Despite all the chaos surrounding his life, Morgan kept his cool as he made his way to his desk at the Buy More. His mind raced with the pressures of his double life—the Intersect in his head, Fulcrum hunting him, and the constant presence of super spy Carina, the woman who brought him into this mess. But none of that could show here. In front of Chuck, things had to look normal.
"Hey, buddy," Morgan greeted, his tone easy as he dropped into his chair. "Happy birthday, man."
Chuck pulled off his headphones, flashing a smile. "Thanks, man! So, any big plans for tonight? Something legendary, I hope."
Morgan grinned, leaning back in his chair, trying to hide the weight of everything. "Legendary? You know me, Chuckster, I'm all about the low-key but epic celebrations. Maybe some Halo, a few beers, nothing too crazy. But only after the party ends. We don't want to steal your sister's thunder, right?"
Chuck chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, Ellie's been planning this thing for weeks. She's got the whole gang coming over. It's gonna be big."
Morgan nodded, but his mind wandered. The last thing he needed right now was another gathering where Fulcrum could strike, or worse, where Carina might make things...complicated.
"Sounds like fun," Morgan said, his voice masking his internal conflict. "I'll be there, of course. Gotta celebrate my best bud's big day."
Chuck smiled, oblivious to the storm raging beneath Morgan's cool facade. "Wouldn't be the same without you, man."
Morgan gave a thumbs-up, hoping his casual demeanor would last through the night. With Fulcrum breathing down his neck and Carina keeping a watchful eye on him, he knew he had to keep Chuck out of this mess, no matter how hard it got. But that was easier said than done.
Just as he was about to relax, Chuck threw a curveball that Morgan didn't see coming. "Ellie said she saw some girl at your place today," Chuck said, leaning in with that usual curiosity. "You know, she's been grilling me about it since this morning."
Morgan froze for a split second, his mind scrambling for an explanation that wouldn't make Chuck suspicious. He knew Ellie wasn't the type to let something like that slide without digging into it. And with Carina staying at his place—well, that was a situation Chuck could never know about.
He forced a casual chuckle, leaning forward to match Chuck's curiosity.
"Oh, that?" Morgan shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, just... a friend. You know, nothing serious. She needed a place to crash, so I helped out. No big deal."
Chuck raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A friend, huh? Must be some friend if she's spending the night at your place. Ellie's got theories, man. You know how she gets."
Morgan groaned internally, the last thing he needed was Ellie's curiosity combined with Chuck's. "Trust me, nothing to report here. It's not like that."
Chuck didn't let up, smirking as he leaned in. "Come on, dude, you're telling me this mysterious woman is just crashing at your place? Spill it!"
Morgan shifted in his chair, trying to keep his cool. "I'm serious, Chuck. Just a friend. She's... uh, kind of passing through town."
Chuck's eyes narrowed playfully. "Uh-huh. Passing through. Like a secret agent on the run?"
Morgan almost choked, but quickly covered it up with a laugh. "Yeah, right, Chuck. You've been watching too many spy movies. She's not a secret agent."
Chuck grinned, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. But if she's still around tonight, Ellie's gonna start the interrogation. You know that, right?"
Morgan sighed, knowing full well how close to the truth Chuck unknowingly was. "Don't worry, she won't be around. Trust me."
But as Morgan tried to play it cool, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that Carina's presence would complicate things a lot more than just Ellie's nosiness.
As Chuck leaned back, seemingly satisfied with Morgan's vague answers, Morgan let out a slow breath. He had dodged Chuck's questions—for now. But with Ellie being the inquisitive type, it was only a matter of time before she pressed for more details. And Morgan knew Carina wouldn't exactly play along with the "just a friend" story if she crossed paths with anyone in Chuck's family.
The stakes had never felt higher. With the Intersect data still rattling around in his brain and Fulcrum's operatives still out there constantly looking for any whereabouts regarding the stolen prototype, Morgan felt like he was playing a game of chess where every move could cost him everything—his life, his friendships, and even Chuck's safety
"So, are we still on for tonight?" Chuck asked, breaking through Morgan's thoughts. "Halo, beers, and maybe a few rounds of the old-school arcade games?"
Morgan flashed a grin, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders. "Of course, man. Like I said, low-key but epic. And hey, maybe we'll even beat our co-op record this time."
Chuck laughed. "Yeah, as long as you don't start hacking the game to cheat again."
Morgan rolled his eyes, but chuckled along with him. "That was one time, and I was enhancing the experience, not cheating.
Chuck smirked, shaking his head. "Right. Anyway, we'll save the epic Halo night for later. Ellie's got some surprise planned during the party. You know how she gets when she's in full-on event planner mode."
Morgan nodded, a pang of guilt hitting him. Ellie. The Bartowski family was his second home, and now he had this dangerous life he had to keep hidden from them. No one could know about the Intersect in his head or that Fulcrum was on the hunt for him. He especially couldn't let Chuck get anywhere near this mess. But at the same time, he knew it was only a matter of time before the cracks in his life started to show.
As Morgan sat at his desk, still processing Chuck's earlier questions, a commotion erupted from Lester's direction
He turned toward Lester's desk, where a young woman was on the verge of tears, explaining the situation to a very confused-looking Lester. She had all the signs of a college student on the brink—frazzled hair, dark circles under her eyes, and a tone of desperation in her voice as she pleaded for help.
Lester, in typical fashion, seemed more interested in trying to charm her than actually solve her problem. "Well, you know," Lester said with an oily grin, "ransomware's tricky stuff. But you're in luck because you've come to the best Buy More tech support team in town—"
Morgan sighed, pushing away the mounting tension in his chest as he stood up from his chair. Chuck gave him a curious look as he glanced over at the scene unfolding with Lester and the distraught customer.
"Ransomware, huh?" Chuck muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Lester's about to make it worse, isn't he?"
Morgan didn't need to respond; they both knew Lester's brand of 'help' was more about inflating his own ego than solving any real tech issue. "I've got this one," Morgan said, heading toward the Nerd Herd desk.
The girl looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown, her eyes red from what seemed like a mixture of stress and frustration. Her laptop was clutched tightly in her hands as Lester prattled on, completely oblivious to her desperation. "You're in luck, because when it comes to tech, I'm like Neo from The Matrix—minus the leather jacket," Lester was saying with a grin.
Morgan stepped in, offering the girl a reassuring smile as he placed a hand on Lester's shoulder. "Lester, why don't you take five?"
Lester glanced at Morgan, seemingly annoyed at being interrupted, but knowing better than to argue when it came to actual tech issues. "Sure, man," he said with a shrug, turning to the girl with a practised smirk. "But remember, I'm the guy you come to when this is all over." He shot her a wink before stepping aside.
The girl gave a weak smile, clearly too frazzled to care about Lester's advances. She looked at Morgan, her eyes pleading. "I don't know what to do," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "My entire project is on that laptop. If I can't turn it in tomorrow, I'll fail the course."
Morgan leaned over, inspecting the screen. The big, ominous ransom demand was plastered across the display. He recognized the type instantly—it was a common form of ransomware, meant to extort money from people who didn't know how to deal with it. A nasty, but not unbeatable, piece of code.
"Typical scare tactics!," Morgan muttered thoughtfully, his mind already working through possible solutions. "Let me take a look." He motioned for the girl to follow him back to his own desk. As they sat down, a few other customers gathered nearby, curious about the commotion. Chuck watched from his station, a knowing smile on his face.
He'd seen Morgan work his magic before and knew his friend was about to pull off something impressive.
"Are you sure you can fix it?" the girl asked nervously. Morgan flashed a confident smile. "Definitely. This type of ransomware looks intimidating, but it's not as smart as the people who wrote it think. Most hackers use pre-made tools that leave backdoors if you know where to look." He began by booting her laptop into safe mode, which disabled the ransomware's control over the system. This allowed him to bypass the ransom demand and access the machine's basic functions. The crowd that had gathered around watched in silence, curious to see if he could really fix what seemed like an impossible problem.
"First things first," Morgan said, typing rapidly. "We need to isolate the malware. Ransomware like this operates by encrypting your files and locking you out, but the encryption key is usually stored somewhere in the system. The trick is finding it." His hands moved with practiced precision, opening command prompts and scanning the laptop's processes for any signs of the malicious software. He ran several diagnostic tools that he had developed during his freelance work, a series of programs designed to pick apart encrypted code and expose weaknesses.
"These guys think they're smart," Morgan continued, "but they're lazy. They leave gaps in their encryption that can be exploited. It's just a matter of knowing where to look.
" As he worked, the girl watched in awe. "You... you do this for a living?"
Morgan shrugged casually. "Kind of. I freelance in cybersecurity when I'm not here at the Buy More. People pay big bucks to keep their systems safe, and I like helping out where I can."
Chuck chuckled from across the room, knowing full well that Morgan was underselling himself. Morgan had become a genius after his accident in high school, and his freelance work had made him something of a legend in certain tech circles. The way he worked—methodical, precise, and with a natural understanding of complex systems—was something few people could match.
Within minutes, Morgan found the ransomware's key files buried deep within the system. "Here we go," he muttered, isolating the encryption algorithm. "This is where they're holding your files hostage. Now, we just need to break their encryption." He opened another program, a custom-built brute force decryption tool that he had fine-tuned over the years. It analysed the ransomware's code and began working through possible keys to unlock the files. The process wasn't instantaneous, but Morgan had a way of making even complex tasks look effortless.
The crowd watching had grown larger, with several customers now leaning over to get a better view. Whispers of admiration rippled through the group as Morgan continued to work.
"Is he really going to fix it?"
"Man, I've never seen anyone do this before. That guy's good."
Morgan remained focused, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Alright," he said after a few more minutes, "we're in." The laptop screen blinked, and the ransomware's lock screen disappeared, revealing the girl's desktop and all her files, completely intact. The crowd let out a collective murmur of amazement.
"Oh my god!" the girl gasped, her voice trembling with relief. "You did it! All my work is here!"
Morgan smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Yep, you're good to go. Just make sure you update your security software and don't open any suspicious emails in the future."
The girl practically threw herself at him in gratitude, enveloping him in a bone crushing hug . "Thank you so much! I don't even know how to repay you!"
Morgan waved her off, scratching the back of his sheepishly as he awkwardly patted her back "No need to pay me anything extra. Just the usual service charges. I was just doing my job after all ."
The onlookers erupted into applause, impressed by Morgan's skill and generosity. It wasn't every day that someone solved a problem like this without charging a cent extra. The girl beamed as she gathered her things, still in shock that she hadn't lost her entire project. But before Morgan could enjoy the moment, a sharp voice cut through the crowd.
"Grimes!" Morgan winced slightly, recognizing the voice immediately. Assistant Manager Harry Tang pushed his way through the onlookers, his face twisted in irritation. He stopped in front of Morgan's desk, arms crossed, eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.
"Fixing computers on company time, huh?" Tang sneered. "I bet you think you're some kind of hero."
The crowd went silent, tension building in the air. Morgan turned slowly, meeting Tang's glare with a calm, easy smile. "Just helping a customer, Tang."
Tang's eyes flicked to the group of admiring customers, clearly annoyed that Morgan was getting praise. "Oh, sure," he said sarcastically. "Helping a customer by doing freelance work in the middle of your shift. Must be nice to make all that extra money on the side while the rest of us are actually working."
Morgan shrugged, not letting Tang's snide remarks get under his skin. He knew Tang had been jealous of his successful freelance career for a while. Morgan made more money outside of Buy More than he ever could as Assistant Manager, and it showed in Tang's constant attempts to belittle him.
"I'm not charging anyone," Morgan said simply. "Just doing the right thing."
Tang's face reddened slightly, but he wasn't about to let Morgan off that easily. "Well, maybe you should stick to your actual job instead of moonlight as some tech genius in your working hours. We run a business here, Grimes and freelancing is against company policies.."
Morgan stood up, the crowd still watching with interest. "I'm not moonlighting as some tech genius or making extra money on side, Tang. I'm just doing my actual job. Maybe you should try it sometime."
A few of the customers chuckled at the remark, and Tang's eyes narrowed dangerously. But before he could fire back, Anna stepped in.
"Come on, Tang," Anna said with a disarming smile. "Morgan just saved that girl's entire academic year. Give him a break."
Tang turned toward Anna, his irritation only growing at the sight of her defending Morgan. "A break? Please, Anna, we're running a business here, not a charity." He glanced back at Morgan, his voice dripping with condescension. "You want to play superhero, Grimes? Do it on your own time."
Morgan held his ground, unfazed by Tang's outburst. He had learned long ago not to let guys like Tang get to him. "I was on the clock, helping a customer with a problem. That's kind of what we do here, right?"
Chuck, who had been watching from a distance, decided it was time to step in. "Tang, Morgan didn't charge her a dime, and he saved her project. I'd call that excellent customer service."
Tang's gaze shifted to Chuck, a flash of frustration in his eyes. He knew he was outnumbered, especially with the crowd around them nodding in agreement. But Tang was never one to back down easily. He straightened up, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone.
"Fine," Tang said, his lips curling into a sneer. "But if I catch you doing anything outside of your job description again, Grimes, you'll be looking at a write-up. We can't all live off side gigs, you know."
Morgan smiled, not letting Tang's threat bother him. "Noted, boss. Have a good day!"
Tang shot him one last glare before turning on his heel and storming away, muttering something under his breath about "freeloaders." The tension in the room dissipated as soon as he was out of sight, and the crowd relaxed, a few people offering Morgan quiet congratulations for standing up to Tang.
The girl looked up at Morgan, clearly confused. "What's his problem?"
Morgan chuckled lightly, brushing off Tang's attitude as if it were nothing. "Eh, that's just Tang being Tang. He's got a thing for power trips. You get used to it."
The girl, still processing the strange encounter, relaxed slightly, the tension easing from her shoulders. Morgan gave her a reassuring smile and, with a subtle playful tone, leaned back in his chair.
"Anyways," Morgan said with a wink, "do you have a name, pretty lady? Or should I just refer to you as the girl whose life I saved from digital disaster?"
She blushed slightly, her earlier anxiety fading into a smile. "It's Alex. Alex yeah, you definitely saved me today. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
Morgan waved off her gratitude with his usual easygoing grin. "No repayment needed, Alex. I'm just happy to help. Though if you insist, maybe don't compliment me in front of Tang again—he might lose it."
Alex giggled, her mood clearly lifting. "Got it. I'll steer clear of praising you in front of power-hungry managers."
Morgan laughed along with her, feeling the tension of his double life ease for a moment. "Good plan. But seriously, don't worry about it. Helping people out with this kind of thing? That's what I do."
Alex smiled at him, clearly appreciating his laid-back attitude. "Well, you're really good at it. I was freaking out, and you handled it like it was no big deal."
Morgan shrugged modestly, though inside he was glad for the brief moment of normalcy. "I've had my fair share of tech crises. Ransomware's kind of small potatoes compared to some of the stuff I've dealt with."
Chuck, who had been watching the exchange from his station, leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Small potatoes, huh? You make it sound like you handle this stuff all the time."
Morgan shot him a knowing look. "Well, you know, I've seen a few things in my day."
Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the banter. "Wait, you deal with stuff worse than this? Like what—corporate espionage? Secret government hacks?"
Morgan chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. "Let's not get carried away with the hypotheticals." He quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, just make sure to back up your files from now on, invest a little in a good antivirus, and don't click on anything suspicious.". He then added with a slight chuckle, " Also if you don't mind, make sure to leave some nice reviews at the counter."
Alex grinned, catching on to Morgan's playful tone but still intrigued by the hint of something deeper in his words. "I'll definitely keep that in mind. And as for the review—consider it done. Five stars, hands down."
Morgan nodded, pretending to tip an imaginary hat. "Appreciate that. But really, no need to go overboard. Just paying the normal service charge and leaving a nice review will make us even."
Alex's smile widened, clearly enjoying the banter. "Well, it's the least I can do after you saved my entire semester."
Morgan leaned back in his chair, feeling a momentary sense of relief. For just a few minutes, everything felt... normal. No Fulcrum, no Intersect, no spies tailing him. Just him being the tech-savvy guy he'd always been, helping out someone in need.
Chuck, however, wasn't letting Morgan off that easily. He leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Wait, hypothetical things? Since when do you deal with anything hypothetical? You sure there's not some secret mission or government conspiracy you're hiding from me, buddy? Or have you decided to join FBI once again?
Morgan almost choked on Chuck's words, but quickly covered it up with a forced laugh, trying to play it cool. Chuck had no idea how close he was to the truth, and the mention of the FBI only made Morgan more nervous.
"Yeah, right, Chuck," Morgan said, waving off the comment. "I'm not James Bond. I'm just the guy who saves people's laptops from crashing, remember? No secret missions, no FBI stints. Just good old tech support."
Chuck raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the game. "Uh-huh. Sure, Morgan. You're acting all mysterious lately. Don't think I haven't noticed."
Alex, who had been watching the back-and-forth with a smile, raised an eyebrow at Chuck's teasing. "Wait, the FBI? You're joking, right?"
Morgan shot Chuck a look, hoping to change the subject. "Yeah, Chuck likes to think I live this secret life, but really, I'm just a humble tech nerd."
"Oh, come on, Morgan. You can't keep it all under wraps forever!" Chuck said, his tone light, but there was that telltale glint of mischief in his eyes. "I mean, recruited by the FBI right out of UCLA? That's no small feat. They grabbed him just before graduation, right after he cracked one of the hardest cyber challenges they'd ever seen."
Morgan shot Chuck a please stop look, but Chuck was enjoying himself too much to heed it.
"Oh, yeah," Chuck continued, now fully leaning into the story. "He took down some of the biggest malware networks in the world—Necurs, Dridex, Emotet. These weren't just any small-time operations either. We're talking millions of infected computers, Morgan here tracing the network, identifying the command-and-control servers. and shutting them down like it was a game of chess. By the third month in the agency, he had tracked every major botnet. And I've got a sneaking suspicion he helped bring down Silk Road—y'know, the first modern darknet market. But of course, he won't confirm that."
Alex's eyes were wide now, her playful smile slowly shifting into something like awe as she absorbed Chuck's words. "Wait, what?" She looked from Chuck to Morgan, clearly trying to figure out if any of this was true. "Are you serious?"
Morgan groaned inwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find a way to dig himself out of this without adding more fuel to Chuck's fire.
"No, no, no," Morgan said quickly, holding his hands up. "Chuck is... exaggerating, okay? Sure, I did get recruited as a civilian consultant in college. Maybe I helped out on a few things, but it wasn't like—"
Alex's jaw dropped, now fully locked onto Morgan. "Wait, you really took down Emotet?" she asked, stunned. "Like, the Emotet? One of the world's most dangerous and long lasting cybercrime services out there? "
Morgan winced, trying to dodge the spotlight, but Chuck leaned in with a wide grin. "Oh, it's even crazier than that. Morgan here was practically running circles around seasoned FBI agents. He was the youngest civilian consultant they ever brought in. And Emotet? That was just the beginning."
Alex's eyes widened even more, shifting between Morgan and Chuck. "So, you really did all that? You're, like, a hacker legend?"
Morgan groaned inwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to downplay the situation. "Okay, hold on. Chuck is blowing this way out of proportion." He glanced at Chuck with a mix of frustration and exasperation. "Yes, I mean…I helped," Morgan finally admitted, his voice slightly strained. He shot Alex with a sheepish smile. "But I didn't do it alone. There was a whole team, and honestly, they did most of the heavy lifting. I just... pitched in where I could."
Chuck, seeing the opening, kept going. "Oh, 'pitched in,' sure. Just cracked the hardest part of the encryption, saved the day, no big deal."
Alex leaned in closer, eyes sparkling with curiosity and admiration now. "Morgan, this is insane. I had no idea you were this deep into cybersecurity! Why don't you talk about this stuff more?"
Morgan squirmed in his seat, feeling like there was no escape. "Because... honestly, Alex, it's not as cool as it sounds. I was just part of a larger team, and I wasn't even on the front lines. Most of my work was in a dark room, staring at lines of code for hours on end. It's really boring and not story-worthy."
Chuck grinned, nudging him with his elbow. "Boring? Dude, you shut down one of the largest credit card hacks in history. Remember Heartland Payment Systems? Over 130 million customer accounts accessed, and it would've been even worse if you hadn't stepped in. They were getting ready to process another massive batch of transactions, and you shut it down before anyone even knew what was happening."
Alex's mouth fell open slightly, her expression shifting from casual curiosity to genuine awe. "You worked on the Heartland hack? I studied that in one of my cybercrime classes! They called it one of the biggest breaches of all time. How did you even...?"
Morgan let out a long sigh, realizing there was no way out now. He could see the curiosity in Alex's eyes deepening, and Chuck was clearly too entertained to stop. "Okay, fine. Yes, I helped with the Heartland case. But, like I said, I wasn't doing it alone. There was a whole team of people involved, and I just... happened to find a vulnerability in their system that they hadn't caught yet."
Chuck couldn't help but jump back in. "Happened to find? More like you single-handedly traced the hack to its source and shut it down. They were still trying to figure out what hit them, and you'd already isolated the problem. Admit it, Morgan—you're a cybercrime rockstar."
Morgan shot him a glare, but Chuck just chuckled in response. "Seriously, man. It's impressive. You should own it."
Alex, still processing all of this, tilted her head, looking at Morgan with a newfound respect. "I had no idea you were so deep into cybersecurity. That's... incredible." She paused, her tone turning more thoughtful. "Wait, you're not... you're not Blackbird, are you?"
Morgan frowned, his thoughts momentarily drifting as the name "Blackbird" hung in the air. It had been a long time since he'd heard that code name, and hearing it now, from Alex of all people, stirred up a mix of memories he'd rather not revisit. Blackbird wasn't just a hacker alias—it was a ghost from his past, tied to a chapter of his life he had worked hard to bury.
Alex grinned slyly, clearly noticing Morgan's hesitation and the recognition reflecting in his eyes. She leaned forward on his counter with a playful glint in her eye. "Oh, look at that. He recognizes the name. That means something, right?"
Morgan felt the weight of her gaze, the curiosity in her expression mixed with something deeper—intrigue, maybe even admiration. He shifted slightly, trying to maintain his composure, but the heat was creeping up his neck again. "It's just... a name I've heard before; it doesn't mean much to me... not anymore," he said, attempting to sound nonchalant.
The last thing he wanted was for people—especially strangers—to start digging into his background. He was already having his hand full dealing with the fallout from past events from San Francisco, and now Chuck was throwing gasoline on the fire.
Before he could even try to steer the conversation away, the door to the Buy More swung open. Morgan's heart dropped as he looked up and saw a woman walk in—a woman who had no place in his carefully constructed, semi-ordinary life.
Carina Miller.
She strode into the store with an effortless confidence that drew attention like a magnet. Dressed in casual yet revealing attire—a fitted black tank top paired with dark jeans that hugged her figure perfectly—she looked like she had just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her striking blue eyes scanned the room until they landed on Morgan, locking in with an intensity that made his pulse quicken.
Morgan tried to look composed, but he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. "Uh, hey, Carina," he stammered, attempting to sound casual despite the storm brewing in his chest.
"Hey, Morgan," she replied, her voice smooth and sultry, as she approached him with a confident stride. She draped a hand casually across his shoulders, her touch sending an unexpected jolt through him. "I was starting to get bored in your apartment with nothing better to do, so I thought I'd stop by and see where you work."
Morgan's heart dropped as Carina draped her arm across his shoulders, her casual touch sending a jolt of panic through him. The words your apartment hung in the air like a ticking bomb, and Morgan could already feel Chuck's gaze burning into him. He shot a quick glance at his best friend, whose expression had shifted from curiosity to wide-eyed realization.
Chuck's voice cut through the awkward silence. "Wait a minute…" he said, his tone rising with incredulity. "You're the pretty lady friend my sister met at Morgan's apartment this morning?"
Morgan's stomach twisted into knots. He could see the gears turning in Chuck's mind as everything began falling into place. There was no way out of this now.
He forced a laugh, trying to downplay the situation. "Oh, yeah, about that… it's, uh, not what it looks like."
Chuck's eyes darted between Carina and Morgan, disbelief clear on his face. "Not what it looks like? Morgan, Ellie told me about this woman. She's staying at your place, right? Why didn't you mention anything?"
Before Morgan could respond, Carina, ever the agent of chaos, smiled sweetly and leaned in closer, her voice dripping with mischief. "Oh, Morgan's been such a great host. I just needed a place to crash for a while, and he was kind enough to offer his."
Morgan could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as he struggled to keep the situation from spiraling any further. "It's, uh, temporary," he stammered. "Really temporary. Like, she's just passing through town."
Chuck blinked, his face a mixture of confusion and suspicion. "Uh-huh… passing through town. Right."
Carina, clearly enjoying herself, tightened her grip on Morgan's shoulder slightly, leaning in with a teasing grin. "Oh, don't be so modest, Morgan. You've been very accommodating."
Morgan nearly choked, shooting her a desperate look. "Carina, please."
Chuck crossed his arms, still looking between the two of them with growing amusement. "Okay, so let me get this straight. This… Carina is just a friend passing through town, crashing at your place, and that's why Ellie met her?"
Morgan nodded furiously, hoping that would be enough to end the conversation. "Exactly! That's all it is. Nothing more to it."
Chuck raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. You sure you're not keeping something from me, buddy?"
Morgan groaned inwardly. This was spiraling out of control faster than he could manage. "Chuck, I swear, it's not what you think."
But Carina, never one to let an opportunity for mischief slip by, leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his ear. "Oh, Morgan, I think we should tell him everything."
Morgan's eyes widened in panic, his heart nearly stopping. He shot her a please don't look, but Carina simply smiled that infuriatingly playful smile, clearly enjoying every second of this.
Chuck took a step back, holding up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, I don't think I need to know all the details, but it sounds like there's definitely something going on here."
Morgan let out a defeated sigh, trying to find the right words to salvage what little was left of the situation. "Chuck, honestly, it's not what you're imagining. Carina's just a… friend who happens to be a girl."
Chuck's eyes darted between Carina and Morgan, a mix of disbelief and amusement settling on his face. "Not what it looks like? Morgan, Ellie told me about this woman. She's staying at your place, right? Why didn't you mention anything?"
Morgan opened his mouth to explain, but before he could get a word out, Carina took the lead. She leaned in even closer, her body pressing gently against his side, her breath warm on his neck. A mischievous grin curled her lips as she started tracing slow circles on his sleeve with her finger, as if the situation wasn't chaotic enough.
"Oh, my pumpkin," Carina purred, her voice dripping with sweetness that felt as dangerous as it was seductive. "He's just so shy about showing our relationship. Isn't that right, Morgan?" She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced up at him.
Morgan's stomach did a somersault. "Uh… what?"
Carina continued, not missing a beat. "I mean, he feels like it's not fair for him to have a girlfriend when his best friend doesn't." She sighed dramatically, resting her head on Morgan's shoulder as if they were the world's most intimate couple. "He's just too sweet, really."
Morgan's mind went into overdrive, panic setting in as he felt Chuck's eyes practically burning holes into him. "What—no, that's not—Carina, please—"
"Oh, don't be modest, Morgan," Carina purred, her voice velvety and teasing, loud enough for everyone to hear. "We've spent plenty of quality time together." The way she said it, the deliberate lilt in her tone, made Morgan want to crawl into a hole and disappear. As if things couldn't get worse, she leaned in closer, her lips barely an inch from his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "I know you've been keeping our relationship under wraps because you didn't want to make your friend feel left out. But he has to learn about us eventually, right? You're my man, after all."
Her words were like gasoline on a fire, sending Morgan's already overworked nerves into overdrive. He could feel the weight of everyone's stares—Chuck's wide-eyed disbelief, Alex's growing skepticism, and mounting irritation. Carina wasn't just playing a game; she was pulling the strings, and Morgan was tangled up in them.
Morgan's voice caught in his throat. He tried to respond, to deny, to deflect, anything—but all that came out was a choked stammer. "Uh... it's... it's not... that's not exactly... I mean..." He shot Chuck a panicked glance, hoping for some kind of intervention, but Chuck was still processing the bombshell Carina had just dropped.
Chuck's eyes darted from Carina to Morgan and back again, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "Wait... wait, what?" Chuck's voice cracked slightly, filled with confusion and disbelief. "You and Carina are... together?" He blinked rapidly, clearly trying to reconcile the image of his best friend—Morgan—with a woman like Carina. "Since when?"
Morgan opened his mouth to respond, but Carina was already one step ahead, keeping him firmly locked in her orbit. She leaned even closer, her lips almost brushing his ear, her voice sultry and full of mischief. "Since before you could even imagine, Charles." She tilted her head, giving Chuck a sideways glance, her smile widening as she reveled in the confusion she was causing. "Morgan likes to keep certain things... private. But really, how long could he keep me a secret?"
Morgan's heart raced, his mind scrambling for some way—any way—to salvage the situation. Carina was expertly weaving a narrative that was as tantalizing as it was mortifying. He knew what she was doing, playing to her audience, making the relationship sound more intimate and serious than it really was. In truth, their "relationship" was complicated, chaotic, and filled with layers of deception, but Carina loved to blur those lines.
Chuck stood there, arms crossed, trying to piece together the puzzle, but his face showed a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "So, let me get this straight. You're saying Morgan didn't tell me about you because he didn't want me to feel bad about not having a girlfriend?"
Carina nodded, still tracing her finger lazily across Morgan's chest. "Exactly. He's just too selfless. Isn't he the sweetest?"
Morgan threw his hands up, finally breaking away from Carina's grasp. "Okay! This has gone far enough. Chuck, she's messing with you. She's not my girlfriend, and I have no idea what she's talking about half the time. I just... I just let her stay at my place for a while."
Carina gave him an innocent, wide-eyed look. "Oh, Morgan, you wound me."
Chuck, now leaning back against a display with a grin, clearly enjoying the show, shook his head. "Well, this has been... enlightening. I gotta say, Morgan, I never saw this coming. "
Morgan shot him a pleading look. "Chuck, please. Don't believe a word she says. I'm telling you the truth."
Chuck looked at Carina, then back at Morgan, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright, man! I am happy for you. No need to pretend anymore."
Morgan could feel the heat rising in his face. His heart was racing, and every nerve in his body screamed at him to find a way to extricate himself from this situation. He shot Chuck a desperate glance, hoping for backup, but Chuck was too caught up in the spectacle, still trying to process what was happening. A smirk was slowly forming on Chuck's lips, and Morgan could see the gears turning in his head. There would be no saving grace from Chuck—not today.
Just when Morgan thought it couldn't get worse, Carina's attention shifted, her sharp gaze landing on Alex, who had been standing nearby, awkwardly holding the paper with her number on it. The playful gleam in Carina's eyes only intensified as she eyed Alex with amused curiosity.
"And who might you be, darling?" Carina asked, her voice dripping with a sugary sweetness that felt anything but innocent. She tilted her head slightly, flashing a disarming smile as she addressed Alex, who looked like she'd been caught in the middle of something far more complicated than she'd bargained for.
Alex blinked, her wide eyes darting between Morgan and Carina, clearly unsure of what to make of the situation. She still had the scrap of paper in her hand, the one she had written her number on earlier after Morgan had helped her with her laptop. Her fingers tightened around it slightly, as if trying to figure out if this was all some kind of elaborate joke.
"I, um…" Alex stammered, glancing at Morgan with a look that said what is going on here? before refocusing on Carina. "I'm Alex. I was just… Morgan helped me out with a tech issue, and, well… I was just thanking him."
Carina's eyes flicked to the piece of paper in Alex's hand, her smirk widening. "Oh, he helped you, did he? My Morgan does have a way with the ladies, doesn't he?"
Morgan's stomach churned as he felt Carina lean even closer, her arm still draped possessively over his shoulders. He could see Alex's confusion growing by the second, and the last thing he wanted was for this to turn into something ugly. He had to defuse this, fast.
"Carina," Morgan said through gritted teeth, trying to sound calm but failing miserably. "Seriously. Enough with the games."
But Carina, of course, wasn't finished. She let out a soft, musical laugh that somehow managed to make the situation even more uncomfortable. "Oh, Morgan, you're always so serious." She turned her attention back to Alex, who was still trying to figure out if this was a prank or something far more bizarre. "So, Alex, huh? You must really appreciate Morgan's... skills."
Alex's face flushed slightly, clearly thrown by Carina's insinuations. "Uh, yeah. He was really helpful," she said, her voice tight with awkwardness. "He's great at what he does."
"I bet he is," Carina purred, her voice low and sultry as she leaned forward slightly, eyeing the scrap of paper in Alex's hand. "And what's that? Your number? How sweet." She shot Morgan a teasing look, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Looks like someone's trying to steal my man."
Morgan's pulse quickened, his heart pounding in his chest. Your man? What? His mind raced, desperate for a way to shut this down before it spiraled even further out of control. "Carina, that's not—she's not—this isn't what it looks like!"
Carina chuckled, clearly reveling in the tension she was causing. "Relax, pumpkin. I'm just having a bit of fun. I'm sure Alex here doesn't mean any harm. Do you, darling?"
Alex's eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head quickly, clearly eager to escape the situation. "No! No, of course not. I didn't mean—"
Carina's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smoothly cut off Alex's stammered apology. "Good," she said, her voice honeyed and smooth. She didn't even glance at Alex as she continued, her gaze locked on Morgan. "Because Morgan and I? We're very close." The way she said it was almost purring, each word deliberately measured to let the implication hang thick in the air. Her smirk deepened as she watched Morgan squirm.
For a moment, the tension in the air felt palpable. The energy around them shifted as everyone's attention seemed to zero in on Carina's next move. Her smile never faltered as she leaned closer to Morgan, her fingers tracing a light, teasing line down his arm.
"And," she added, her voice lowering, taking on an almost conspiratorial tone, "he prefers mature and experienced women." She shot a sidelong glance at Alex, a subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of amusement dancing in her blue eyes.
Morgan's face burned with embarrassment. His mind raced, desperately trying to figure out how to stop this runaway train. His heart pounded in his chest, feeling like it was trying to escape as Carina's words echoed in his ears. He could practically feel Chuck's bewildered eyes on him, and he didn't even need to glance in Alex's direction to know how uncomfortable she must have been.
Alex froze, her face reddening. She still clutched the slip of paper in her hand, her grip tightening as Carina's words hit their mark. There was no mistaking the way Carina's tone insinuated something deeper, something intimate, and Alex's expression wavered between surprise , awkwardness and even a hint of envy.
Morgan could see the subtle shift in Alex's demeanor, the moment her posture stiffened slightly as if she were trying to decide whether to laugh off Carina's words or bolt for the exit. She was clearly rattled, her gaze flicking uncertainly between Morgan and Carina. The light in her eyes dimmed just a fraction, her earlier admiration for Morgan taking a hit in the face of Carina's overt, confident display.
Chuck, who had been standing nearby in silence, finally blinked and glanced at Morgan, clearly caught off guard by the escalation. His brows furrowed, lips parting slightly as if to say something, but no words came out. He was torn between disbelief and confusion, his gaze darting back and forth between the two women, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing.
"Carina," he hissed under his breath, his voice strained with desperation. "Cut it out."
But Carina, of course, ignored him. Her gaze remained locked on Alex, her smile never faltering. The way she casually asserted herself in the moment, her presence dominating the space, was disarming. Carina knew exactly what she was doing, pushing every button, playing every card. And Morgan was helpless in her wake.
"So, Alex, was it?" Carina said sweetly, her tone dripping with faux kindness as she regarded the younger woman with a casual glance. "You seem… sweet. Morgan loves that about people—when they're sweet. So genuine, so innocent." She winked, her smirk growing as her words took on a sharper edge. "But, you know, sometimes a man needs more than that. More… depth."
Morgan felt his pulse spike as Carina's words landed like little bombs, one after another. He shot her a wide-eyed look, his nerves fraying by the second. "Carina! Stop. This is—this isn't—" He could barely string his thoughts together, his mind reeling.
But Carina wasn't done yet. "You know how it is, right, Morgan?" She flashed him an infuriatingly playful smile, her hand resting against his chest as if staking her claim. "We've been through so much together, after all."
Alex's face flushed deeper. The uncertainty in her expression was clear as she tried to process what she was witnessing. She took a half step back, folding her arms over her chest, clearly trying to shield herself from the increasingly awkward situation. Her eyes, which had once held admiration for Morgan's skills and easygoing demeanor, now looked cautious, uncertain.
Morgan could feel the walls closing in. Chuck, who had been silent all this time, finally let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Whoa. I mean... Morgan, I didn't realize you had so much going on." His tone was light, but there was a tinge of incredulity beneath the humor. He looked at his friend, clearly unsure of how to navigate what he was seeing.
Morgan groaned, his frustration mounting. He turned to Chuck, his expression pleading. "Chuck, seriously, this isn't what it looks like." He turned to Alex, who was already stepping back, looking like she wanted nothing more than to escape. "Alex, please. Carina's just… she's just messing around. This isn't—she's not—" He stumbled over his words, unable to form a coherent sentence.
But Alex was already backing away, her eyes darting between Morgan and Carina, the doubt clear on her face. "Yeah, um… I should get going," she mumbled, her voice tight with discomfort. "Thanks for your help, Morgan. I really appreciate it." She shot a nervous glance at Carina, then quickly turned and hurried toward the exit, her footsteps quick and light, as though she couldn't leave fast enough.
Morgan let out a heavy sigh, watching helplessly as Alex disappeared out the door. The knot of anxiety in his chest tightened even more. He could feel Chuck's bewildered gaze still on him, and he braced himself for whatever sarcastic remark was coming next.
"Well," Chuck said slowly, his voice filled with amusement as he crossed his arms, leaning back against the counter. "That was… something."
Morgan groaned and turned to Carina, glaring at her with every ounce of frustration he could muster. "What the hell was that, Carina?"
Carina, entirely unfazed by the turmoil she'd unleashed, shot Morgan a smirk, her casual demeanor a sharp contrast to the storm she'd just brewed. She shrugged lightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, come on, pumpkin. You know I was just having a little fun," she said, her tone teasing as she brushed a strand of her silky hair behind her ear, as if she hadn't just blown up his entire afternoon.
Morgan, still reeling from the spectacle she'd made of their supposed relationship, could only manage a weak, exasperated response. "Fun? That's what you call this? I just lost a potential friend, Carina! You're killing me here."
Carina's smirk didn't falter, but her eyes flicked toward Chuck, who was still standing nearby, his arms crossed as he watched the chaos unfold with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. Without warning, Carina leaned in close, her lips just brushing against Morgan's ear as her voice dropped to a low whisper, one that was barely audible to anyone but him.
"The Agency has ordered me to act as your girlfriend," she murmured, her voice soft yet edged with urgency. "So I can protect you from Fulcrum. It's the best way to keep you close without raising suspicion. So you better play along, pumpkin."
Morgan's entire body stiffened at her words, his stomach flipping at the mention of Fulcrum. He blinked, trying to process what she had just said, his mind racing. The Agency? Ordered to protect me? As my girlfriend? None of it made any sense.
He turned his head slightly to look at her, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and growing panic. "What?" he whispered back, his voice low and shaky. "Carina, what are you talking about? Since when does the DEA care about me enough to assign you to—"
Carina cut him off, her breath hot against his ear as she continued, "Listen, Morgan. Fulcrum has eyes and ears every where. They might not know you're involved but they eventually wll, even if they don't know exactly how yet. My mission is to make sure they don't get too close. And the best way to do that?" She paused, her lips curling into a grin he couldn't see but could feel in the way her words danced on his skin. "Is to stay close to you—very close."
Morgan's heart thudded in his chest, the reality of her words sinking in like a stone. Fulcrum. They were already on his trail, just as he'd feared. And now Carina—this wild, unpredictable force of nature—was assigned to protect him. As his girlfriend. His pulse quickened at the thought, a mixture of fear and disbelief flooding his veins. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Chuck, who was now clearly puzzled, his earlier amusement fading into suspicion as he watched the intimate exchange between them.
"You're joking, right?" Morgan whispered back, his voice tight with disbelief. "Please tell me you're joking."
Carina pulled back slightly, her eyes locking onto his with a seriousness that sent a chill down his spine. "Does it look like I'm joking, Morgan?"
His breath hitched. No, she wasn't joking. The playful, carefree Carina he'd known a moment ago had vanished, replaced by someone far more serious, far more dangerous. This wasn't a game anymore.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. "You can't seriously expect me to—"
Carina's hand slid back down his arm, her fingers tightening just slightly, her expression softening as she tried to ease the tension building in his body.
"Morgan, listen to me," she whispered, her tone both firm and reassuring. "I know this isn't ideal. But it's the only way. You need protection, and I'm the best you've got right now."
Morgan's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the full weight of what she was saying. Fulcrum was already closing in on him, and now Carina, the woman who had just turned his life into a soap opera in the span of five minutes, was supposed to protect him? And not just protect him—do it while pretending to be his girlfriend? It felt surreal. Like some absurd twist in an action movie that was happening to someone else.
He glanced again at Chuck, who was still standing there, arms crossed, waiting for some sort of explanation. Chuck's brows furrowed, and Morgan could see the questions forming in his eyes.
"Uh, are you two... alright?" Chuck asked, his voice filled with confusion and concern. "You're whispering like you're planning some kind of secret romantic getaway or something."
Morgan felt like he was on the verge of hyperventilating. "You have no idea," he muttered under his breath, eyes still wide as he turned back to Carina. "What the hell am I supposed to do? Chuck's going to freak out if I just suddenly have a—" He paused, unable to even finish the sentence.
Carina gave him a look that clearly said, Get it together. "You'll play along. That's what you'll do. It's better than having Fulcrum breathing down your neck, right?"
Morgan swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to respond. As much as he hated to admit it, Carina had a point. Fulcrum was no joke, and if they were already on his trail, he was in more danger than ever. Having Carina—Carina of all people—play his fake girlfriend was a ridiculous, insane idea... but it might also be his best shot at staying alive.
"Fine," he finally whispered, his voice hoarse with reluctance. "But this is going to blow up in my face. I can feel it."
Carina's grin returned, wide and victorious. "Good boy. Now, just follow my lead and we'll be fine." She pulled away slightly, though not before planting a quick, suggestive kiss on his cheek, leaving a faint trace of lipstick on his skin. "You're going to have so much fun with this," she whispered, a glint of wicked amusement flashing in her eyes.
Morgan stood there, stunned, his brain still trying to catch up with everything that had just happened. He was supposed to play along with this? Pretend Carina was his girlfriend? With Chuck, his mom and Ellie—especially Ellie—watching his every move?
Chuck cleared his throat, snapping Morgan out of his thoughts. "So, uh... everything cool?"
Morgan turned to face him, his voice caught in his throat. "Yeah, Chuck. Everything's... fine." He forced a smile, though it felt like it was going to crack under the weight of everything he was now carrying.
Carina winked at Chuck before giving Morgan's arm a playful squeeze. "Don't worry, Chuck. I'm just looking out for my man here."
Chuck raised an eyebrow, his confusion still evident. "Right... well, just don't kill him, okay?"
Carina laughed, her carefree persona slipping back into place. "No promises."
Morgan, feeling like he was standing on the edge of a cliff with no way back, sighed heavily. His life had just taken a turn for the chaotic, and all he could do now was hang on for the ride.
Carina's playful demeanor didn't miss a beat as she turned her gaze toward Chuck, a glint of mischief in her eyes. With a wink, she squeezed Morgan's arm, leaning just a little closer to him, her voice dripping with a mix of teasing affection and manipulation. "Would you mind if I take my pumpkin out for some shopping for your birthday party? You know, just to pick up a few things. He'll be back in no time." Her smile widened, and she gave Chuck an almost pleading look, though there was a distinct playfulness underneath. "You can cover for him, right?"
Chuck blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected request. His brows furrowed slightly as he looked between Carina and Morgan, trying to gauge whether this was serious or part of whatever bizarre game Carina seemed to be playing. "Uh, shopping?" he asked, his tone full of confusion. "For my birthday party?"
Morgan, still reeling from the bombshell Carina had just dropped on him moments earlier, shot Chuck a desperate glance, silently pleading for him to say no, to somehow get him out of this. His heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. He opened his mouth to say something—anything—but before he could, Carina interjected with her signature charm.
"Oh, don't worry, Chuck," she said smoothly, flashing him a grin that could disarm anyone. "I know how much your birthday means to Morgan, so I thought it would be fun to pick out something special. It's not every day your best friend has such a big celebration, right?"
Chuck looked at her, then at Morgan, his confusion deepening. He scratched the back of his head, clearly trying to piece together the situation. "I mean... sure, I guess? But don't you think Morgan should be, like, working?" He glanced at Morgan, who was practically vibrating with anxiety, hoping for some kind of explanation.
Carina, ever quick on her feet, didn't miss a beat. She waved a hand dismissively, as if the idea of Morgan staying behind at Buy More was entirely unimportant. "Oh, Chuck, come on. It's not like he's going to be gone all day. Just a quick trip, I promise. Besides, you wouldn't want your best friend to miss out on planning something special for you, would you?"
Morgan's stomach churned. He could feel himself spiraling, stuck between Carina's fake affection and Chuck's rising confusion. He could see the wheels turning in Chuck's head, the mixture of amusement and suspicion in his eyes as he tried to make sense of everything. Morgan swallowed hard, his pulse racing. He needed to say something, anything, before this got even more out of control.
"Chuck, I—" Morgan started, but Carina smoothly cut him off again, tightening her grip on his arm and pulling him slightly closer.
"Trust me, Chuck, you're going to love what we have planned," she said, her voice laced with honey. "And Morgan? He's all about making sure you have the best birthday ever." She gave Morgan a sideways glance, her eyes daring him to contradict her, the unspoken command clear in her gaze: Play along.
Chuck finally let out a half-laugh, half-sigh, shaking his head as he processed what was happening. "I mean, it is my birthday... and if Morgan's really that excited to do something special..." He looked at Morgan, his tone laced with curiosity. "Are you?"
Morgan's heart skipped a beat as Chuck's question hung in the air. He could feel Carina's eyes on him, waiting for him to answer, knowing full well that any attempt to deny it would only make things worse. His mouth went dry, and he forced a weak smile.
"Uh... yeah," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Totally excited. super excited."
Carina beamed triumphantly, clearly satisfied with his response. "See? He's thrilled." She turned back to Chuck, her expression full of charm. "So, what do you say? I'll have him back before you even miss him. You can hold down the fort here, right?"
Chuck looked at Morgan again, clearly still confused but too entertained by the bizarre situation to refuse. "Alright, alright. Go shopping, or whatever. Just don't be gone too long, okay? I don't want Big Mike on my case."
Morgan felt like he had just been signed up for a death march. His mind was still spinning, and he knew this was Carina's way of dragging him into whatever mess she had in store. He shot Chuck a final, pleading look, but it was too late. The decision had already been made.
"Great!" Carina said, clapping her hands together with a satisfied grin. She wasted no time, already tugging Morgan toward the exit. "We'll be quick. Don't worry, Chuck."
Chuck turned to head back to his station, clearly satisfied with the half-baked explanation he'd been given, leaving Morgan standing there with Carina still too close for comfort. As soon as Chuck was out of earshot, Morgan turned sharply toward her, his voice hushed but filled with frustration.
"Carina, what are you doing?" he hissed. "I can't just—shopping? For Chuck's birthday? How am I supposed to explain this?"
Carina's eyes sparkled with amusement, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Oh, relax, Morgan. You're getting too worked up." She took a step back, though her hand remained lightly resting on his arm, a constant reminder of the role she was forcing him into. "You've got to learn to roll with the punches. Besides, you heard him—Chuck bought the whole thing. You're in the clear."
"In the clear?" Morgan scoffed, his voice a strained whisper. "You just made it sound like I'm planning some big surprise for Chuck's birthday with my girlfriend, and you want me to play along like... like we're—" He faltered, unable to finish the sentence as the absurdity of it all hit him again.
Carina smirked, clearly enjoying every second of his discomfort. "Like we're what, Morgan?" she teased, her voice low. "Like we're together? Like we're a couple?" She leaned in slightly, her eyes gleaming. "I told you, it's for your protection. If anyone is watching, they won't suspect anything if it looks like you're just my... adoring boyfriend."
Morgan's heart sank. The more she talked, the deeper the pit of anxiety in his stomach grew. "But this is insane, Carina! What if Chuck-my mum—or Ellie—finds out what's really going on? I'm supposed to be keeping this whole Intersect thing a secret, and you're making it impossible."
Carina rolled her eyes, her playful smirk still in place. "You're being dramatic. No one's going to find out. We just need to keep up appearances for a little while. Besides," she added, her voice dropping lower, her tone serious, "you need me right now. Fulcrum is closer than you think. You need to trust me."
Morgan's breath caught in his throat as the gravity of her words sank in. Fulcrum was closing in, and Carina was right—he needed protection, no matter how absurd the circumstances. He let out a slow breath, his mind still reeling. "Fine," he muttered, his voice filled with reluctant resignation. "But you're going to owe me big time for this."
Carina's grin widened, the glint of satisfaction in her eyes unmistakable as she relished in Morgan's reluctant compliance. She stepped even closer, her body pressing gently against his, her presence all-consuming. Morgan's pulse quickened, his mind still trying to process the surreal situation as her lips hovered just inches from his skin.
The air between them crackled with tension, and before Morgan could even think to pull away, Carina closed the distance. Her lips brushed against the side of his neck in a searing kiss, sending a shockwave of heat through his entire body. Morgan froze, his breath hitching as the warmth of her breath mingled with the sensation of her lips, leaving a trail of fire on his skin.
It was disorienting, the sudden and unexpected intimacy catching him completely off guard.
"Carina, what the—" he started, but his voice faltered, barely more than a whisper. His throat felt tight, his mind spinning as he tried to grasp what was happening. She was way too close—too close for comfort, too close for his heart to stop racing.
Carina, clearly enjoying every second of his reaction, lingered just a moment longer, her lips grazing his skin as she whispered in his ear. "Don't worry, pumpkin," she murmured, her voice low and sultry, dripping with playful wickedness. Her words felt like honey, sweet and dangerous all at once. "I'll make sure you enjoy every second."
Morgan's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of her words sending a shiver down his spine. He tried to pull himself together, to regain some semblance of composure, but the heat from where her lips had touched still burned on his neck, making it impossible to focus. He could feel his cheeks flush, a combination of shock and embarrassment flooding through him as the reality of the situation sank deeper.
Carina pulled back slightly, just enough to lock eyes with him, her expression amused and predatory. Her hand lingered on his chest, fingers curling into his shirt as she continued to toy with him. "As long as you promise to be a good boy," she added, her voice dripping with playful malice, the promise of mischief laced in every syllable.
Morgan swallowed hard, trying desperately to gather his thoughts, but his mind was a whirlwind of confusion and panic. How had things spiraled so quickly? His fake girlfriend was now giving him sensual warnings that left him feeling both flustered and trapped. He opened his mouth to respond, to say something—anything—but no words came out. Instead, he found himself staring at her, his brain short-circuiting under the weight of it all.
Carina, sensing his complete and utter disarray, leaned back slightly, a satisfied smirk curling on her lips. She flicked her gaze down to the spot on his neck where her lips had been, as if admiring her work. Morgan instinctively raised his hand to touch the spot, still feeling the warmth of her kiss lingering there.
"That's my good boy," she purred, her voice teasing but with a subtle undertone of command. She let go of his shirt, her fingers trailing down his chest lightly, sending another involuntary shiver through him. "You'll play your part, and we'll both get through this. Just stick with me, Morgan. I've got your back."
Morgan blinked, still trying to clear his head. Got my back? he thought, incredulous. Carina had his back, all right—but the way she was going about it made him feel like he was dancing on the edge of a knife.
He glanced around the store, desperately hoping no one had witnessed what had just transpired. Chuck was thankfully still at his station, seemingly unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded a few feet away. But Morgan knew—this moment would stick with him, buried deep in his mind alongside the other absurdities Carina had brought into his life.
Morgan swallowed again, finally finding his voice, though it was shaky and strained. "Carina, you've gotta stop with... this. I can't—" He paused, still feeling the weight of her earlier kiss pressing on his neck like a brand. "I can't keep up with you. This is insane."
Carina just smiled, tilting her head slightly, her eyes still sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Morgan," she said, her voice soft but filled with playful condescension. "I know you can't keep up with me. But that's why I'm here, to take care of things while you just... follow along."
Morgan felt a fresh wave of anxiety settle in his chest. Carina was a force of nature—wild, unpredictable, and impossible to control. And now, she was in the driver's seat of his life, taking him along for a ride he hadn't signed up for.
Carina stepped back fully now, smoothing out the front of her tank top as if to signal the conversation was over. She shot him one final grin before turning on her heel, her every movement deliberate, like a predator leaving her prey just enough space to think it had escaped.
"Let's go, pumpkin," she called over her shoulder, her tone teasing and light. "We've got shopping to do."
Morgan sighed heavily, feeling utterly defeated. As she walked toward the exit, he threw one last glance in Chuck's direction, hoping his best friend wasn't watching too closely. The last thing he needed was Chuck asking questions about why his supposed girlfriend had just left him completely flustered.
But Chuck wasn't paying attention, which was a small mercy. With another resigned sigh, Morgan finally followed after Carina, knowing full well that his days were only going to get worse from here.
Carina was trouble—pure, unadulterated trouble. And right now, she was his girlfriend.
.. …xxxxxxxx…..