Noah woke up the next morning to the sound of twenty notifications and a pounding headache.
His phone screen lit up with messages:
> [Business Weekly]: "BREAKING: Wilder seen leaving Reid Tower — peace talks or new scandal?"
[GossipForum]: "Enemies to lovers??? 👀👀"
[Anonymous comment]: "Wilder's gone soft. The end is near."
Noah groaned, burying his face in the pillow.
"Great. I've been in this world for one day and I already started fanservice."
He dragged himself out of bed, glaring at the sleek AI tablet flashing on his nightstand.
> SYSTEM: "Player Noah Park. Welcome to Love & Business™. Please refrain from altering the main plot."
"Yeah, about that," Noah said, brushing his teeth aggressively. "The main plot kills me, so… veto."
> SYSTEM: "Deviation detected. Warning level: Yellow."
"Yellow? Seriously? What happens if it hits red?"
> SYSTEM: "Reality collapse. Or spontaneous combustion.
Noah spat out toothpaste. "Okay, no more coffee invitations. Got it."
The elevator doors opened to a floor of polished glass and fear. Employees scattered like pigeons as Noah walked in. Apparently, "Lance Wilder" wasn't exactly known for his warm leadership style.
He smiled nervously at his secretary. "Morning! How's everyone today?"
The secretary blinked. "Sir… did you just ask?"
"Yeah. You know. Small talk."
She looked like she might faint.
Moments later, Noah sat behind his massive desk, scrolling through Lance's schedule. Back-to-back meetings, a lawsuit threat, and something labeled "Operation Crush Reid."
"Cool, cool, murder plans. Totally normal," he muttered. "Let's… cancel that."
> SYSTEM: "Plot deviation detected."
"Oh shut up."
Ethan Reid's Office
Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching the news footage on mute.
There was Lance — Noah — smiling, shaking hands with people, even helping a janitor pick up papers.
That was not how his rival acted.
Something was off.
"Sir," said his assistant. "Should we investigate Wilder's new behavior?"
Ethan's lips curved faintly.
> "No. Let's see how long the act lasts."
But when he saw a clip of Noah laughing — a real, genuine laugh — Ethan's hand paused over the remote.
> "...That's new."
📎 Afternoon — The Business Meeting from Hell
Noah's first official meeting as "Lance Wilder" was a nightmare.
He had no clue what the company did. The PowerPoint might as well have been written in ancient Greek.
The only part he understood was when someone said,
> "Reid Corporation has outbid us again."
Every head turned to him, waiting for a fiery villain speech.
Noah cleared his throat. "Uh… good for them?"
The silence was suffocating. Someone dropped a pen.
"Sir?" his manager said cautiously. "Good for… them?"
"Yeah," Noah said, sweating. "You know. Healthy competition builds character. Haha."
Dead silence. Then whispers.
> "He's finally lost it."
"Maybe he hit his head?"
"Or fell in love?"
🏢 Later — Reid Tower Again
Noah didn't mean to end up back at Ethan's office. His driver "accidentally" took the wrong turn, and somehow, he was standing outside the CEO's door again, clutching two cups of coffee.
"Okay, I'll just apologize for yesterday and leave," Noah whispered to himself. "No flirting, no weirdness, no—"
The door opened. Ethan stood there, immaculate as ever, one eyebrow raised.
> "You again."
Noah grinned awkwardly and held out the cup. "Peace offering?"
Ethan stared at it, then at Noah. "You're seriously giving me coffee."
"It's caramel latte," Noah said. "I googled your order—uh, I mean, I guessed."
A long pause. Then Ethan took the cup, their fingers brushing.
Something in his expression softened — barely noticeable, but it was there.
> "If this is part of some ploy," Ethan said quietly, "you're playing a dangerous game."
Noah swallowed. "Maybe I just… don't like fighting anymore."
Ethan's eyes flickered with something unreadable.
> "Then stop showing up at my office."
He turned and walked away. But Noah could've sworn he heard the faintest sigh — half frustration, half amusement.
As the elevator doors closed, Noah whispered,
"Step two of not being a villain: survive the CEO's glare."
> SYSTEM: "Plot deviation increased. Warning level: Orange."
"Orange?! What did I do now?!"