Chapter 16: A Small Celebration

Freya was in an excellent mood on the ride home. The sale had gone through without trouble, and the money was already visible in her account. She opened her spreadsheet on her phone and updated the total. Louis watched her fingers moving quickly across the screen. "How much have you sold so far?" he asked.

Freya gave him the number. Derek nearly looked back from the driver's seat. "That much in a few days?" "The original prices were much higher," Freya explained. "I'm technically losing money." Louis replied, "Money that was already spent isn't a current loss." Freya looked at him approvingly. "Exactly. Finally, someone understands."

When they reached the apartment, Freya stopped at the supermarket downstairs. "What are you buying?" Louis asked. "Ingredients." "We have food." "We're celebrating." She held up her phone. "I signed my writing contract and sold four bags today. That's two good things. Good things deserve good food."

Derek immediately volunteered to stay for dinner. Louis gave him a look, but Freya had already invited him upstairs. She decided to make steak, roasted vegetables, creamy soup, and a small cake from the bakery. It was more expensive than their usual meals, but still far cheaper than eating at a restaurant.

While Freya cooked, Derek and Louis discussed work in low voices. Several former executives had approached Knox Group, offering internal information about Louis's old companies. Some information was real, some outdated, and some had been deliberately planted before the collapse.

"They're taking the bait," Derek said. Louis turned a page in the report. "Let them." "At this rate, they'll spend a fortune acquiring assets you intentionally abandoned." "That's the point." Derek smiled. Anyone who genuinely believed Louis Stone had been helplessly defeated didn't understand him at all.

Freya suddenly appeared from the kitchen carrying three plates. Both men immediately stopped talking. "Why do you two always look suspicious when I come in?" she asked. Derek answered first. "Business secrets." Freya placed the plates down. "What business? I thought he was unemployed."

Derek coughed violently. Louis calmly poured himself water. "I'm looking for opportunities." "Good." Freya nodded. "Don't rush. Starting over takes time." Derek stared down at his plate because looking at Louis would have made him laugh.

Dinner was surprisingly lively. Derek told several harmless stories from his childhood with Louis, including one about Louis falling into a pond while trying to rescue a dog. Freya looked delighted. "You fell into a pond?" Louis's expression darkened. "I was eight." "Still counts."

After dinner, Freya cut the small cake into three pieces. She raised her glass of juice. "To earning money." Derek raised his glass. "To earning money." Louis looked at both of them before reluctantly joining. "To earning money."

Later, after Derek left, Freya checked her author dashboard. Her first chapters had gone live that afternoon. There were already several comments from readers. Some wanted more chapters immediately. Others were debating the characters as though they were real people.

Freya smiled at the familiar feeling. This was something truly hers, something unrelated to the original Freya, Louis, Clement, or the novel she had transmigrated into. She opened a new document and began writing. In the living room, Louis passed her door and noticed the light beneath it. Instead of telling her to sleep, he quietly returned to the kitchen and left a glass of warm milk outside her room.