Ray stared at Ms. Vance, his mind reeling. The photos, her words—"explosive end," "back"—confirmed his worst fears. They knew. Not just about his trading, but about his entire impossible existence.
The chill that had settled in his bones turned into an icy grip. He was no longer just a reincarnated Forex millionaire; he was a walking anomaly, exposed. "How... how do you know all this?"
Ray finally managed to speak in a hoarse whisper. His focus shifted to Ms. Vance, to the two silent enforcers, and then back to the damning folder on his desk. Ms. Vance's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile—a predator's smile.
"Let's just say, Mr., that we have a very wide perspective. Carter. The universe, in all its complexity, occasionally presents... interesting variables. It appears that you are one of these variables. She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Your unique temporal displacement, coupled with your inherent aptitude for financial manipulation, makes you exceptionally valuable. And extremely hazardous." "Dangerous to whom?" Ray retorted, a spark of his old defiance flickering. "I'm just trying to live my life, make a living." "To the equilibrium,"
Ms. Vance said in a clear voice. "Remember, Mr. Carter, in the event that common knowledge of future market movements emerged. the devastation it would cause. The chaos. Our purpose is to prevent such... disruptions." She pointed to the file. "Your previous demise was, shall we say, an unfortunate side effect of your unchecked influence. A necessary correction."
Ray was hit hard by the sudden realization. They had not only been aware of his passing but also contributed to it. The explosion wasn't an accident or an enemy; it was a cosmic, or perhaps governmental, intervention. He had been eliminated due to his excessive superiority and instability.
"You killed me," Ray breathed, his eyes wide with horror and rage. Ms. Vance didn't deny it. Her expression remained utterly devoid of emotion. "It was a regrettable necessity.
However, your unexpected return presents a new opportunity. For both of us." She walked back to stand directly in front of him, her presence overwhelming the small room. "We have a proposition for you, Mr. Carter," she said, her voice dropping to a persuasive, almost hypnotic tone. "You possess an invaluable gift—the gift of foresight, albeit an unconventional one. We, in turn, possess the resources, the protection, and the means to ensure your... continued existence, free from further 'corrections.'" Ray watched her, wary. "What kind of proposition?" "You will work for us," Ms. Vance stated simply. "Your unique talents will be utilized to stabilize markets, to counter anomalies, and to guide investments in a manner that preserves the global economic order.
You will receive a sum of money that is greater than anything you have ever accomplished in any previous incarnation. You will reside in influence, safety, and luxury. Accepting your new purpose is all that is required of you. Ray's mind reeled. From orphan to Forex God, to dead, to reincarnated, and now, to an unwilling pawn in some shadowy organization's game.
They were offering him everything he'd lost, everything he'd been striving for, but at what cost? He would be a prisoner, an oracle chained to their will, his very existence a tool. "And if I refuse?" Ray asked, his voice barely a whisper. Ms. Vance's grey eyes hardened, losing all trace of their earlier persuasive gleam. "Then, Mr. "The 'corrections' will become permanent," she said, her voice dropping to a chilling finality. Carter And significantly less ambiguous." The two men behind her took a subtle step forward.
The message was clear. The Forex God, self-made millionaire Ray Carter, had lost control of his own destiny. He was also an accidental time traveler. He was at a crossroads where submission meant a gilded cage and defiance meant destruction.