CHAPTER ONE.

In the bedroom of one of the simple flats in an apartment building in New York City, a figure stirs up in bed, sits up and yawns while stretching.

Looking around the room, she sees the finished bottles of soju and beer and packs of pizza that she had for dinner the previous day and groans as the headache comes hitting over.

"Bummer! What a hangover, arggh!" Theresa complained while holding her head that felt like it was about to fall from her neck.

She stood up from her bed and went to her vanity and put on a switch which activated her personal tech, assistant and awkwardly her friend.

"Smarty, news please and reduce the volume, I am having one hell of a hangover here." She instructed seriously pointing out the obvious.

The automated voice of her AI responded, "Good morning, Resa, the volumes have been reduced, should I prepare a cup of hangover tea, or coffee the way you like it, for your hangover."

"Yes, pleassse!!" She answered.

Coming out of the toilet with her brush in her mouth and her hair tied up in messy bun, she paused when she finally saw what she wanted to see on the news.

'On business reports this morning, the Crystal Age Buildings have suddenly made a U-turn towards the bid of purchasing the abandoned building complex that was left for sale according to the will of the late business tycoon of Hawk Conglomerate, Richard. B. Hawkins, who passed away ten years ago with his business also crumbling down, leaving this project which was auctioned off by the government but came down to two buyers, Solid Stones and Crystal Age Buildings with the later suddenly forfeiting after much struggle to buy the building and they of course being more than capable to get it but ... "

" What a strange man, like why didn't he just do what all other rich old dudes do, huh, like hand over his business to his family or something? " Resa asked no one in particular but of course Smarty answered," It was rumored that the deceased had trust issues and no heir, so he left everything to the government and some to charity."

"I know that, Smarty, anyways that's his business," turning back to the tv, "for my business.'' She answered.

"..... It was strange with how things turned out, I mean their competitors Solid Stones didn't stand a chance with them and the CEO Adams isn't a man who invests his time all to forfeit, what's your say on this Mr James, "Well, I would say....."

"Good job, Mr Charles," Theresa smirked to herself.

After taking her bath and getting ready, she was having her coffee after taking out the trash when," Incoming call, incoming call, incoming call!! "

The screen on the wall showed the name she secretly hated seeing everyday, 'Head'.

" Answer it, Smarty. " She said sighing inside her.

" Good morning to the Head, " she greeted with her head bowed as she stood alert with both hands at her back as she knew that he could still see her if he wanted even with it being a voice call.

" Good morning, Raven. Good job on last week's assignment. I was wondering what took Charles so long to give up already. For once I actually started doubting your charm in this job, but once again you proved me wrong," he said with a sluggish voice.

Resa snapped her head up at that but kept her cool, 'Lost my charm my ass, I still did the dirty work and now, this is what I get.'

" Well, a car would be here in ten minutes to pick you up, you are in the Institute." He instructed and before she could say a word, he cut the call.

" Shit! What the hell!! I hope he doesn't want me to live there again, gosh, how long has it been?" she said and fell back on her bed.

" Approximately, two years, four months, ten days, ten hours and five minutes." Smarty came with a reply.

" Really, Smarty, really," she deadpanned.

" Do you even know what's a rhetorical question? " she asked again sitting on the bed with crossed legs.

"Yes, a rhetorical question is a figurative expression whereby a question is asked but doesn't necessarily need an answer." Smarty answered.

" You really shouldn't be called Smarty, I didn't need an answer for that, dummy!" she said.

" Well, I am designed to provide all your needs and that includes your answers to questions that I can answer."

" Well, can you provide me something, I need now," she asked suddenly looking lost and sounding solemn.

" And what may that be, Resa," Smarty answered.

" Myself." she said.