Ben was standing within a squat rack, with corporate slaves helping him put weights on the barbell.
One of them picked up a 45 plate and asked him, "How much do you want on the bar?"
Ben glanced at him. "Just load it up!"
…
A number of other people were manipulating video and photography equipment in the perimeter, working on getting the right lighting and angle for this next exercise. The shoot was on, with Ben as the focus.
His performance on the bench press was more than enough to sell Owen to use him for this feature, and they'd already signed the paperwork. Although the strength he showed didn't break any records, it was at an elite level, not much worse than the bodybuilder they planned to bring in. In reality, it was much more impressive given Ben's small size. When also considering his young age and status as an employee at Hearth, all that together made for an interesting angle, one worth taking a chance on.
Standing next to Jacob, Owen watched as Ben prepared to perform barbell squats as the film crew captured it. The Male's Health manager looked at the white-haired old man. "Who is this kid? Miracules?
…
He really put up a shocking bench press with those chesticles."
…
Jacob blinked. He didn't understand a word coming from the mouth of this jabroni…
Even though Owen was middle-aged and out of shape, he was still engrossed by the fitness world all day and as a result–polluted by toxic masculinity…aka bro-slang.
In fact, Owen was a fanboy of weightlifting, which helped him get his job in the first place. So even though a moment ago, Ben slap-boxed his face like it was a speed-bag…Owen still gained some respect for the boy. He wasn't the only one either.
The two slave spotters were smiling in a subservient manner near Ben. Although they laughed before, now that they saw Ben lifting weights heavier than the both of them with ease, they understood that he was also capable of throwing them across the room… As such, they tried to be helpful, but sometimes went a bit too far. "Do you need a spot?"
"You need a spot bro?"
"Need a spot?"
"Spot bro?"
"NO! Go away!" Ben wished he could get rid of the buzzing in his ears from these spotsquitos.
…
Soon, Ben positioned himself, and began squatting.
A while later, after the camera crew shot everything they needed, he moved on to the next exercise. Like that, Ben cycled through his usual workout routine.
Besides for adding a few minor modifications, the staff thought his genuine training program would be most appropriate given his unusual strength was the focus. Of course, the routine itself wasn't special, but Ben couldn't tell them his workout secret was to f*ck girls for booty chests that dropped magical potions.'
…
Two hours later…
Everyone finished their work and were now cleaning up, Jacob included. He'd already received a thank you from Ben and was now guiding his crew to prepare the studio for the next appointment.
Meanwhile, as he chatted with Owen, Ben rested on the side, while watching an interesting thing in his system panel–a change in Owen's relations.
[Target's current relations level: cordial(+2)]
Ben smiled. 'That's just like a mutated fire dragon…' He knew that dragons hated invaders, but they loved getting loot. Well, what Ben did today was drop loot on Owen's firetruck red head by giving him a usable feature that would've otherwise been a problem.
The menacing manager even smiled…something Ben would've never expected before. "Ben, your performance was truly impressive! It even brought me back to memories of my youth…" He sighed. "You know, I used to be a bodybuilder! I was strong like you, and jacked!
Despite his change in attitude, poison dragons didn't have such good temperaments… Ben glanced at Owen's gut. "Yea? What happened?"
…
Owen released a helpless chuckle and rubbed the back of his short curly red hair. He was now just another overweight middle-aged office worker. "It's the same old story…wife got in the way…"
Then, he remembered something. "Oh, Ben, you're in Public Relations now, right? I don't know what your workload is like but we'll be putting this feature up on the website tomorrow so I need you to write a couple of paragraphs of content."
"About what?"
"About your work out program, things about yourself, maybe something motivational to inspire other teenagers. We'll put it in the article with your video. Just make it interesting for the readers."
Ben nodded, then watched as Owen took his people and returned to his floor…
As far as this first day at work, it was a spectacular one for Ben. The appearance fee alone from this gig would pay off a hefty portion of his credit card debt. Of course, he'd gotten something even better than that, his reward from completing the challenge! Yet, he decided to check that at home, because he still needed to return to the Public Relations office.
***
Laura was sitting in her black office chair, tapping her nails on her desk, something she only did when stressed…
A couple of hours ago, she received a call from Male's Health that they were using Ben for a feature, and she almost dropped her phone as she stumbled! This was the exact opposite of her intention when sending him there!
She knew Owen would be there and was a complete loose cannon! So she didn't understand how Ben avoided eating a massive verbal tirade, let alone got a feature from him!
However, when they called and asked to use Ben, she couldn't say no. It was a request from a manager for a lowly intern and her status was much lower. She had no way to refuse. As for her father, he was in a meeting and unreachable, so she could only sit there and do her work, waiting until Ben finished to find out what happened.
*Knock* *Knock*
"…Come in." She glanced at the entrant, and who else could it be but Ben, arriving to save the princess. Of course, he was less a knight in shining armor than Jack Nicholson in The Shining…
As Ben arrived, he grinned like an innocent happy young man. "Thank you so much for the opportunity! I would've never gotten such a chance if it wasn't your thoughtfulness and care!" He bowed like a Japanese salaryman and kept his head down.
Meanwhile, Laura was gritting her teeth. 'Why is he bowing? And what thoughtfulness and care?!? Bastard! I was clearly sending you to get crushed!'
Ben's "thankfulness" only burned her insides!
That's when he raised his head until their eyes met, allowing her to view his "thankful smile."
Laura gasped…because she realized…she'd been had!
What thankful smile?!? It was a troll smile!
Of course by now, Ben figured out Laura's intent for all her thoughtful assignments. Thus, even though it all worked out for him, he still thought it appropriate to show her a little of his "appreciation…"
Without blinking, he stared at her until she could read his mind with perfection. His eyes were saying one simple thing—'Fooled you…'
——
*Author's Note: Fool me—you can't get fooled again.
