Josie swung her tote over her shoulder as she strolled into the college campus, hunting for thetest viral snack. Growing up, hunger was her constantpanion. She never once knew the satisfaction of a full belly. Now that Josie had the means, aside from her aversion to wasting food, she indulged in a relentless quest for culinary delights.


    As she approached an alley entrance, a familiar voice pierced the air. "Back off! Get lost! Don''t you dare mess with my sister!"


    Not far off, anky teen brandished a baseball bat. Facing him were two menacing thugs, eyes locked on the boy with a predatory focus.


    "Alex, drop the bat. Hand over the shares, or I swear I''ll send you and your sis straight to the pearly gates!"


    Alex spat back, "You think you''re tough? Come and get it! I''ll take you down."


    The thugs, mes of rage in their eyes, lunged forward with switchdes drawn. The bat in Alex''s hands snapped, and it looked like he was done for, but then a rock flew from nowhere, striking one thug''s wrist.


    Josie dashed forward, leaped, andnded a kick on the other thug''s shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground with a whine of pain. Realizing they were no match for Josie, the thugs beat a hasty retreat. Alex and Jade stared at Josie as if she were an alien savior. Alex was the first to snap out of it, but still incredulous. "Ms. Josie, you''re like a superhero!"


    Jade, wide-eyed, piped up, "Ms. Josie, are you an angel?"


    Josie just shook her head, a small smile ying on her lips. She followed the beleaguered siblings back to their ce. Their home was a cozy apartment in an old residential building, tidy and warm. Jade poured Josie a ss of ice-cold juice, "Here, have some fresh-squeezed orange juice."Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Josie epted it with both hands, "Thanks." It tasted refreshing and good.


    Alex was a bit puzzled and asked, "Ms. Josie, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" Could Ms. Josie have known about their family issues ande on purpose?


    Josie exined, "I was here to grab a bite. Heard there''s a new famous food joint around, so I wanted to check it out."


    There was no gourmet meal, but she stumbled upon Alex''s personal soap opera instead.


    Alex scratched his head,


    embarrassed, "Ms. Josie, don''t worry


    about it. My personal stuff won''t


    interfere with work. I took a half-day off Kale approved it."


    Jade,pletely baffled, blurted out, "Is she your boss? She looks younger than you, and she''s already the boss?"


    Then it clicked, "Alex, is she that talented boss you mentioned? Josie?"


    Before Alex could stop her, she had spilled the beans.


    "Ms. Josie, please don''t be offended. My sister''s just a kid. She doesn''t mean any harm."


    "It''s fine," Josie said with a chuckle.


    Jade looked up to Josie with admiration. "Ms. Josie, you''re so cool and amazing."


    Alex shook his head, wondering when his sister had be so talkative.


    Josie


    the


    a smile,


    Psd with a smile. Wh


    hear mention shares.


    e you''re dealing with her


    that about?"


    Alex started to fidget, "My deadbeat dad sold ourpany, ran off with his mistress overseas, and tried to trick Jade into signing over her shares. caught on in time. The old man''s gone, but he left a debt against the shares, and Jade signed for it. I can''t just sell her shares. Thepany was our mom''s life''s work. I''m not going to let that scumbag profit from it!"


    Josie paused, then asked, "Who''s trying to buy yourpany''s shares?"


    With a sigh, Alex said, "Billy."


    Josie could only think, could this get any more coincidental?