Paul had been glued to hisputer screen, waiting for what felt like ages. When he finally saw a response pop up on the clunky old website, he clicked it open immediately. After a brief pause, he typed, "Rea?"


    Mirabe''s fingers shook a little when she saw those letters, but she quickly pulled herself together and shot back a question mark.


    Paul paused for a few seconds, then asked, "Who gave you the Elixir of Purity?"


    Mirabe tapped her response impatiently, "Are you buying or just here to waste time?"


    The impatience in her words was hard to miss.


    Paul felt a bit let down, but then remembered how Rea usually was and sent over a number.


    Mirabe stared at the digits on her screen, her cheeks twitching in disbelief.


    That stingy attitude of his was really getting worse. She recalled spending ten million just to snag the Lunar Lace from James, and now Paul was offering a measly one million for a finished product?


    Might as well be a bandit, she thought.


    Mirabe couldn''t help but scorn him in her mind as she quickly typed back, "Nothing under twenty million. Take it or leave it. No haggling, no small talk."


    Paul: "..."


    After sending the message, Mirabe promptly logged into the website''s hosting service, adjusted the pricing, and logged off.


    The rich, with their tacky ways, always so tight-fisted.


    Shutting down herputer, Mirabe leaned back in her chair with azy


    stretch, her eyes drifting to the backpack beside her.


    After a moment, she sat up and pulled out the thick stack of documents As had handed her that afternoon.


    It was all about the Davis family''s business dealings in the city.


    Flipping through the pages, the more Mirabe read, the more her head began to throb.


    Why Grady had given her this was beyond her.


    Just then, her phone rang from the desk. She nced at the caller ID before setting the documents aside and picking up.


    James was on the balcony, the night breeze ruffling his hair as he gazed into the distance. He spoke first, "Why''re you up sote? What''s keeping you busy?"


    Mirabe looked back at the documents, sighing heavily, "Ever feel like you''re being pushed into a business deal?"


    James raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"


    Mirabe pressed her fingers to her forehead, feeling a bit trapped, "It''s like


    identally having to inherit a billion-dor empire."


    "Are you showing off, Mirabe?" James chuckled.


    Thinking of how she''d stumbled across some folks'' bank details earlier, Mirabe clicked her tongue, "Not as loaded as some people."


    "Finding someone who''s about to inherit billions is no easy task," James mused. Mirabe: "...


    His shamelessness was reaching new heights.


    Yawning, she asked, "Did you have something to talk about?"


    James shifted, leaningfortably against the railing, his voice light, "Just


    wondering when I''ll finally get my act together."


    Mirabe: "Oh, just go to sleep. Dreams have everything you need."


    James''s lip twitched.


    "Oh, by the way, I might need you to deliver something for me tomorrow," Mirabe added, her eyes flicking back to theputer.


    "When?" James inquired.


    Mirabe thought for a moment, "Probably in the morning, but I''m not sure yet."


    "Alright, then I''ll drop you off at school on my way," James offered.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, "Alright then."


    ***


    The next morning, Mirabe woke up to see a bank transfer notification. It didn''t surprise her much.


    Along with it was an address for a delivery from an unknown number.