's meticulous care, Johny improved markedly. Bandages came off many of his wounds, and his limbs regained half their old nimbleness.
Apart from being unable to run, he could go up and down stairs without a limp. Bored stiff in the hospital, he asked the doctor when he could be discharged. Maybe they just wanted to milk his insurance, because the answer was always, "Two more days of observation."
Noon
After the bland hospital set meal, Johny sighed listlessly and swallowed his pain pills.
City Hospital's food was cheap, ten bucks covered breakfast, lunch, and dinner but it was only provided for in-patients, not visiting family. So, Maggi ate downstairs in the public cafeteria.
When she returned with a cup of newly-bought Greek yogurt, she found Johny on the bed, puffing bored breaths at his empty plastic lunchbox.
Maggi chuckled, walked over, and set the yogurt on the nightstand. "Aren't you silly? How old are you?"
Johny rolled his eyes. "I'm bored out of my skull."
For two days, he'd been racking his brain over how to earn his million, but stuck in a hospital room with nothing to do, he was dying of idleness.
"Then eat your yogurt. Here."
"Maggi, I'm fine now. Why don't you go back to work?"
"Your burn still can't touch water. If I leave, who'll wash your face? Who'll scrub your lunchbox?" Plop...she peeled the foil off the yogurt, scooped up a spoonful, and pushed the tip to his lips. "Eat. If you're really bored, this afternoon I'll take a stroll around the hospital grounds with you. Where do you want to go?"
Johny brightened. "Great, anywhere's fine, just wandering outside!"
To him, anywhere with Maggi was paradise.
Half an hour later.
Johny stood at City Hospital's west gate, gulped in the fresh air under the blue sky, and exhaled. "Freedom at last!"
Maggi supported his good arm carefully, her soft curves pressing against him occasionally as they sauntered north along the sidewalk.
Ahead, a couple played catch with their child, blocking most of the path. Maggi tugged Johny to the left to skirt around them when heavy footsteps sounded from behind on the right.
His injured left shoulder jerked, someone had bumped him hard.
"Ouch!" Johny yelped reflexively as pain flared through the healing burn. He turned right with a scowl. "Watch where you're going!"
The man who had bumped him, a middle-aged guy in a tweed jacket didn't apologize. He just kept walking as if nothing happened.
"Johny, are you okay?" Maggi asked anxiously, steadying him.
"I'm fine," he muttered, rubbing his throbbing shoulder.
Maggi wouldn't let it pass. She barked at the man, "Stop! What's your problem?"
The man looked back, annoyed. "What?"
"You know what!" Maggi snapped, her protective instincts flaring. "You barged into my brother and can't even say sorry?"
The briefcase-toting man said irritably, "It was just a bump. Why make a fuss?"
"His shoulder is already injured from a fire! Of course it matters!" She glared at him, hands on her hips. "Apologize. Now!"
Johny suddenly found the man's face familiar and fell into thought. Where have I seen him?
The man frowned, adjusting his glasses condescendingly. "Don't be so dramatic. Get a life!"
"You're the sick one!" Johny flared, pointing his good hand. "Say that again if you dare!"
The man snorted, turned on his heel, and strode off without a single word of apology.
Johny, furious, started after him. "Stop right there!"
Maggi wanted to give the guy a piece of her mind too, but fearing for Johny's health, she skidded to a halt and pulled him back by the good arm. "Forget it, Johny. There's no point arguing with someone so crass. It's not worth reopening your wounds."
Johny glowered at the retreating figure, about to swear, when it clicked.
"Maggi, I remember! I've seen him on TV! He's an expert on that cable network's treasure-appraisal show. His name is Cole. Hosts and guests all call him Professor Cole, on the program, he authenticates rare banknotes and antique coins."
Johny had worked in an antiques mall part-time during college and loved collecting; he used to watch those appraisal shows all the time.
Maggi gave a soft snort of disgust. "And that is supposed to be a respected expert?"
Johny sneered. "On TV he looks half-decent, but turns out he's just pompous scum."
Just then, Maggi's phone rang. She answered it, her tone shifting to professional mode. "Hello... mm... what's gone wrong? How come... then talk to the client... Me? I'm on annual leave right now... he said no?"
She glanced apologetically at Johny. "Tomorrow then, tomorrow I'll go to the office and speak to him... sigh... must it be right now? The proposal was already approved..."
Johny knew her newspaper needed her. "Your work matters. Go."
After a moment of hesitation, she sighed into the receiver. "All right. I'll be there soon. Bye."
"Advertising department trouble?" Johny asked.
Maggi nodded, rubbing her temples. "Some mess with a major account they insist only I can fix. Sigh... I can't even enjoy my leave in peace. Come on, I'll take you back to your room first."
"No, no...you go ahead from here. I'm fine."
"I can't have you falling again."
"Hey, I'm not a kid." Johny strode briskly ahead to demonstrate. "See? My leg is practically fully healed. Go on, they need you."
"Well... all right." Maggi reached out and affectionately smoothed his wind-tousled hair. "I'm off, then. Walk back super carefully, use the crosswalk, watch your step, avoid crowds, and take the stairs slowly, got it?"
"Got it. Go make that money!"
Once Maggi left, Johny rubbed the shoulder that Professor Cole had bruised.
These antique appraisers must all be loaded, he thought.
He paused in his tracks, his eyes widening.
Wait! Antiques! Stocks were too risky with the T+1 trading rules. Can I find a money-making path in antiques using my 'BACK' ability?!
Authors Note:-
That's chapter 42.
Support with power stones.